A Comment on a Pro-Life Blog [and birth control poll]

Related Poll: Should taxpayers' money be used to make birth control more freely available? 


So, I have this bad habit. Sometimes, when I'm really into a certain topic on someone else's blogpost, I'll comment and respond to comments. What's bad about that? Nothing. The problem is, my comments can get nearly as long as the blogpost itself. Like today, at Live Action News and Opinion Blog, on Kristen Walker's post "Jezebel Founder Vs. 'Paternalistic Middle-Aged White Guys'." It's a pro-life blog that I follow. This particular post isn't the best example of Walker's work, but it's interesting.


Sometimes, pro-choice people comment on the posts. These comments may or may not be thoughtful (and comments on controversial topics are often, unfortunately, not at all thoughtful, no matter what side you're on). Today, after reading one person's comment, I wanted to comment in return. The following near-essay is the result. I hope I wasn't rash in posting it. -_-;


---




Okay, speaking as a Christian, a pro-lifer, and a young adult fresh out of relatively sheltered childhood (in response to both this comment and your other comments)...

First of all, Ms. Walker said straight out that she knew she was going to get "angry and bloggy" - so, I guess if she wants to rant, then you can rant, too. I hope you both feel better after doing so. If I'd only ever read Ms. Walker's more ranty blogs, then I'd have a hard time taking her seriously, too, no matter how many truths were in her rants. Fortunately, I've read some of her other posts, and I know she is a rational person.


I hope you don't mind me replying to your comment myself. And I hope you haven't already lost interest in this particular discussion. 

I, a Christian and pro-lifer, am perfectly okay with birth control IF the following is the case:

- It prevents pregnancy, not ends it. I can't support anything that could possibly kill an innocent human being, no matter how small of an embryo he/she may be.
- It doesn't hurt the woman. Or, if it does, there is a big warning label on the box and she knows exactly what it could do.
- I don't have to pay for it through taxes. Though I won't complain quite as much if it's guaranteed to be safe for everyone involved and follows the first condition.

I think Ms. Walker would agree with me on the above points. Hopefully she will correct me if I am wrong.

The only belief I want to "force on people" is that killing unborn children is just as wrong as killing born children. Actually, you don't even have to believe it, so long as you don't kill them. Put yourself in our shoes. If you saw something as murder (for example, the stabbing of a 14-yr-old innocent), and it was considered acceptable in many social circles, you'd be pretty riled up, right? You would definitely want to force your belief that killing is wrong on the killer and on anyone who accepted the killing. Many of us feel just as strongly about killing unborn babies. Can you really blame us for wanting to force that belief?

While I personally plan to save myself for marriage, I understand that not everyone will do so. I have reasons behind my decision (and yes, the reasons go beyond "Because-God-and-Daddy-and-Mommy-said-so," though I trust God enough to consider that plenty reason). I will not go into those reasons here. This is a blog about abortion, not chastity. And It's not my place to judge those who have sex before marriage, though I may express my concern and disagreement.

Further (*blush* - I can't believe I'm writing this), I don't think Christianity (that is the religion you're pointing fingers at, right?) holds the "belief that sex is only for procreation." Check out Song of Solomon in the Bible if you don't believe me (you can find it online if you don't have a Bible). It just holds the belief that this particular pleasure is best saved until after marriage.

While I can't convert the world to my beliefs on chastity, I can ask that I don't have to pay for people to have "safe sex" (is any sex outside of marriage really safe? Aren't there at least emotional, if not always physical, complications?). I can ask that either they pay for their own condoms/pills/etc., or get them from a place that doesn't run on taxpayer money.

I can also ask that people remember that sex can lead to sperm and egg coming together, which tends to lead to babies (or, as you said, procreation). The most reliable way to avoid pregnancy is not to have sex. That's science, not religion.

I decided to ignore the more ranty parts of your comments, and your responses to the more ranty parts of Ms. Walker's post. I hope I didn't loose you - I have a bad habit of making my comments way too long.

Girl Scouts Support of Planned Parenthood (and related ideas)

New Poll: What do you think of the Girl Scout organization's support of Planned Parenthood? Votes and comments welcome as always!

I just discovered the site "Speak Now: Girl Scouts". It's a site founded by two teenage girls who decided to leave Girl Scouts after 8 years of commitment because they found out Girl Scouts supports things they don't - namely: Planned Parenthood and abortion, thought it doesn't stop there. Even if you agree with the pro-choice cause, I encourage you to check this site out. I think it's important to know what some of the most respectable organizations in our nation are teaching our kids (yes, yes, I realize I count as a kid depending on the situation).

I found some of the information on this site shocking. I understand if an organization like Girl Scouts gives a little, um, misguided support of the pro-choice cause (count the euphemisms; I'm being nice). However, I did not expect them to undermine the family values I consider so important in as many ways as Speak Now: Girl Scouts lists.

Anyone know of some yummy cookies that taste like thin mint Girl Scout cookies?

Would You Describe Yourself as Pro-life or Pro-choice?

Why don't we dive right into one of the most controversial and sensitive topics out there? The poll's to the left, so please vote! Remember to only vote once.

Abortion is a tough topic, and many people have been hurt. It's an important issue, and I don't expect you to hold back the truth. I do expect you to share your opinion as gently as possible.

Here's a bit of advice for both sides:

Pro-lifers, calling pro-choice folk murderers or ridiculing their relationship choices will only harm the pro-life cause... and get your comment deleted. Keep in mind that not all who are pro-choice have heard the full pro-life argument. I repeat: many women and men have been hurt by abortion and the issues surrounding it. Knocking them over the head and calling them bad will not make your cause look good.

Pro-choice? Similarly, I ask that you don't label pro-lifers as women-haters or religious fanatics. Many of the most active pro-life advocates are women, and not all hold a religion or faith. Those who do consider themselves under a religion or faith usually have more reason to be pro-life than "my pastor told me so." If you want to be taken seriously, state opinions that are fact-based.

I'll comment with my own opinions on the topic some time soon. For now, I want to see if anyone visits the blog.