Ms. Magazine Abortion Petition

Lisa sent me an email from Ms. Magazine, about their new petition. As a throwback to the 1972 petition in which many women admitted they had illegal abortions, Ms. is asking that you sign up that you've had an abortion, or that you stand with your sisters regarding legalized abortion. Petition is here.

From the email:

Even then, to many it seemed absurd that the government could deny a woman sovereignty over her own body. It is even more absurd in 2006 that an abortion ban has passed into law in South Dakota, though it has been stayed because an initiative to remove the ban has been placed on the state's November ballot...
Just as in 1972, Ms. will send the signed petitions to the White House, members of Congress and state legislators. We will also post the petition online.

There you go. It's astounding to me how many people feel like they're all alone in the abortion thing. I repeat constantly that almost 1/2 of American women will have an abortion at some point in their lives. Between your mother, sister and aunt, one of them had an abortion, or will. It's one of the most common, safe, medical procedures, and I, for one, think it's absurd that it's one of the first topics people think of when they think about politics or the Supreme Court. It's just surgery. Like breast implants, or mole removals, they may not be for you, but they're safe, and they can contribute to a person's well-being. And, as I noted years ago, the death rate from unregulated liposuction is far higher than that of medication or surgical abortion - anyone who actually cared about women's health would be cracking down on plastic surgery.

Comments

[slythwolf]

Ahh, but of course the anti-choicers don't care about women's health--they care about the health of the fetus. And, in fact, they might argue that the death rate from abortion is over 50%, counting fetuses as people.

I continue to counter this fetus-is-a-person abortion-is-murder argument as I have since high school: It's not murder. It's self-defense.

[Charlie]

"I continue to counter this fetus-is-a-person abortion-is-murder argument as I have since high school: It's not murder. It's self-defense."

Its too bad that you, and most of your fellow liberals, have almost utterly failed to even *understand* the conservative arguments, much less refute them. Ramesh Ponnuru has just published a book entitled The Party of Death which lays out all the arguments for the pro-life case. Of course, that book has not been answered seriously, and it probably never will be.

[crispy]

Cara, I'm curious where you got the 1/2 figure for number of abortions. The Allan Guttmacher Institute disagrees with you:

On the basis of current abortion rates, one in three American women will have had an abortion by age 45.
...
New York has the highest abortion rate (38.1 per 1,000 women) followed by New Jersey (36.5/1,000), Maryland (32.5/1,000), California (31.1/1,000), Nevada (30.6/1,000) and Florida (29.9/1,000). The abortion rate in Washington, D.C. is 39.7/1,000.
...
The states with the lowest rates of abortion are South Dakota (6.4 per 1,000 women), Utah (6.6/1,000), North Dakota (6.9/1,000), Kentucky (7.5/1,000), West Virginia (7.9/1,000) and Idaho (9.9/1,000).

Not everyone believes that it is "just a surgery". If that were the case, why would it be so controversial?

Regarding the petition, if you're a reader of Ms. Magazine and don't support their view of abortion, they don't want to hear from you.

Finally, you concluded your entry with:

anyone who actually cared about women's health would be cracking down on plastic surgery.

So are you cracking down on plastic surgery? ... Or don't you actually care about women's health?

[cara]

The old number was 50%. AGI has been lowering it for about 2 years now? PP has the old number up: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/medicalinfo/abortion/pub-abortion-q-and-a.xml

[sovereign]

Here is a good editorial in the Wall Street Journal today by a woman who narrowly escaped abotion:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110008802

She proposes another camapign where people declare "I wasn't aborted." What do you guys think of that?

[HappyMommyx4]

It just makes me unbelievably sad. 53 women's names in the magazine, 53 babies sucked out of the womb. Thrown out as if they were trash, I guess to the woman they are trash. The heart begins to beat at 25 days gestation. That tiny beating heart is stopped and is thrown out with the trash.

I use to be pro-choice, very much so. I even attended a few pro-choice "protest" on my college campus. And then I became pregnant with our first child and it all changed. I have carried 5 lives in my body, saw 5 heart beats on the ultrasound monitor when they were just weeks old. Suffered the horrible loss of one of those babies at 10 weeks pregnancy and mourned for months. While I mourned women were having their babies brains sucked out and thrown out in the trash. And at the same time infertile couples are spending thosands of dollars trying to adopt babies, often in vane.

