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Mother criticizes degrading tactics used by Justice for All

Last updated: 10/07/09 10:59pm

Editor,

Today I was shocked to be crossing Smith Plaza between classes and unexpectedly confronted with an 18-foot display of anti-abortion propaganda.
That, of course, is the intent of the “Justice for All” exhibit: To startle, confuse, and frighten women into thinking that they are participants in genocide if they have an abortion. With microphone and camera in tow, this organization has cleverly concocted the appearance of public discourse. But debate is not their intention. With their hyperbolic imagery, the goal is to shame women into their theological belief that life begins when they say it does. This well-funded and well-scripted organization is trained to deflect dialogue by turning everything into a question with the ultimate answer always being that abortion is systematic murder with enormously gruesome images to support their claim.
How is a woman to refute this?  By telling the truth. I have had three pregnancies. The first resulted in the birth of my son, who is now eight, and the second two I had terminated. I am not embarrassed or ashamed by this. They were not the trivial whims of a selfish girl as their propaganda would lead you to believe. I was, and still am, married and in my late twenties, and when I terminated my pregnancies I did not agonize over my decision. I knew what was right for me, and I exercised that right.
I share this to bring the issue out of the horror show that “Justice for All” makes of it, for only when we openly discuss our own truthful experiences can any woman make an informed choice. The fact is women have the right to choose what is best for their reproductive health, but organizations such as this are constantly challenging this right in increasingly insidious ways, and I am disgusted that UNM allows this gratuitous display on campus.
I will not quietly walk by and allow these people to tell me that I am a murderer. I know better. I know that what they present are lies. My hope is that all the other women that are forced to walk by and feel shamed and guilty realize that they are not alone. Do not let them humiliate you. You are not a killer and you are not selfish. You are a daughter, a sister, a wife, a student and so much more than these people would allow you to believe. I am not a murderer. I am a mother: a mother by choice, not by force.

Christina Williams
UNM student

Published October 7, 2009 in Letters, Opinion

89 comments



Carl

October 8, 2009 at 7:46 AM
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Christina: “By telling the truth. I have had three pregnancies. The first resulted in the birth of my son, who is now eight, and the second two I had terminated. I am not embarrassed or ashamed by this.”

NOW YOUR SON IS AN ONLY CHILD. NO ONE TO FIGHT WITH AND TO DIE WITH! Most of us who have brothers and sisters have fights but when we leave the home, we can’t wait to see each other. We grow old and die together with years of building families in between.

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Christina, your son won’t have that and when he gets old enough, I hope he can google your name and learn that you “terminated” his brother or sister for a reason you wouldn’t admit here. WHY? You admitted you had two abortions and since you’re only 29, your son is eight, you had them right after the other.

What was so tramatic, or not so tramatic since you seem to dismiss it like throwing our the morning trash, in your life that you aborted two but you and your husband, who maybe had a say in your decision since he maybe had a say in having sex with you?

“I am not embarrassed or ashamed by this.” Wow! And I bet you’re “embarrassed and ashamed” of being seen shopping at Wal-Mart!


Will

October 8, 2009 at 7:58 AM
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Mark, many women “terminate” for trivial reasons like:

“Can’t be pregnant for my class reunion because I will be fat.”

Read more …

“I’m going to Paris and being pregnant will ruin my trip.”

“Going back to school and I have a hard enough time with the first kid.”

“I’d be pregnant in the summer and that I can’t handle the heat.”

Being that this display has been traveling for years, maybe one of those photos is her son’s brother or sister!


Valhalla

October 8, 2009 at 8:03 AM
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I am for the retroactive abortion of all Reproduction Fascists. Stay out of my womb. The Justice for All folks are a bunch of hateful idiots. Women – pay no attention to these cretins!


Carl

October 8, 2009 at 8:26 AM
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Valhalla: “I am for the retroactive abortion of all Reproduction Fascists.” I know there are tests to check into your “womb” for many birth defects but I haven’t heard of one to test “Reproduction Fascists.” Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we could have such a test. “Republican! Vacuum now!” “Jew! Suck the brains out!” “Jesus freak! Outta here!”

“Maam, you’re fetus has been tested and he has the Leftist and extremist gene. Still want to go through with this abortion?” “Really, hell no! He’s a keeper!”


thomas

October 8, 2009 at 9:04 AM
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Why is there even one male (I hesitate to use the word man) responding to this commentary? I want one man to step up and tell us about how THEY agonized over a decision to terminate or not to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, made even more difficult by the likes of that moron Will. To any man out there that believes abortion is bad, and that women do NOT have a choice with regard to THEIR bodies; Stop having sex with women, in fact the safe bet, is that alternative life style you so adamantly object to. I do not see abortion as a Gay issue, so…
And ladies, you better start asking your prospective sex partners what their stand is before hand, and if they do not support your choice, dump him. If a woman can not choose what she can do with her body what’s next, men telling women they no longer have any say about who enters her body… Wake up folks.


Jen

October 8, 2009 at 9:37 AM
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As soon THEY can pull a fetus (of any age) out of my body and grow it without me, I’m all for making abortion illegal.

Otherwise, leave my body alone. Like any medical decision, these decisions should be between a woman, and her doctor.


aaron

October 8, 2009 at 10:14 AM
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TWO terminated pregnancies? You didn’t think that after the first one to take preventative measures to prevent this from happening again? (i.e. taking the birth control pills offered to you at a discounted rate by the abortion clinic.) Sorry lady, but it takes a despicable amount of carelessness to let that happen.
Abortion has to be legal. Women need a safe place to go to terminate a pregnancy. Before it was legalized, women left and right were dying from infections associated with botched abortions that either they themselves tried to perform or some creep masquerading as a doctor tried to perform. That said, it’s disappointing women like the author of this letter abuse such legislation and then act proud of their foolish decisions.
If abortion isn’t for you, that’s perfectly respectable. Don’t have one.


