Diaries abound today on the sensitive subject of abortion, due to the murder of Dr. Tiller. I have read a couple that have been written by women sharing their personal stories. I have in the past written about my late term procedure. I have also read a couple of diaries that have a problem with the language we use when discussing abortion and stances taken on this subject, mostly not caring for the term pro-life. Because of my history with abortion, a doctor who performed late term procedures and a very real desire to have a second child I come to the abortion debate with a very personal and thought out perspective on this language. I choose to embrace the language of life and choice.
If you believe that American's should have health care, then you are pro-life.
If you believe that American's should not have to fight in wars of agression based on falsehoods, then you are pro-life.
If you believe that American children should not have to worry about having enough to eat, then you are pro-life.
If you believe that American children should not have to worry about being beaten and abused, then you are pro-life.
If you believe that the taking of another's life,one that is already here, is wrong, then you are pro-life.
If you believe that you cannot make anothers choice for them regarding pregnancy, then you are pro-choice and pro-life because you are affirming a women's personhood, by not taking away her decision.
What happened in Kansas yesterday was done by a person who is neither pro-life or pro-choice. They decided to end a life, one that was already here, and nullify the doctor's ability to choose how he lived his life. When viewed through the above prism, those who are against abortion are frequently not pro-life; they are about control.
Life is about much more than pregnancy, and abortion is about much more than choice. I believe that when we get caught up in the language debate we loose ground. I believe in life. I believe in choice and I believe that choice affirms life.
I chose to get pregnant. I chose not to deliver a dead baby. I chose to have a late term procedure. I chose to carry another pregnancy to term and I chose to celebrate my daughter's life. I choose to embrace the language of life because I believe it belongs on the side of choice.