Over a year ago I wrote this article on the GOP and the perception women have of them in regard to abortion.
With the recent videos of Planned Parenthood, my hope is that in speaking about these horrific acts, people also recognize the added trauma to those who have experienced abortion.
While I understand that it can be confusing acknowledging this trauma when we participated in the deaths of our children, I think we need to recognize the fact that many women have often been lied to, brain washed, and coerced into terminating their pregnancies.
Parents who threaten to kick them out, boyfriends who withhold love until they give in, husbands who threaten to leave , loss of job opportunities or fears of not being able to provide. Of course, not all women are pressured but many are, and none of these reasons of course, make abortion ok, but it is good to recognize the state of mind of women when they walk into these clinics. After over 20 years of post abortion work I know the majority of women do not walk gleefully into a clinic to terminate their child.
As I listened to a broadcast on CNN yesterday, where they we discussing the "generosity' of those who donate their children, I could not help but think how these women are taken advantage of in their vunerability making them think this was a good, generous thing to do.
I will write more about this later and the impact these videos are having on those we serve, but I also thought reprinting this article was important and hope that those running for president, republican and democrat alike, will begin to see truth of abortion, Planned Parenthood and the pain and trauma of those who have been victims of the lies of abortion.
Who is Sitting on Your Couch?
Abortion and Politics
In a recent GOP poll on women, it shows them viewing republicans as “intolerant”,”lacking in compassion” and “stuck in the past”. It is not surprising. I myself have often become a little more than frustrated in the ways women’s issues are handled, especially abortion.
Since 1973 over 55 million abortions have occurred in the United States. We all know someone touched by abortion whether we know it or not. These women are our friends, our mothers, our aunts, our co-workers, even our grandparents. They are everywhere. They are sitting on the couch next to us and yet no one is speaking to them. Abortion is treated as an issue instead of a very personal experience that has impacted millions of lives.
Like the dynamics in the family unit, the voices and feelings of most women who have undergone an abortion for the most part, continue to be ignored. Sure, some voices are out there in the extremes of the pro abortion movement, but very little is heard from the everyday woman who often feels stuck in the middle of this debate.
Abortion still continues to hold countless women and men captive. Even if they have gone through healing, most do not want the world knowing they have had an abortion. Why? Because the majority of women do not go merrily into a clinic but most often go dragging themselves along because they feel it is a necessary evil in their lives. That of course, does not make abortion right, but believe me, they already know that. It is their son or daughter who has died.
In spite of the fact that these women may not be talking, they are definitely listening. So, what are they hearing? They hear the Democrats telling them it is a women’s body and their choice to make with their doctors. No judgment, a dehumanizing of their child, a go ahead, and yet they sense something is wrong because there is a lack of acknowledgment of what they know was their unborn child.
In contrast, the Republicans are loud and clear on the wrong of abortion, but are seen by women as “lacking in compassion” and “intolerant” because they speak to the issue versus the person. For someone who already feels self loathing or is in denial this only brings more pain.
These women will be going to the polls come this fall. Sadly, their choices are bleak. No one seems to be speaking to their hearts. There is a critical lack of a voice who understands where they are coming from. A voice like theirs, someone who has been there and knows, who can validate their feelings while still voicing the wrong of abortion and also offering them hope of healing, letting them know they are not alone.
Women are waiting for a word of compassion. Without saying abortion is okay, they are waiting to hear a word of understanding and hope of healing. Whether Democrat or Republican these women are listening.
Who is sitting on your couch?
