Dear Fellow Human Being,
It was shocking to me that you, an adult, were unable to engage in a reasonable discussion with me, a young person. When you recognized me, I didn't try to hide who I was. The reaction I got from one of the people there with you, that it was a good thing I was standing up and getting involved, is a response I've gotten from many Republicans. See, many people involved in politics can support the idea our democracy is about all kinds of voices being involved, even if people don't agree on all the issues. Believe it or not, there are even things people from both parties can agree on.
I was more than happy to discuss abortion with you. I was more than happy to explain the reasons I am pro-choice and I was more than happy to listen to you talk about how your experience having numerous abortions has made you pro-life. It took a lot of courage for you to talk about something so personal with me, someone you just met, and I really appreciate that. What you need to understand is that the purpose of these discussions should not be to change someone else's mind. Neither one of us, no matter how strong our positions or how right we think they might be, has the ability to do that by brute force. The real purpose of these discussions should be for us to understand where the other side is coming from.
You, however, couldn't have this type of reasonable discussion and instead chose to call me a baby killer. Had you been able to act like a reasonable human being and had this discussion with me in a reasonable manner, I bet we could have then found something we had in common. I bet you know some teenagers who are pro-life that would pre-register to vote at 16 or 17 years old if we worked together to restore that opportunity for them, as I know I sure do. We could have talked about our dogs. We could have talked about the weather and how we hoped the rain would hold off. We could have talked about all kinds of things if only you had been able to act like a reasonable adult.
Sincerely,
Another Human Being
Thank you, Madison for helping to make this a much better planet for us all.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful, reasonable reply to a person who is filled with fear and nasty thoughts. Good for you. It is nice to see smart, thoughtful young person, though I am sorry that you have to face these issues already at your age. But, you are a good sign for your country's future.
ReplyDeleteExcellent way to point out the UnCivil War being waged by the GOP.
ReplyDeleteby both (all) sides
DeleteThat was great, and I have to admit I'm jealous. I really wish I could have blogged at your age. You have a great future ahead of you as a writer.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! You can change the world.
ReplyDeleteYou are a truely amazing young woman. your parents did somethinf right Ps, love the hair!
ReplyDeleteStay positive-- it is the angry, fear-filled folks who cannot have a reasonable discussion.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that NO ONE is PRO ABORTION-- all of us wish that there was never any need or reason to terminate a pregnancy. It would be great if there were no accidents, failures of birth control, rape, discoverable birth defects, economic constraints and family needs that might make carrying a pregnancy to term an impossible option.
If you study the history of what life was like here in the USA before legal abortion and more widely available birth control (it wasn't legal until after 1963 even for married women~!), and talk to folks who worked in social services and medicine back in those days, you know that the average married woman before Planned Parenthood has 13 pregnancies-- infant and maternal mortality were enormous problems, and quality of life for children and parents and families were not at all good. Reasonable people can agree, maybe, that abortion should be safe, legal, and RARE, and that politics and religion should not come into this most private of individual decisions.
Every child a wanted child , a child that can be and will be taken care of by loving, able parents is the best goal for us as human beings.
I don't think that anyone is ever happy about choosing to have an abortion-- and maybe we can try to meet on the common ground of thinking that boys and girls should be taught about family planning and responsible sexuality-- where girls are as valued as boys, and where babies and children are taken care of by responsible, healthy adults. Keep up the good work!
I wish there was a name I could reply to as this is one of the most thoughtful and intelligent responses to this subject I have ever had the pleasure to read. I have never felt that abortion was a thing that is chosen lightly by anyone, but that it is a choice that should be available to everyone. I love the last paragraph. What a lovely world that would be! Thankfully, there are still people out there like you and Madison who can respond gracefully and reasonably to such a passionate subject.
DeleteI agree Diane. This is a great expression of my thoughts too. I hope whoever wrote this is able to see that we all agree with what they so eloquently wrote.....
DeleteWhat a wonderful, intelligent person you are!
ReplyDeleteMadison, you rock! Stay reasonable, civil and eloquent.
ReplyDeleteMadison, I do hope that you will continue writing, and sharing it, for many years to come. It is a joy to read.
