Comments on He Sows, She Sews: Please Explain to Me (political tangent)

I am probably as 'pro-life' as a person ca...

2012-02-08T13:14:29.130-06:00

I am probably as 'pro-life' as a person can possibly be. But, I have a fairly significant concern that so much of the focus on this issue is misdirected. I think how we view health, in general, majorly misses the mark.

If we care about the baby, we must care about the life sustaining that baby.

We can focus our energies on the political aspect of this issue, or we can work together to bring true, authentic, redemptive change.

I am not so naive as to think that if we legally ban abortions they will stop. So, we need to start thinking about what will really truly be an effective means of bringing about redemption to this devastating reality.

And, I personally do not trust a single politician when it comes to this issue, regardless of their place on the political spectrum.

I trust you, Gretchen. And, I trust God. It's not about any or all sides finding 'compromise', it's about taking our focus off of our own interests and looking to the only one who can redeem this truly messy and ugly reality.

If we want it to end we have to get involved on a personal level, one life at a time.

Just a small portion of my passion, from me to you.

Loads of love,
juliana

I enjoy that you stepped out and shared your polit...

2012-02-02T11:37:35.950-06:00

I enjoy that you stepped out and shared your political opinion because I believe the only way we as a society can move forward is by hearing people out.

I agree with a lot that you said and think in a whole people of the US have gotten way to comfortable with the government providing and giving to them. It's a slippery slope and I agree that just because it is your right you shouldn't be provided with it.

Actually if you leave it at that I am right there with you. I just get really sensitive with pro-life issues. I would consider myself pro-choice, BUT that DOES NOT mean I think every one should be running out to get an abortion. I believe that is someone's right to choose and that is not a place for government to step in. We should all making smart choices in the fist place though.

Thanks for giving all a little something to think about.

VERY well said, Gretchen! I applaud you for havin...

2012-02-01T11:35:32.299-06:00

VERY well said, Gretchen! I applaud you for having the courage to take a stand, and also for leaving up comments that you disagree with but are still respectful in their discussion. I do absolutely and 100% agree with your post, by the way! :)
And Melissa, EXACTLY! No matter what anyone says, they really are not particularly safe for the mother either, and most certainly not for the baby!

Interesting comments and great post. Here are my t...

2012-02-01T08:18:43.609-06:00

Interesting comments and great post. Here are my two cents- I am a middle of the road Republican. I used to be very pro-life, but have since changed my mind. I am not against abortion for someone who wants to have one, but I don't want to pay for it. It you are grown up enough to have sex, you are grown up enough to pay for your birth control or abortion. I think it all comes down to personal responsibility. You are free to make your own choices in this world, but you are not free from the consequences of those choices. Obvs, rape and incest don't fit into choice. I am at a loss as how to handle those situations. Non profits as brought up before? I do not think that it should be paid for with goverment money. As I am for abortion if you so choose, I cannot see the right in using money from people who are morally opposed to abortion to fund such things.

A word on WIC and Food Stamps... Good programs with some HUGE problems. Juice and sugar filled formula is pushed in HUGE amounts with WIC. We have a diabetes type 2 epidemic in this country and it is now starting with our smallest citizens. There has been a few studies on how juice is a contributing factor in the epidemic. (Soda is a villian in this as well, but not funded by WIC). Sorry to get off topic... This is hot topic for me. :)

"I have to say, that despite being entirely p...

2012-02-01T08:09:40.228-06:00

"I have to say, that despite being entirely pro-choice, I can respect your belief that just because someone else elects to take birth control, elects to have pre marital, and elects to have an abortion you shouldn't be the one responsible for paying for it. However, it would be refreshing for you to be able to consider for a moment that not everyone follows the same lifestyle as you do. "

Well said. This is a good point. I disagree entirely, but I can respect that different people have different lifestyles. I don't want to force my lifestyle on anyone.

It always makes me upset when people refer to abor...

2012-01-31T21:53:22.499-06:00

It always makes me upset when people refer to abortions as "safe". Safe for whom??? I can't think of anything more UNsafe for that baby--s/he DIES.

Sorry. Was going to keep my mouth shut but can...

2012-01-31T15:38:50.913-06:00

Sorry. Was going to keep my mouth shut but can't.

NO ONE has the RIGHT to kill a child because two people chose to have sex and conceived.

NO ONE has the RIGHT to kill a child. Period. Whether or not the child is in or out of the womb makes no difference. EVERY child has the RIGHT to life.

NO ONE has the RIGHT to an abortion and I, as a taxpayer, should not have to pay for these abortions.

I could not have said it better. Thank you for exp...

