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calimary

(88,695 posts)

14. Dayum! What a GREAT essay, Mother Of Four!

Sun Oct 27, 2013, 01:13 PM

Oct 2013

This:
"It's about learning how to make your own choices without having to push your beliefs on others to validate them."

To me that is the very essence of what it means to be pro-choice. It's the individual's choice. Nobody else is worthy to interfere or weigh in or judge or anything. It reminds me of a girlfriend who got pregnant by her boyfriend. She was working at a business that had a morals clause in its employment contracts. They had to get married - something he hadn't planned for or was ready for, but they did. Long before that, though, she called me with the news. She was a mess. "Everybody I know says I should get an abortion. All my girlfriends. And my boyfriend." I thought for a moment and then said - "well, what do YOU want to do?" She responded, assertively, "I want to keep it." And I said "okay then. That IS YOUR choice. And since I'm pro-choice, I absolutely support you in that." Ordinarily, I might have suggested she terminate, too. But for Pete's sake, it wasn't for ME to say! It wasn't my body. It wasn't my life. It wasn't my job. It wasn't my employment contract. It wasn't my predicament. It wasn't my pregnancy. Most people just don't get that.

Thank you for sharing this story. It's well worth pondering at length. WHATEVER side one is on.

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Highlight:

My 17 yr old asked me to tell how I became pro-choice. (Long) [View all] Mother Of Four Oct 2013 OP

Thank you for your important story. Brickbat Oct 2013 #1

EXACTLY Heather MC Oct 2013 #17

You are good person and have a good heart! Thucydides Oct 2013 #2

Thank you. I think many women have been faced with these difficult choices and I'm so glad I live in OregonBlue Oct 2013 #3

I am amazed at how my attitudes have changed over time. Curmudgeoness Oct 2013 #4

agreed... awoke_in_2003 Oct 2013 #24

You were so brave...all those illnesses, stress, "advice", inner strugles...I felt every one. libdem4life Oct 2013 #5

You are so correct…Thank you for posting this...how can we know for another.. Tikki Oct 2013 #6

Pro-choice means having the choice to continuing the pregnancy or terminating it uppityperson Oct 2013 #7

Thank you for sharing your story mcar Oct 2013 #8

Thank you for this. Very much. n/t Mira Oct 2013 #9

Thank you for this post and for sharing your story. Tuesday Afternoon Oct 2013 #10

Thank you so much for sharing your story. WinstonSmith4740 Oct 2013 #11

Props to you for your strength, courage and willingness to share this very personal story. Rebellious Republican Oct 2013 #12

Thank you for sharing your personal story. northoftheborder Oct 2013 #13

Dayum! What a GREAT essay, Mother Of Four! calimary Oct 2013 #14

What amazes me is... Jasana Oct 2013 #15

Thank you for sharing your story. Your voice is important. Silver Gaia Oct 2013 #16

In your wisdom and compassion you show so much love... Hekate Oct 2013 #18

How beautiful ismnotwasm Oct 2013 #19

the act of making the choice 53tammy Oct 2013 #20

Bravo!! pitbullgirl1965 Oct 2013 #21

Agree. Forced abortion is anti choice. pitbullgirl1965 Oct 2013 #22

It's not nosy at all.... Mother Of Four Oct 2013 #33

Your OP was excellent, thank you. mountain grammy Oct 2013 #44

That's not weird at all pitbullgirl1965 Oct 2013 #49

Beautiful story. Thank you n/t. jazzimov Oct 2013 #23

k&r... awoke_in_2003 Oct 2013 #25

Thank you. Kath1 Oct 2013 #26

Pro-choice and divorce Miss Alpha Centauri Oct 2013 #54

welcome to DU gopiscrap Oct 2013 #55

Thank you! Kath1 Nov 2013 #58

Oh, and welcome to DU, Miss Alpha Centauri! Kath1 Nov 2013 #60

Thank you for posting! I also had PIH with my pregnancies, although I only went on GreenPartyVoter Oct 2013 #27

Thank you !!! janlyn Oct 2013 #28

I'm glad you stopped judging yourself. Mother Of Four Oct 2013 #34

wow thank you for sharing gopiscrap Oct 2013 #29

Thank you leanforward Oct 2013 #30

Thank you. kiranon Oct 2013 #31

I came back to check on my post... Mother Of Four Oct 2013 #32

Thank YOU for sharing your very personal story! Kath1 Nov 2013 #61

Thanks for sharing this - TBF Oct 2013 #35

Thank you for writing this mgardener Oct 2013 #36

Yes. I really dangerous pregnancy or birth will change a woman to pro-choice very quickly. JDPriestly Oct 2013 #37

I appreciate you sharing your story. One question, however. Sheldon Cooper Oct 2013 #38

It was a reverse thought process... Mother Of Four Oct 2013 #50

Thanks for the clarification, I appreciate it. Sheldon Cooper Oct 2013 #51

Thanks for sharing. Borchkins Oct 2013 #39

Standing ovation. Bravo! GliderGuider Oct 2013 #40

And I believe that 99.999% of all women make the 'right' choice for themselves. sinkingfeeling Oct 2013 #41

k&r Starry Messenger Oct 2013 #42

Bookmarking! k&r B Calm Oct 2013 #43

I too have kicked, rec'ed and bookmarked this amazing thread! mountain grammy Oct 2013 #45

Thank you for sharing your story. PeaceNikki Oct 2013 #46

What an amazing story! redstatebluegirl Oct 2013 #47

That didn't require patience tavalon Oct 2013 #48

It should be a choice, the person has to make the choice and no one else. Thinkingabout Oct 2013 #52

Roe v Wade was settled in my early teens LittleGirl Oct 2013 #53

Thanks! woundedkarma Oct 2013 #56

K & R Scurrilous Oct 2013 #57

I agree with you 100%. Pro-choice is exactly that. Republicans have no right to tell women liberal_at_heart Nov 2013 #59