What abortion means to me.I AM A 58-YEAR-OLD WHITE woman. I had an abortion 19 years ago. I am not bragging, nor am I apologizing. I happen to believe that abortion is a form of murder. I am a mother of three children in their twenties and I am an ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. Christian minister. I had one child, and then twins, which gave me the great good fortune of having three children in diapers. While nursing the twins, I did not think I needed birth control. I was wrong. When I got pregnant with the child I call Alma, which means soul, I was not interested in a fourth child. I chose with some searching to exercise my constitutional right to prevent her birth. I did what was right for me, for my family and for my work. Why do I tell my story now? Because i fear that abortion rights may become even more restricted than they already are. I also find the very intimidation that I experience in telling my stoW to be the reason I must speak. Prolife people like to punish people, and my editor warned me to expect a lot of heat. Should fear prevent free speech? I think not. The quarrel QUARREL. A dispute; a difference. In law, particularly in releases, which are taken most strongly against the releasor, when a man releases all quarrels he is said to release all actions, real and personal. 8 Co. 153. about when life begins is disrespectful dis·re·spect·ful adj. Having or exhibiting a lack of respect; rude and discourteous. dis  re·spect to the fetus fetus, term used to describe the unborn offspring in the uterus of vertebrate animals after the embryonic stage (see embryo). In humans, the fetal stage begins seven to eight weeks after fertilization of the egg, when the embryo assumes the basic shape of the newborn . I
know I murdered the life within me. I could have loved that life but
chose not to. I did what men do when they take us to war: They choose
violence because they believe it is bad but better than the
alternatives. This freedom is not just for men.
I have long thought the drama of the abortion battle was not about unborn babies but about women, sex and maturity. We are considered babies, sub-adults, in need of supervision over our sexuality. When I made my choice to end life, I was behaving as an adult. I did not shrink from Verb 1. shrink from - avoid (one's assigned duties); "The derelict soldier shirked his duties" fiddle, shirk, goldbrick avoid - refrain from doing something; "She refrains from calling her therapist too often"; "He should avoid publishing his wife's the responsibility or ask someone to make the choice for me. I certainly did not request my government's help. Things happen sexually between people that are not always controllable. The unprotected sex Unprotected sex refers to any act of sexual intercourse in which the participants use no form of barrier contraception. Sexually transmitted infections Specifically, unprotected sex I had with my husband while nursing our twins had a consequence that neither of us desired. It was a human life. That's why we named her, wept for her and wanted her but knew we did not want her enough. Birth control and abortion are positive moral forces. They allow sex to be both procreational and recreational, for men and for women. That is good news, even though most of the world doesn't know it yet. In Africa, men assume the freedom to have unprotected sex with women, giving them AIDS and heartbreak. What does our so-called prolife government recommend? Abstinence abstinence: see fasting; temperance movements. ! Such a recommendation is immoral to its core. Protected sex pro·tect·ed sex n. Sexual activity in which a condom or similar device is used to minimize the risk of pregnancy or of spreading or contracting a sexually transmitted disease. is the most moral thing of all. Unprotected sex is adolescent, immature immature /im·ma·ture/ (im?ah-chldbomacr´) unripe or not fully developed. im·ma·ture adj. Not fully grown or developed. immature unripe or not fully developed. , sometimes life-threatening and always stupid. In the battle over killing our babies, I hear people wanting to kill women's maturity and sexuality. That's why I am breaking my silence. I am a 58-year-old, sexual, mature woman. I had an abortion. I am not bragging, and I am not apologizing. Abortion that is legal, safe and rare is the best policy conceivable for men and women and for mature, moral sexuality. REV. DR. DONNA SCHAPER Amherst, Mass. |
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