I care about women's health. Don't have sex unless you are able to raise a child. If you don't do the deed you won't get pregnant. If you were rapped then you should have the morning after pill imediatly available to you.

Women are willing to kill a baby but not willing to go with out sex. Babies die so mommy can get off. Fabulous world we live in.

[lilly]

It is very easy for the ones who have not had an abortion to sit there and yell "Pro Choice".I used to be pro choice until I saw how abortion can destroy a women's life. It is not just about a simple procedure,it can severly damage a person. How many women I have seen really regret their decision. I am not sitting here saying that I am pro life, nor am I sitting here damning the women who chose to have one. All I am saying is that it is a major choice that can ruin your life. The pro choicers are there when the women is chooses to end her pregnancy, but when she yells that she regrets what she has done, the pro choicers are no where in sight.

[monica]

Not only that, but the pro lifers are also judging the women who have had one and regretted it. There is no place for a women who really regrets her choice it to go and talk about it. Another thing I know of a few so-called pro lifers who are marching in the pro life picket line and the next thing they are going in to get an abortion only to be back at that pickett line a few weeks later.
Abortion is not only about the fetus, it is also about the women who feels lost and chooses to end her pregnancy and then really regrets her choice and it later destroys her.

[JEM]

What you have to keep in mind with both sides, and any argument you use is history. When Ms. first came out with those 53 signatures, it was to save womens lives. Why?
Because if a woman really wants an abortion, she'll get it. And you all know it. If a woman sets her mind to it, she WILL do it. By any means necessary.
This is where the clothes hanger in the bathroom or the back alley abortions come in to play. If abotions are banned, thats what people will turn to once again. Then, not only is the baby killed, but a lot of times the mother as well.
Likewise, you have to consider rape or incest. Rape victims are typically too embarassed to admit that they were raped. Or, in a date rape, they may not even wake up and become sober enough in time to actually take the morning after pills. Or what about the children who are victims of incest rape? They can be too young to even know about it. What then? You'll let an abused, clueless twelve year old child have a child herself?
Then you say, they can give it up for adoption. There are already thousands of children thrown into the system. Many don't get adopted. And you want to throw more in. Why should they be any different? And you have to consider at that point in time as well; what psychological trama will be put on the child then?
Even so, some women would not give it up once they had it. But they would not treat their children right, they would be abusive. And, typically this kind of relationship causes teen pregnancies; now we're back where we started.
Lastly, what if the child will be born with a deadly disease? It may die two years after it is born, agonizing the whole way there. Is it truly right to let it suffer?
With all these points, people then say "well, abortion is alright for those cases, so they are exceptions" Alright, so you don't think there will be doctors, in ever state, who will falsify records in order to allow a desperate woman to have an abortion?
Either way, abortions WILL occur. You might as well allow them to happen safely, by the womans OWN choice. However, it must be the doctors responsibilty to educate a woman on all of her options, and all of the consequences. Many women are scarred for life, and anyone considering abortion should also know this. She should meet with someone who has had an abortion, to see what will happen to her. That's a problem that we have; many people don't realise what their life will really be like with out their child.

I personally know I could never have an abortion.

[Suzy Smith]

I'm finally admitting that I aborted at 14 years old. I aborted because I was entirely too young to be a mother. I would have ruined my life and ended up on welfare somewhere, not knowing how to raise a child as I was a mere child.

We need the right to abort. And, it is a right. It is our body, it is a woman's life. There is no argument that can change my mind. I am firmly prochoice and will remain that way.

[Evita Sawyers]

I am pro-choice. Choose to abstain, choose to use a condom (in this day and age of sexual russian roullette, why would you not want to use a condom anyway, with all the std's there are), choose to remember to take your pill in the morning, choose to wait till you are in a committed married relationship before you have sex so that pregnancy isn't such a hard blow, choose to be responsible for your own actions. Abortion is not a choice, it is murder. And I know. I have had an abortion and I am still not over it.

[Mike]

You babykillers should be ashamed of yourselves. I hope when you die you suffer just like babies did when you abort them. The only difference would be that you deserve to suffer and they didn't.

