679 - Peace & Life: Life-affirming Solutions - September 8, 2023
Where Choice and Life Agree
The Washington Post ran a September 5 opinion piece called We disagree on abortion. Here’s a pro-family agenda both parties can support. The two authors identify themselves as a pro-choicer and a pro-lifer, and go into depth on a variety of public policies that would help people who have children.
Kathryn Jean Lopez comments in The National Review on how we need more of this kind of approach. We have of course been pushing this approach for years, and we like to see it popping up in the mainstream media.
See also advocacy for such policies at PostRoeFuture.com - signed by several prominent pro-lifers, and Make Birth Free: a substantial proposal being promoted by our member group Democrats for Life.
Pregnant Women’s Fairness Act Needs Defending
This comment from Serrin Foster of our member group Feminists for Life: “Initially, Feminists for Life of America was concerned that the Pregnant Women’s Fairness Act (PWFA) was a Trojan horse and that “other medical conditions” would include abortion.
Despite reassurances by those who sponsored the bill, Sen. Casey (D-PA) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), you have proven us right as noted by Politico. By not accepting the intentions of the PWFA authors, the EEOC will further divide those on both sides of the abortion debate, thus rendering useless our shared solutions to the challenges women face.”
Public comments regarding this rule interpretation must be received by the Commission on or before October 10, 2023. Click here to submit your comment online. FFL would appreciate getting a copy of comments; send to info@feministforlife.org.
Our Latest Blog Post
In Two Women Pregnant from Rape, Two Outcomes, Sarah Terzo covers the case of one woman who had an abortion of a pregnancy caused by rape, and the other gave birth to the baby. The cases show that abortion isn’t a simple solution to the problem. This is common with violence, since people often use it on the idea that it’s a problem-solver, only to find that the aftermath shows this to be deceptive. Sarah then covers what studies show about women pregnant from rape.
Quotation of the Week
September 1, 2023
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am 38, and 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with a severe, life-limiting disease that leaves me in enormous pain around the clock.
Unfortunately, my body seems to be breaking down at a faster rate than many others with this disease. I have begun using various aids, such as a wheelchair, which somehow seems to give people a free pass to ask about my limitations and tell me about theirs.
I am not ashamed of my disease, and I don't mind telling people about it. My problem is when people, even some in my own family, tell me that they could never deal with such a diagnosis, and that they would kill themselves if they were me.
I never know what to say to this. I feel like I need to put on a brave face at all times, when in truth, I have been hospitalized for trying to end my life due to my pain. (This is none of their business.)
I am trying to make the most of the years I have left and trying to find reasons to live; reminders of death make my already-difficult life much harder. Is there a way to succinctly tell people that this comment is both unwarranted, unwanted and pretty damn offensive?
GENTLE READER: "What a terrible thing to say."