2012-01-31T13:16:27.729-06:00

I could not have said it better. Thank you for expressing yourself and standing up for what this country was founded on. Free will. Not free will which is financially supported by others. Thank you!!

Wow! Great artilce - and some weird comments. Fo...

2012-01-31T08:44:27.981-06:00

Wow! Great artilce - and some weird comments. For those who would choose a different route than the author (premarital sex, birth control, etc..) - I didn't see the author claiming that such choices weren't within their rights - but that the rest of us shouldn't have to pay for however others decide to exercise their "rights."

And I just couldn't let this go by: "If someone got pregnant and was unable to afford an abortion, they most certainly could not afford to raise a baby. You seemingly believe the only reason to have sex is for the purposes of reproduction, but many others enjoy having recreational sex and some times accidents happen. These accidents, these unwanted babies, should not be forced into a world they will not be loved in because you don't want a .09% tax hike. "

First...abortion is not the only answer to such a situation. I cannot remember what the wait time is to adopt an infant in the US, but it's quite long - the suggestion that an unplanned pregnancy results in a child who would not be loved is a red herring. AND...since when should I pay for the consequences of your recreational activities? If you are shallow enough to use sex for recreation without the awareness that it is, by design, intended to cause reproduction...well, then perhaps you're not mature enough to engage in that particular act. I personally think that a person who cannot appreciate the fact that he wields a potentially-lethal weapon when he drives a car shouldn't drive; and if you aren't willing to be responsible about the potential life you are creating for your "recreational" enjoyment - then maybe you should take up knitting or some other hobby. In what other forum would we say that we have a right to recreational activity that may result in the "need" to kill someone else - and, by the way, I want the tax payer to pay for that? Lunacy.

ANYWAY...back to the article: well thought out and well-written. Just because someone has a "right" (be it real or perceived) does not mean that others are responsible for providing it to them.

Has anyone addressed the underlying point that tax...

2012-01-31T00:20:51.985-06:00

Has anyone addressed the underlying point that taxpayers are being forced to pay for other people's "rights"--including abortion?

Once these destructive things are instituted, against our will, THEN we have to pay for them. Of course, I suppose that also means that since we have a "right to practice our religion" that the government will soon be paying for our Bibles and stuff, right? Naw. Probably not.

Note in response to one of the anonymouses--nope! The U.S. really isn't that much bigger than rural Minnesota! The assumptions you're using to fly that assertion just ain't true.

Sharon

Interesting post. Members of the church tithe bec...

2012-01-30T21:59:06.531-06:00

Interesting post. Members of the church tithe because, thankfully, we have separation of church and state. Can you imagine if we didn't? Which religion would be correct? Which denomination would have the strongest say? It would be a bickering fest!

I agree with the your statement that birth control may be contributing to 'unexplained infertility.' Personally I don't take it either. However, sometimes it IS a medical necessity. I started my period very, very young (around age 8). I was put on BC because of the severe pain and cysts I developed. I missed a week of school every, single month before BC.

Sometimes people do have premarital sex. This is their choice. Look at the numbers of babies being abandoned in dumpsters even though there are laws to protect the mothers if they dropped the baby off at a hospital. Can you imagine the mayhem if abortion was illegal? Abortions would be performed in basements. This would be extremely unsafe.

I admire your spunk for putting this out there. I respect your views and ideas. I just think the U.S. is a little bigger than rural Minnesota.

All I meant by the WIC program is that it is a gov...

2012-01-30T21:38:17.383-06:00

All I meant by the WIC program is that it is a government run program. That's all. I do agree that it is a great program!

I think you make some interesting points.... But y...

2012-01-30T21:25:13.648-06:00

I think you make some interesting points.... But you are obviously quite misinformed on PRESIDENT Obama's goals as far as health care/abortions go.

Every single woman should have the right to choose whether or not she wants to have a baby. I am going to make some assumptions, based on your blog, for argument's sake. My first assumption will be that you have more children than an average woman your age because you and your husband choose to refrain from birth control. Second assumption will be that this is because you are against methods such as the pill, leading to my third assumption which is that as someone who is not using birth control and is a practicing Christian, you did not have sex before marriage.

Each of these decisions were all your personal choice. Personally, I disagree with all of them and have made different choices for myself. I do not believe that the choices you have made for yourself and your family are wrong. To be clear, these choices are no birth control, no pre marital sex, and the choice to be a Christian.

I think an important aspect of this country is that each individual has (or should have) the right to make choices such as these without judgment. Just because someone else decides that they want to have sex out of wedlock, and they want to take birth control pills, they should not lose their own option to choose because YOU disagree with them. The point is for each individual to make his or her own choices, what they believe is best for their family or for themselves.

