My stance

Even if

-- there were no more orphanages because there was no longer a need

-- there was no longer a need for social workers or child protective services

-- there were no more instances of rape and incest

-- there was no domestic violence anywhere in the world

-- there was no hunger anywhere in the world

-- every child had a supportive, loving and nurturing family, of whatever gender orientation and diversity

-- education was treated with the same financial respect as the military

-- universal and complete health care was available to all

-- there was no need for any child to grow up in poverty

I would still support a woman's right to determine her own reproductive situation.

I believe women deserve to determine how their uteruses should be used. 

I believe that any and all reproductive choices ultimately are a woman's responsibility. 

I believe those decisions are between a woman, her doctor, her conscience and any higher power she may hold dear.

I believe the man may be included in the decision-making process, but that is the prerogative of the woman, and there are certain instances when the man absolutely has no say in the matter.

I believe ultimately it is her burden to live with, no matter what decision she makes, and no one can truly know what's going on in her heart.

I have known a woman who had an abortion, a woman who gave up her child for adoption, and I took the other choice, to bear and raise.

I know that with only one or two factors either way, I could have been either of my friends.

I know that all I could ever do for them was love them, hold them when they cried, and let them know that I in no way judged them.  It isn't and was never my place or right to do so.

I know beyond doubt that my son knows he is loved and wanted because I had ALL the options and I had to face them, examine them, and then decide.

Because I had the freedom to choose.

Comments

[Dina]

(working now, Fran...)

AMEN, SISTER.

I've known women who have made each of these choices as well, and none were made lightly. Just as with any decision, we make the best one we can at the time with the information we have available, and part of the right and responsibility and freedom of being an adult is just that.

[Tenessa]

I clicked on your name over at FTK and I wanted to let you know. I loveloveloveLOVE this. Thank you.

[Deanna]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I remember before Roe v. Wade, there were some scary times for women, and they were always the responsible party for pregnancy and bore the brunt of shame for having sex in the first place.
Where I lived in high school, pregnant girls got married, and our town had the highest prenant bride rate in the state. One of my classmates left school after our freshman year. A couple more by the time we were juniors, we had a graduating class of 52, so everyone knew.
One of my college classmates was flown to Japan by her family twice for abortions before R v.W.
I can't even imagine going back there again.