April 1, 2008
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What?
Does he hear himself?
Obama on abortion (read the entire article here):
"This is a very difficult issue, and I understand sort of the passions on both sides of the issue," he said. "I have two precious daughters — they are miracles."
"Look, I got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old," he said. "I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby. I don't want them punished with an STD at age 16, so it doesn't make sense to not give them information."
His children are *miracles*, but other babies are *punishments*?? At what age is one appointed a "miracle" or "punishment"~miracles and punishments could conceivably occur at any age...
Comments (12)
Yeah, this guy is all about change....we just don't know what the change is.
Yeah..interesting. He doesn't want them to suffer for the consequences of their actions. Interesting. However, he is their parent and if he were to allow his own daughters (not that they would need his permission) to have an abortion, that is really their decision. The choice of words, not so great here, btu really his view on abortion is not far off from other pro-lifers.
You know what I think of Obama :hammer:
Amazing. I guess I'm not surprised, but comments like these always make me think.
Wow! Bet he's wishing he could rewind that one. =) I was teen mom and even then would've considered his remark offensive and condescending. Though I had a lapse in judgment, God didn't! He can turn even our mistakes for His glory. I praise Him now that I got a baby and not AIDS. Blessings... Polly (p.s. the banner looks at home over here. thanks for being so sweet.)
That article did said that these remarks were off the cuff- not well thought out ahead of time. Who has NEVER had that kind of blunder ever?? I would say maybe he really meant "burden" instead of "punishment". Do you think 13 years old mama is ready for serious parenting? Is it fair for a teen to get preventable disease so early in life and be stuck with it for rest of their lives? THAT would be like a form of punishment for making a wrong choice. BUT... you can always turn these stumbling blocks into stepping stones and learn from it. No, I wouldn't want my children to be forced to take care of their own babies. I would either adopt them or "give them up" for adoption. I prefer to think in term of adoption than to encourage too-young-to-be-mommy to get abortions. Just my own thoughts!
I think it's a sign of what many Americans really think of children. They think of them as burdens, or inconveniences. It's sad to me!
My third year of teaching, I mentored (she was a new teacher) another teacher who'd had a child at 12 years of age (her son was already an adult--I think around 20 years old). Something I will never forget is a story about her riding around her neighborhood on her bike, being eight months pregnant. She said she still wanted to go outside and play...
There is much more to her story, but in everything she ever told me, she never sounded or portrayed herself as burdened or punished by her son. In fact, I think he helped her to survive...
Musing out loud, but, I also think Obama's use of the word "punished" is also out of context here, for both instances--IMO, an STD would be a *consequence* of making the wrong choices, not a punishment.
I will probably think about this for a little longer, at least. I am trying to think of any instance of teenage pregnancy, that I am personally acquainted with, where the mom felt punished by the baby--so far, I cannot think of one...usually, once the fear of being "in trouble" was gone, the mom rejoiced in being pregnant and arranged her life around her baby...
He is very pro-abortion. I think the question is not does he hear what he's saying but why isn't America hearing what he's saying. :hammer:
@Lizzie -
I think you're right!
@sassykat1213 -
One pet peeve of mine: The idea that people who have unplanned pregnancies, teens in particular, should not care for their children. The idea that they should not have the child, or that it's better to give him or her up for adoption. Don't get me wrong, adoption is the answer for some people, I get that and I'd rather them do that than have an abortion! But, overall, I think the love of most moms for their child and that child/parent bond is good for people. Knowing that your mom had you even though it was HARD and is glad that they did it, is awesome. I tear up thinking about it when I hear the song from the Shania Twain "Up" album called "I ain't going down". I tried to link the lyrics but it didn't work. :O(
@Lizzie - I think you're right, too!
@bethro78 - I had never heard of that song before! I just now listened to it on youtube. It's so, so true. I also agree with you on adoption--but I also have friends who gave babies up for adoption, who have lived to regret it. They were made to feel, as teenagers, that they could not handle having a baby, that it was not possible, etc. Now, as adults, they realize that they *could* have done it. It wouldn't have been easy, but they could have had their baby and survived. It is sad to see their sadness--it will never go away... The same can be said for abortion--they realize later what they've done and they cannot get over it. Talk about "punishment".