How could you?

Published on October 22, 2004 By dharmagrl In Current Events

I had to go see the neurosurgeon this morning (that's a whole other article). There's an abortion clinic right next to his office, and there were the usual motley crew of assorted whacko's and nutjobs protesting outside.

One of them caught my eye.....because she had her 2 kids with her. Little kids, maybe 5 or 6, certainly no older than 7.

Little kids, holding big pictures of aborted fetuses. Bloody, gory, graphic pictures of tiny shredded and mangled bodies.

Little kids, who aren't old enough to understand the process of reproduction, let alone termination of a pregnancy. Kids who think that babies come when mommy and daddy have a kiss and a cuddle, or that infants are delivered by a stork.

Little kids, who dont know any better, being used by parents who damn well do.

I think it's reprehensible. I think that there is no excuse, absolutely none, for using your child in such a disgraceful manner.

Here's the thing that really gets me: these protestors were harping on about how precious a child's life is, about how someone had to protect these little innocent lives.....and there they were, exposing their own children to things that no 5 or 6 year old should ever be exposed to. Ever.

I am sickened. Truly, deeply, sickened. How could she? How could anyone?

Comments (Page 2)

Amitty

on Oct 23, 2004

That is brutal, kids should never be used as the visual for protest.

dharmagrl

on Oct 23, 2004

Wow....

Wonderwild:

I must objectively point out that parents, while they should never force a belief or opinion on a child, do have a right to expose them to their values, whether or not anyone else agrees with those values. That's called raising them

You're exactly right, and parental neglect in any form is reprehensible, be it using your child as a protest tool in front of an abortion clinic or exposing them to violence in the form of 'entertainment'. I also agree with your point about passing on your values to your children...but in same cases, cannot what you call 'raising' your children be 'abuse' to someone else? People being left alone to raise their children has caused a lot of legislation about what parents can and cannot do...parents are no longer allowed to put a hand to their child in some states because of another parent's methods of rasing their child...

Oh, and I like you, WW. You make me think...come back often!

LW:

horrible things that responsible parents try to shield their children from until they are old enough to deal with it

That's the point that I should have made in my original post. Until they have the maturity of years or personality to comprehend such things, children should be protected from them. Exposing them before they are ready is....well, who knows what kind of lasting effect it's going to have on them?

Chip:

Parents should instead be teaching their children to value life. All life. Respect it and cherish it. When the child is older (maybe birds and bees age), then they may want to bring up the topic of abortion and at that time, if they've raised their child well (in the way they want) that respect and love for life may translate over to being against abortion. That's bringing up a child.

Yes, absolutely!

Amitty and Mason...thanks for your comments!

wonderwild

on Oct 23, 2004

Chip;

Parents should instead be teaching their children to value life. All life. Respect it and cherish it.

This I agree with, wholeheartedly. I think there is an appropriate time to broach as enormous and ...graphic a subject as abortion. However, decisions regarding that age and the right of a parent to determine the "correct time" is in jeopardy, as Dharma posted below...

People being left alone to raise their children has caused a lot of legislation about what parents can and cannot do

This is another cause for concern. Each person believes that they are correct in their method of childraising. Granted that there is a percentage of parents that are not fit by anyone's standard...the question remains, for the standing portion of parents such as, I would hope, all of us here, who are entitled to raise their children without legislative interference, why must they (we) be robbed of the right to pass on the moral and political heritage of their (our) choosing? Perhaps a more proactive approach to social services, stricter pentalties for offending parents, or perhaps there is no answer, not even in government involvement, because the only persons likely to follow the rules are the ones who had the sense not to wound the innocent in the first place.

Similarly

in same cases, cannot what you call 'raising' your children be 'abuse' to someone else?

Perhaps, but who is to say what is and what isn't abuse? It's possible that, to someone with an ultra-conservative view, certain cartoons which feature animated violence is abusive, while to another more liberal parent "time out" inflicts wounds to a child's sense of acceptance. Who has the right to say? Does someone else have the right to make that choice for your children? Do you have the right to make it for someone else's? Does someone who has never met your family have the right to govern you because someone else failed? And yet, what child doesn't deserve safety. A heartbreaking dilemna, in any event.

wonderwild

on Oct 23, 2004

Oh, and I like you, WW. You make me think...come back often!

Also, thank you for the welcome. I feel I am in great company.

chiprj

on Oct 25, 2004

Been mostly away from JU for a few days, so I have appeared to be a runaway blogger for a little bit... HAHA!

However, decisions regarding that age and the right of a parent to determine the "correct time" is in jeopardy, as Dharma posted below...

I'll agree with this point. Unfortunately, people's lack of common sense (at least in my opinion in this specific case and in others) has caused the goverment to step in a legislate in ways that are unwelcome to the parent. It's too bad that people feel the need to teach their children about their stances on abortion by having them tote posters outside a clinic at such a young age...

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