A Response to “My Abortion”
New York magazine recently ran a feature article. Considering how often the New York Times newspaper and New York magazine deal with the issue of abortion, this article’s subject matter was not too surprising.
The lengthy article, called “My Abortion,” let 26 women share their abortion stories. The attempt was clearly to “humanize” or “put a face on” those who make this choice. The emotions run the gamut from frustrated to those who could care less about the procedure in their history.
It is obvious in Meaghan Winter’s piece that she is pushing for more access to abortion on demand; the ability for a woman to get an abortion at any point in her pregnancy, and to do so for any purpose. The introduction to the article, before the “stories,” deals with how many states have put in any number of restrictions on abortion in recent months and years.
The stories themselves, while some are difficult to read, are powerful, and I mean that they are powerful across the range of emotions. Some are sad, while others build rage within the reader. As an example of the latter, one woman named Maria speaks of having her abortion after having three children already. What might surprise you, though, was that this was not a decision made for lack of money, as Maria admits that she and her husband have plenty of money. In fact, when the abortion was done, she and her husband decided in the lobby of the clinic to book a vacation to Spain.
The stories cause the reader to think and have emotional reactions; I will give them that. Obviously, I am against abortion, but I try to read some material from the pro-abortion side to know the language that is used. This feature article, as difficult as much of it is to read, is worth your time.
However, Winter’s piece only tells part of the story, though she interviews many women from across the nation. In fact, it doesn’t matter how long the article is, or how many women Winter included, the article would only tell part of the story of abortion.
So, today, I would like to write a response to “My Abortion.” The only problem is I can’t get in touch with the other side to get their thoughts.
No, I’m not wanting to interview people from the pro-life circles or other preachers. I’m not trying to seek out conservative politicians or pregnancy clinic workers.
I’d like to interview the babies, but the “choice” was made to silence their side of the story.
…and there isn’t even so much as a tombstone to mark their memory.
Their deafening silence in the article is their only possible response.
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Background photo credit: Blaise Alleyne on Creative Commons
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5 Comments
Elke
Seeing as some of the stories concerned heavily handicapped babies, I don’t think they could’ve told you much in your ‘interview’, could they?
Adam Faughn
Elke,
First of all, thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I understand your point, but those with these handicaps are wonderful people, too. I have friends who have such children, and while there is obvious difficulty in raising a child with such struggles, those children teach more lessons on love, patience, and mercy than the parents do.
Just because someone is not as strong and vibrant as you and I are does not mean they should not be given the gift of life. I have been blessed by such children (and adults) many times; far more than I have blessed them.
Carrie
Elle, just because a child has special needs does not mean that they can’t communicate. All humans have a way to communicate (whether it’s non-verbal or otherwise). I also know a young lady who is 21 yrs old, recently graduated from high school and has Downs Syndrome. Emotionally, she functions on about a 6 yr old level. However, she is more than happy to let you know what she thinks and feels. (Verbally and non). Please don’t write of children with special needs as deaf, mute, and blind. They aren’t. It is up to us to learn (with lots of patience) how to let them get their thoughts/ feelings out.
Tiffany
Because I had a rare sickness while pregnant I was given an ultrasound weekly. At 20 weeks I found that my baby had a complete left unilateral cleft lip. The doctor also explained to me that he could also be born with any number of syndromes, physical and mental. I never considered abortion, of course, but I did do a lot of research finding that many do abort babies for clefts as well as syndromes thinking their quality of life is lesser. Levi lit up our lives with his sweet cleft smile and thus far has shown no signs of other syndromes or learning disabilities. How sad it would been had he not been given a chance. He is such a complete joy and loves life so much! Should a syndrome appear later on, we will deal with it with love and care just as we did the decision to love him enough to give him the opportunity at life, even with physical deformity and possible other physical/mental issues. He makes our lives so much better. God knew what He was doing when He blessed us with Levi. Although the road was a little more bumpy I am so glad we never considered abortion for our handicapped baby 🙂
Mandi
When my son was stillborn two years ago at dull-term we were issued a fetal death report. He was labeled a fetus, not a baby, infant, or child, but a fetus. He was more than a fetus or just a mass of cells, and, although, he was stillborn and his existence brief, he had life. He kicked for me and he moved for me during those nine short months. And when I held him after his birth, he was quite obviously a baby, a tiny person, not a fetus. It is beyond my comprehension why abortion is even an option at all for any woman. I think the word “fetus” helps to legitimize and justify abortion in the eyes of some because it represents more a scientific process that can be eliminated rather than life itself in the womb. Even the medical world uses it to describe babies from conception until birth, and in my son’s case, a child who died during birth.