A quick disclaimer: the article I'm about to write is more of a women's issue about women's opinion and their own individual bodies, so realize that as a single, white American male I'm putting myself in position for heavy criticism, which I'm prepared for and will take for subjectivity's sake.
Sarah Palin was on Oprah Monday to talk about her new memoir, Going Rogue. In the memoir she makes a case for her pro-life stance, commenting on her status as a married woman in politics with five children to raise and a grandchild. Her last child was born with down syndrome, a condition common in children birthed by older women. Her young adult child, Bristol, had a much publicized child with a younger man who has openly criticized Palin's family and appears to be going the way of the typical "deadbeat dad". What a surprise, right?
And this is where that magic word "quandary" comes into play. Sure, it's easy for Palin to be pro-life when she is blessed with the income to care for a young child, particularly one with down syndrome. But what about the millions of young women who are not afforded that luxury? What happens to their children if they assume the pro-life stance? Poverty is an abject state that nobody wants to be born into. It's easy for Palin to sit back and criticize young women who have abortions, but as an affluent politician is she really in position to judge? And furthermore, it's awfully presumptuous to devote a career toward politics while attempting to further that career and, in doing so, placing the burden of child rearing (and a down's child at that) on her husband and political aides. For a former VP candidate Palin comes off as foolish, presumptuous, and, dare I say it, dumb.
Comments
I agree with you 100%.
And, you don't have to be a woman to think she is dumb, shallow and opportunistic.
Keep up the good work.
:-)
What else can the Republicans talk about? They're grasping unto their last supporters, the Christian Right. Democrats know better don't they? Like Obama promising to end the two unconstitutional wars as #1 priority if elected. Fool me twice, shame on me. I've been more than twice fooled over the years by Republicrat lies.
The two party system is great for the Oligarchs, but is killing the people. Does anyone have an antidote for their poison?
Two words for those who don't want the child, or can't afford the child: Adoption Option!
idscforlife.wordpress.com
First off this is not just a woman's issue. It is a fallacy to think that men don't have responsibility in getting a woman pregnant, or the say as to what to do with his child. I honestly don't care that being an independently minded woman others may take exception to my above statements. The facts are there that when you conceive a child a woman (outside of artificial incemination) can't do it alone.
Secondly, this notion that you are not ready emotionally, FINANCIALLy, or otherwise is just an excuse for not being responsible. To spin off of IDSC for Life's statement... If your not ready for the possibility of conceiving a child healthy or with mental or physical problems then don't have sex. Unrealistic you say? Where is the personal responsibility I ask?
My philosophy that I have taught my children (one boy and one girl) is, Unintended consequences in some cases are not justifiable. There is no pro-life quandary when personal responsibility comes first.
And I would also like to add that we are intelligent human beings not animals. That is why personal responsibility is ours not animals.
But the term "personal responsibility" might be defined differently by someone else. When you think of an unintended pregnancy, you think of your "responsibility" to the human life. When I think of an unintended pregnancy, I think of my "responsibility" to my family to be able to care for the children I already have, go to work so we can afford to pay the mortgage, etc. Your definition brings you to a different conclusion than mine - how can either one of us say the other is right or wrong?
Women have been terminating unwanted pregnancies since long before the advent of surgical abortion. Women terminated their own pregnancies! Aborting an unwanted pregnancy has been around as long as we have - to protect mothers who would lose their milk and starve their living child if they became pregnant again; to be able to keep up with a traveling group, etc. Anthropologically speaking, abortion has evolved with us for thousands of years and no religious group will ever change that.
thanks for the comments everyone. I'm glad to know someone is actually reading my articles - if you don't always agree w/them. thanks!
I don't see the problem with her pursuing politics while her husband and aides raise the children. Male politicians have been doing the same thing, except that is their wives doing the childraising. If anything, I think this is progress.
First of all, it's not a "Down's child", but rather a child with Down syndrome. Second, as one who has experienced the mind-numbing fear that comes with a Down syndrome diagnosis, she is very much in a position to discuss a pro-life stance. She is in a minority. 92% of women choose to terminate after receiving a prenantal dx of Ds. You cannot tell me that all of them are poor or not in a financial position to raise a child with special needs. Sarah Palin experienced the terror, and chose to swalow that fear and give her baby life. You may not agree with her, but that is something to admire.
"Poverty is an abject state that nobody wants to be born into."
That is one of the very worst possible arguments in favor of abortion, ever. Because despite how bad it is to be poor (and I live well below the poverty line, so I know whereof I speak), you don't see poor persons committing suicide in droves because their lives are so horrible they'd rather not be living them. Clearly, to most people, alive and poor is preferable to dead and not-poor. Killing someone to prevent them from experiencing poverty is not justification for killing them. Like almost all arguments for abortion, this one assumes that the unborn are not intrinsically valuable without offering any proof to support that assumption.
I have yet to hear a genuinely good argument for abortion, but I've heard a lot of bad ones, and this one is one of the worst.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!