[Karleen]

Anyone who claims the right to legislate someone else's body should open their wallets along with their mouths. They're advocating that an unwanted child come into the world yet they refuse to put their money where their mouth is?

Unless you are willing to personally take on the burden, you have no say (not that you would otherwise). You need to pay for all the prenatal care, the birth expenses, and probably even open your home and provide room and baord to the women who can't get or lose their job because of it. And don't go touting insurance or government programs, because that's still saying everyone else but YOU--the pro-lifer--should pay.

And you also need to consider that women pregnant with an unwanted child aren't terribly likely to care much about it to refrain from drugs and alcohol, or even just coffee, smoking, and other daily things that can harm a baby. What you are touting is the real human tragedy. It's inexplicable abuse to prefer woman give birth to a drug addicted child, or a child with fetal alcohol syndrome, low birth weight, sickly, many of which have a permanent impact on the child's health and development so that it becomes even more of a burden to whomever ends up caring for it.

And then there are those that stay in the home, unwanted, physically and emotionally abused, neglected, and the list goes on.

A moment's mistep should not lead to the lifelong suffering of another human being at the hands of pro-lifers who are butting in to the affairs of others. They keep the stigma in place so that women who can still get a safe legal abortion feel horrible about it. So two lives are ruined.

A responsible adult who has a contraceptive failure should be able to remedy the situation quickly, easily, safely, and painlessly. Not be punished for being that 1% failure of the birth control pill, or the 15% failure of condoms, or even simply the failure to get out of an abusive relationship away from someone who won't let her have any of these things.

You anti-choice people make me ill. You don't know what you're talking about. You cannot see the big picture. You think the world should revolve around what you want. If you don't believe in abortion, don't do it, teach your children not to do it. Don't tell me not to do it because it's my life. You should get one of your own someday.

[Denise]

I choose to use birth control methods. And if they fail, I will consider abortion. The original choice in using contraception was to not have a child. If I have an abortion after my initial (correctly used) methods failed, I haven't changed my mind. I haven't compromised my principles. I exercized due diligence, but sometimes (as with all things) it does not lead to the expected result. It is the chance we take, but we have a safety net through legal abortion.

I've read statistics that half of women who seek abortions had used another method of birth control already. Half of women seeking abortions already have at least one child to take care of. Anti-choice people had better be prepared to house and support their daughters, nieces, and granddaughters AND their extant children(+1) in the event that abortion is outlawed. They'll be knocking. And if they are turned away by their families of origin, we cannot but help them as best we can, in a family of choice.

[Tina]

By the way, the highest state to have abortions if Kansas NOT New York Like everyone thinks. Kansas, a state that has how many so-called Christians? It is easy to judge another for the choice they make. The one's that are judging are the BIGGEST sinners of them all. I belive God forgives the women who have chosen to end their pg's. I also believe that God is watching the so-called Christians and he is very angry at how they jugde so many women.

[Ryan Dary]

I simply cannot believe the views of some people here. They are absolutely selfish in their thinking. The idea that a woman can choose the death of her child is sickening!

Also, those who think that Christians shouldn't judge are not understanding scripture. A Christian should look at everything and decide if it would be pleasing or not pleasing to God. Those things which please the Lord are good and those things that do not please the Lord are bad. The CHRISTIAN is not deciding, but rather using the judgement of God to help them label something as good and something as bad.

I hope that all the women who think that abortion is acceptable will pay more attention to their conscience. It isn't a "judgement" that you're a bad person, but rather that what you're doing something that isn't pleasing to God and it isn't right to take the life of another.

Those who get upset at Christians for making this known and voicing their beliefs are just trying to shut out the Godly belief so they can quiet their conscience.

[Karleen]

God has no place in this discussion because all walks of life and all religions are affected by this issue and the laws should not be dictated by one set of beliefs. Enacting ANY law based on a religious tenet is simply wrong. Ask your anti-choice, fundamental president if the death penalty would please god. Seems such people with those beliefs have no trouble doing away with the individuals who are probably the result of a woman who didn't have the choice. She call is a RELLY late term abortion and you'll be fine.