ReplyDeleteExcellent letter--both from the heart and the mind of a human being!
ReplyDeleteYou are wise beyond you years. This person resorted to what people always do when they can't come up with a legitimate argument; name calling, insults are the only thing they can come up with.
ReplyDeleteOne time, I was working as a cashier at a Sam's Club, and it was a holiday weekend. An elderly woman in very refined clothes, with a perfect hairdo, she was in my line, and she was cussing a blue streak. She had obviously not allowed herself enough time to shop and likely to talk with everyone she knew. So she was angry and not being very "reasonable" -- she cussed the customer I was checking, the ones just in front of her, me a little. The customers in front of her wanted an ice cooler just 15 feet away, and I said sure it was fine for them to get it -- her cussing us all the louder for this. And so we all gave each other sympathetic looks, because little old ladies just aren't supposed to act like that. I was finally through checking her groceries and as she wrote her check, I noted her name was Mrs. Dr. So-And-So. I regarded her once more according to her age and the expectation I had that someone like her would have more grace. I put my hand on the other end of her check and as she released it, I leaned in whisper in her ear, "I'm going to name my daughter Patience Virtuous, after you." Of course, her shock was worth it, and what could she tell my boss but that I had given her a compliment?
ReplyDeleteDon't let other people's lack of manners rattle you. Some of them may have more grace than they bring to the conversation, but most of them don't want to think other people's feelings matter. I personally think political parties are a sham, that the world itself is much more fuzzy and so-so than we are taught -- that we still have a lot to learn about peace and longevity for our culture to be something more grand than it is. I appreciate that you are a young woman writer and that you are already ready to take the lead in conversations on things difficult for others to face much less discuss.
Let me see if I understand? This person had numerous abortions causing her to decide to be pro-life and she called YOU a baby killer? I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
ReplyDeleteExcellent POST and wonderfully thoughtful COMMENTS!
ReplyDeleteI'm sharing this post to my Google Circles and Facebook!
ReplyDeleteI also linked to this post in yesterday's "Thor's Day" column on Moristotle & Co. An interesting commentary ensued on the topic of what a pro-choicer might say in reply to challenges from a pro-lifer. For example:
ReplyDelete"As a pro-choice, vegan, strongly left-leaning environmental and animal-rights activist, there is one question those on the right have spit at me in various confrontations that leaves me struggling for a solid comeback: 'Why do you care so much about trees and animals, and nothing at all for unborn children?' Anyone care to suggest a quick, clever, rock-solid retort?"
"Gosh, it has to be quick, clever, and rock-solid? I haven't even thought of something after an hour, so I don't think I can help you with quick. As for clever and rock-solid, I'm going to bed now—maybe I'll think of something during the night...It isn't clever, and it may be more debate CHANGING than winning, but my muse of compassion offered me a response at about 5:00 this morning: 'I suffer with you the sadness of their loss'."
"Not bad. However, what do you say when they then ask 'Well, if you think their loss is sad, why do you support it?'"
"How about (without benefit of a night's visit from my better-angel muse): 'I feel the pain you seem to be suffering trying to comprehend views that don't align with yours'?"
A third person's comment: "I too have been asked that question, this is my reply: 'No one on the left or right is in favor of abortion, only an insane person would be. However, I'm in favor of a woman having the right to control what happens to their body.'
"It doesn't shut them up, but now they have to defend why they hate a woman's right to decide for herself."
Well said. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI've been on both sides of the "fence" and have never understood the shout down approach used by anyone on either side. In fact, as someone now very much pro-life, I find it abhorrent that people disrespect the humanity of another person to promote the humanity of the unborn. If we all share a human dignity deserving of respect then such rhetoric is anti-life. ~~~mary
Kudos for not sinking to her level of discourse. You will go far in life that way. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteThe safest way and both women do abortion herself until the age of 12 weeks of pregnancy is by taking two medications: obat aborsi Mifepristone
ReplyDeleteThere are many reasons a woman perform an abortion against her pregnancy. To note is an abortion to save the risk of medical side, and therefore choose the safe way . obat aborsi alami , obat penggugur kandungan
ReplyDelete