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| Also listed in: Female political bloggers |
Categories: Social Justice, Reproductive Rights, Ranting and Venting, Front Page
Mr. Postman brought me a mysterious letter from "Center social justice, Cols, Oh 43228" today. To my non-surprise it contained a poorly photocopied picture of a late-term aborted fetus and text quoting an "unnamed" doctor: "Sure, the money was important. And oh, it was an easy thing, once I had taken this step -- to see these women as animals and these babies as just tissue...." Rrrright....
I'm getting used to these prolife quotes from unnamed doctors taken from unidentifiable sources and sent by anonymous mailers because I get them every year about this time! Apparently, I'm on someone's shitlist for being a Planned Parenthood supporter or something.
My experience in receiving creepy anonymous mail from prolifers predates my relationship with ProgressOhio, so I don't think anything I've written here is the cause of this spineless harassment. When I used to write pro-choice letters to the editor of The Dispatch and my address was published in the phone book, I could always count on receiving an anonymous Bible tract or two.
One guy sent me a perfectly typed, two-page, single-spaced letter talking about "foetuses" and the "Letters of Phinneas" or some such thing. Unlike the other weird prolife letters I've received, he signed his real name and that of his wife (although clearly his wife was not involved in the writing of his manifesto). The perfectness of his composition was a little too Ted Kaczynski-esque for me.
This is why I'm now unlisted and I use this silly pseudonym. (I don't really like my username -- I chose it quickly -- but I've never met a Jane, Jayne or even Jayn that I didn't like!)
Am I being paranoid? There hasn't been an abortion clinic bombing or anything like that lately, but who knows?
Whoever sent me an aborted fetus photo has got to realize that it's not going change my mind. It's only going to make me more determined to get the pro-choice story out.
You're right. It's not really hate mail. But what would you call it?
I call it spreading the truth. I found it peculiar that Planned Parenthood doesn't provide such photos, they know it will change minds. A few women I know have seen these photos and decided to at least carry their babies and give them to a loving adoptive couple who could not have children on their own. I also know many who decided to keep their child and couldn't imagine their Life without them. You gotta wonder, how many moms out there regret their decision once they feel the deep unconditional love they feel for the children they do have? I know some don't, but what of the ladies who have suffered emotionally because of this decision? A miscarriage is truly tragic and my heart goes out to any woman who's suffered one. It also goes out to any woman who's chosen to have an abortion and doubly so for a woman who will live with that heartache for the rest of her Life. I respect all Life. Do you really feel so indifferent when you see a precious child, dead before they ever had a shot at Life, knowing what they'd endured? You're a mother, right? Now imagine that dead baby was your baby, how do you feel now? I love my children with all my heart, even when they drive me absolutely crazy (as all kids can do their poor moms) they are still God's gift to me! You know as a mother that the love we feel for our children is something you never really know until you experience. I think it's so very sad so many women never have that, I really do. Those people were probably trying to persuade women not to do it. And if you know someone who wants an abortion, Jane, tell them I'd love another baby. :) God Bless you, Jen.
As we agreed in previous posts, abortion -- whether induced or natural -- is tragic. I don't think it's fair to call me "indifferent."
The, uh, not-nice anonymous mail I received depicts a 26-week fetus. It is impossible to tell how it died. If it was aborted, that would be a highly atypical abortion. Most abortions occur before the 12th week of pregnancy, when the fetus is the size of a pencil eraser (which doesn't make it any less human, I admit, but it is true that a fetus has no memory).
I too love babies. In fact, one of my sons is engaged to a wonderful young woman who is a senior in college. I would love to have grandkids, but I recognize that it's none of my business. The fact that everyone from John McCain to our state legislators think their family planning is any of their business seems truly bizarre to me.
Ever notice how you never see pro-choice bumperstickers on cars? Too dangerous.
My PO friend, Kelli Arthur Hykes, has been been advocating for women's health for many years. She and her family are very brave. Here's Kelli's letter to the editor of The Dispatch, published today:
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