Adoption Vs Abortion
Adrienne
Speaking from experience here, I don't understand how PL'ers can use
adoption as a valid reason to not abort. I understand that there are
many people/couples out there that cannot conceive on their own. But
why should women who are able to reproduce have to go through an
unwanted pregnancy just to provide someone else with a child?
I gave a child up for adoption six years ago. I am glad that I had her
and glad that I was able to choose her parents. I feel for those who
cannot conceive. I however do not want to feel that in the future,
should I become pregnant, that I have any sort of obligation to consider
the wants/needs/feelings of those who oppose my abortion (if that is my
choice) based on what their lack of ability to have a child.
As a woman who went through an open adoption procedure, I can tell you
that the utter lack of sensitivity on the part of those wanting to adopt
was astounding. The same folks that try to prevent abortions are also
very particular about what "kind" of baby they adopt. Like "healthy,
white newborn wanted". If they were so concerned about potential
abortions why wouldn't they simply say "couple wants to adopt baby".
Why not a black, chinese, hispanic,jewish, korean baby?
I made sure that the couple who adopted my child was open to adopting
other races as well. This was important to me because otherwise I would
have felt as though they were just trying to adopt a child that could
conform to them, not the other way around. I was thrilled when I found
out that two years later they did adopt a hispanic baby, now she has a
sister!
I have also had an abortion and despite all the cries from the pl'ers, I
felt good and secure in my decision. It wasn't easy to do, but I know I
made the right decision. Instead of pl'ers harrassing women in front of
abortion clinics, why don't you just go out and help the women who did
choose to go through with the pregnancy? Maybe if you devoted 1/10th of
your time to helping women who are stuggling with a child they kept
(despite financial resource, emotional support, etc) then you could make
a real difference in the lives of children who are already born. It
would seem to me that that would be the most productive way to channel
your energies.
I really don't mean this as an "attack" on anyone. I have experienced
both sides to this issue and let me tell you, neither decision was easy.
And neither came without deep soul searching and buckets of tears.
Adrienne