[Karleen]

God has no place in this discussion because all walks of life and all religions are affected by this issue and the laws should not be dictated by one set of beliefs. Enacting ANY law based on a religious tenet is simply wrong. Ask your anti-choice, fundamental president if the death penalty would please god. Seems such people with those beliefs have no trouble doing away with the individuals who are probably the result of a woman who didn't have the choice. Should call it a REALLY late term abortion and you'll be fine.

[JEM]

Just one comment for all of you "Christians"

If an innocent child who dies (i.e. at birth) is free from sin and goes to heaven..

Why would you fight so badly to keep all of these children OUT of Heaven, and rather let them survive on earth, where Satan could over take them.

Do you honestly think life on earth is that wonderful? If it was, this debate wouldn't be taking place.

The babies don't "suffer". They are freed from suffering from a life on earth; passing it by and going directly into God's arms.

Think about THAT.

[Rockerbabe]

Interesting. I am a 55 year old woman and I am determined to have control over my own life. I work, pay taxes, own property and most importantly, I vote. Forced childbearing is not Christain and certainly not American. 3rd class citizenship (behind men and fetus)is not acceptable to me. I make my own decisions regarding my healthcare and the direction of my life as well as what risk I will assume. The Constitution does not require ANYONE to assist anyone else for any reason. No one has to give blood, donate a kidney, bone marrow, skin, etc. to save another. While I have voluntarily given blood and been tested for tissue typing, the final call is always mine. AND, there is plenty of case law to back up that decision. The government of the US as well as most state governments, does not care one iowa about me or anyone else. . .the government doesn't get to tell me or anyone else that they have to have children they don't want; then there is the chance the government just might tell you you CAN'T have children (if you have some genetic issue, race identity, etc). I will always vote to keep the government out of the lives of women and all other citizens as much as possible.

[rebekah]

I you don't want the responsibity of a child do not have sex! I you kill a 2 day old it is murder. 2 days before birth it is your right. God in the bible says that I knew you before you where born. Kill a child and pay GOD. If you kill a child I hope you go to hell. I don't want to deal with you in heaven.

[A'livia]

It saddens me when people say that we need to have the right to abort-WHAT LIES! i was 14 years old when i became pregnant with my son! 15 years old i gave birth to my beautiful baby boi! Beacause i wanted to finish school- i chose to have my parents adopt him. He knows me as mommy-I went to school-still had a social life - even had a job- and i kept my son. There are sooo many places that will help you if you chose to keep your baby. Looking in my sons eyes everyday, i kno thats what God had planned for him the day he was concieved. Science shows us that everything is laid out the first day the egg and sperm meet. Eye color hair color...everything. Its not a living thing? What kind of *thing* isnt living if it has a heart beat brain waves and can feel pain all before 8 weeks? First of all what kind of non-living thing even has a heart or brain, if it hasnt just been killed? Plants dont even have these, yet we call them living because they are growing. Just as the baby is inside of its mother. I may only be 18 but i know that NOBODY has an excuse to have an abortion. Being raped-i still did not try to *live my life* (im not that selfish!) just because i was hurt. I see my son as a gift. He will one day change the world. I have no doubt that i did the right thing. I urge teenagers to please! think about your options that will benefit not only your child- but you as well! And i am a Christian and i know prefectly well that we DO NOT condem those who have made the mistake of an abortion. We forgive! this is what Gods love is all about!

[Crystal]

wow what a selfish world we live in, where it is so easy to get pregnant, have an abortion or in mant cases get rid of a burden and have no remorse whatsoever. I never believed in abortion and after I had my daughter, I believe in it even less.And since when is a pregnancy between two sexually active consenting adults called unwanted? Sex is taken so casually these days that no one realizes that the consequence, whether you use birth control or not, is pregnancy or worse, an std like AIDS. Please ladies, if you are too young, irresponsible, or just not willing to be a mother, spare us and just dont have sex, trust me it wont kill you,and it will save an innocent human being in the making.

[Veronica]

If the pregnancy is not in your body, why should you concern yourself with some other woman's pregnancy? She will do whatever she wants, no matter what you say or do. Worry about your own pregnancy and let her worry about hers. Case closed.

[Valerie]

Call for manuscripts: Anthologies

Abortion anthology - seeking essays for compilation about the experience of terminating a pregnancy. Expected audience includes those who are about to or who have had a termination. Writers paid upon publication. Send submissions and queries to valeriemw@gmail.com.