Unfortunately, abortions are a dangerous procedure. When young women end up pregnant, and seek abortions, they usually have very limited funds to do so. The cheaper the procedure, the more harmful they are. I know you will disagree with me on this, but I very strongly believe that an actual live woman's health is far more important than that of a ball of flem developing in a uterus. Keeping these procedures available and affordable ensures the safety of our women.

I have to say, that despite being entirely pro-choice, I can respect your belief that just because someone else elects to take birth control, elects to have pre marital, and elects to have an abortion you shouldn't be the one responsible for paying for it. However, it would be refreshing for you to be able to consider for a moment that not everyone follows the same lifestyle as you do. If someone got pregnant and was unable to afford an abortion, they most certainly could not afford to raise a baby. You seemingly believe the only reason to have sex is for the purposes of reproduction, but many others enjoy having recreational sex and some times accidents happen. These accidents, these unwanted babies, should not be forced into a world they will not be loved in because you don't want a .09% tax hike.

It is dangerous to women to elect not to provide them with an affordable and safe option to terminate a pregnancy should they decide to do so. There is strong importance in protecting those who are already alive and contributing to society.

How is WIC like abortion or contraceptives? It'...

2012-01-30T20:39:21.656-06:00

How is WIC like abortion or contraceptives? It's a wonderful program that not only helps women and children pay for healthy foods but also supports them with breastfeeding and educates them on the importance of nutrition.

It's me again...the anonymous one. I like how ...

2012-01-30T19:17:56.541-06:00

It's me again...the anonymous one. I like how we all can have different opinions and it's ok! Thanks for getting me to think about this issue and others! I'll be quiet now.

I totally agree. I am pro-life, and my future hus...

2012-01-30T18:57:52.398-06:00

I totally agree. I am pro-life, and my future husband and I have already decided not to use hormone based birth control after we marry because one of the (many) ways it prevents pregnancy is by making it hard or impossible for a fertilized egg to implant on the uteran lining. (This is only IF the other ways it prevents don't work, making us not be legalistic about this, but deciding that the chance was too much for our beliefs.)...

However, I do take birth control pills now. I am not sexually active. I have a hormone disorder though, and I had my period for over around a year straight (every. single. day.) until I got on the pill. So right now I'm on it, and my fiance and I aren't sure if we'll feel it necessary in the future or not...

However, I can get my pills for $9 at Walmart.

I like to show two sides of the story and so I'm saying that in some situations, birth control is used for non-ethically wrong medical intervention (this example is not the only one) so by not covering it a medical insurance could be denying someone who needs it, without violating the employer's ethics.

But also saying, it's not that expensive if you go with generic. So I think it's fine if it's not covered. I just like pointing out the exceptions to rules and having people think about stuff they may not have before... but I do actually agree with your post! :)

Wonderful post. Thank you. :)

2012-01-30T18:53:07.208-06:00

Wonderful post. Thank you. :)

I read your blog often (almost daily) but don'...

2012-01-30T17:13:24.570-06:00

I read your blog often (almost daily) but don't usually comment. I find that your post today was extremely well written and I applaud you for speaking out for what you believe. I am in complete agreement with you and wish that more like-minded people would be bold enough to speak out the way you have.

Very good questions, and very respectfully said! ...

2012-01-30T16:41:28.694-06:00

Very good questions, and very respectfully said! Thank you for that! I'm not saying whether or not birth control is responsible. My family currently uses the FAM method, and that was our decision. My insurance did not pay for my education of FAM. It seems they only recognize birth control where pharmiceuitical companies get some profit.

I would think if you chose to live a lifestyle like that, you should be able to support it financially. In cases of rape and incest, I'm sure there are many non-profits that would come to their aid. I can think of a handful off the top of my head.

As far as WIC and welfare...I have my thoughts but they don't directly relate to this post. I don't judge anyone who uses these services, but I do believe non-profits would do a better job of it than the government. The difference there is giving food to hungry people isn't against my religious beliefs...and I can't think of a religion that would be against that off the top of my head.

Wow! Those are some interesting thoughts. Do you h...

2012-01-30T16:30:02.300-06:00

Wow! Those are some interesting thoughts. Do you have an opinion on the rape issue, the incest issue and what about government run programs such as WIC and Food Stamps? Don't think we should have those either?

Birth Control, in my eyes, is a choice for some people to be responsible. Some people believe that life is not all about procreating. And yes, from that statement you probably can infer that I am not a religious person, just a law abiding citizen.

Thanks for your time.