JD

October 8, 2009 at 10:50 AM
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Carl, you are a sick, twisted, hateful man. AND YOU ARE A MAN, SO YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TELL ANY WOMAN WHAT TO DO WITH HER BODY. How hard is this to grasp? You don’t have a womb, so shut up already.

Religious fanaticism is your problem. Believing that women are a man’s property is so very…oh, I don’t know…very Muslim of you. You like them dumb, barefoot and pregnant, huh? You’re living in the wrong century, man.

Read more …

You are free to practice whatever intolerant, hateful version of Christian fascism you like, Carl, but just because you have misinterpreted the bible’s views on this subject doesn’t give you the right to insult people who have to bravely deal with these issues in the real world.

Plus, your lame attempt at “humor” is pathetic. Right-wing religious fanatics HAVE NO SENSE OF HUMOR. Proven fact.

Yes, I support retroactive abortions for all religious fanatics of every stripe – Christians, Muslims, Jews, Mormons, Scientologists, Wiccans – anyone who tries to force their ignorance on the rest of us. Valhalla is right. In fact, I support forced sterilization for all men who get a woman pregnant but take no responsibility for the child.

But that never happens…right?

Religious fanaticism is the reason the world is so screwed up, and why so many unwanted, neglected children in the world grow up so terribly confused and unhappy. People should have children because they want to, not because it’s “God’s will.”

You people act like abortion is the world’s greatest tragedy. Sorry, but only religious fanatics in America feel that way. Abortion isn’t even an issue in the rest of the “civilized” secular world.

Abortion is, and should always be, a very personal, medical issue FOR WOMEN AND THEIR DOCTORS – not dumb-ass misogynists like the MALE posters on this site.

Personally, I can think of LOTS of things more important than the abortion debate.

What about over-population? Ever heard of that?

Endless, pointless, illegal wars? Ring a bell?

Millions of children living in poverty with no health care?

So what, right?

It never ceases to amaze me that those who so vehemently oppose abortion are such gung-ho supporters of killing living babies in other (non-Christian) countries. I think Jesus would be the first to point out this blatant hypocrisy if he ever does return.

In my experience, it’s always been the ultra-conservative “Focus on the Family, Christian Nation” Glenn Beck-loving folks who are the wife-beaters, child abusers, closet homosexuals, alcoholics and drug addicts. They also seem to have a real problem with fidelity and greed. Why do you think that is? Because they lead such happy, fulfilling, spiritual lives? I think not.

And why it always the people demanding “less government” who have absolutely no problem with the federal government intruding on the lives of women in the most personal way by taking away their freedom to choose whether they want to bring a child into this awful place or not?

Screw those people.


Cee

October 8, 2009 at 11:28 AM
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The mysogeny of cromagnums like the “Justice For All” and some of the male posters here today is infuriating. How dare you judge?! When and if you ever get a womb, you can have an opinion and that opinion will only apply as far as YOUR own womb.

When “Jokesters for All” finally decide to include posters of women who’ve had coat hanger abortions, bleeding and dying in back alleys, and when they display pictures of all the homeless, starving, agonized children across the globe, only then might they become less of a joke themselves. When they also proudly display all the doctor’s and clinic workers who have been blown up, shot and brutally murdered for pursuing a LEGAL profession, only then might we have the beginnings of a discussion. Cold blooded murder is STILL illegal in this country, thank god, but I want to see them justify such murders publically because it is people like Joksters for All who are inciting the fanatics to murder law abiding medical professionals!

Read more …

I don’t see these “Abortion Nazis” actually FEEDING, CLOTHING and NURTURING the millions of unwanted children of the world. Nope folks, their legacy is hate. Hate the women who have abortions. Hate the unwanted children who are a result of unwanted pregnancy. Hate anyone who isn’t like them, who isn’t in their despicable hate club. Hate. That’s what’s being sold on the plaza this week.

Why are women villified for exercising their reproductive rights? Because cromagnums like these are threatened when women are empowered, when women are no longer chattle. I don’t get to judge that mother’s two abortions and neither do you! How DARE you!

Bottom line: a women’s reproduction is between herself and her god and no one gets to insert themselves into that. You don’t get to kill her for that (ala back alley abortions). You don’t believe in abortion? Don’t have one but DON’T tell me what I can and cannot do with my womb. That, thank God, is between me and my God!


Valhalla

October 8, 2009 at 11:44 AM
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Carl:
I was using satire – look it up, you dumbass!


Andres Saenz(UNM Alumnus)

October 8, 2009 at 12:29 PM
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As an anti-abortionist myself, I have to say that the group Justice for All should be banned from our college campus permanently if they are going to continue displaying their graphic images of aborted, unborn children. Their displays only create so much hostility and tension, I could feel it in this letter. The UNM regents should seriously ban them from our campus, I’ve seen their displays myself several times as a UNM undergrad and they are totally ridiculous.

There are more effective ways of convincing people that abortion is wrong…I would make a video that includes many personal testimonies of women that have had abortions. I strongly believe that most women who commit abortions regret their decision later because they are confronted by a myriad of physical, psychological, and emotional consequences.

Read more …

However, I disagree with Christina…an unborn child is a living organism and to end its life makes you a murderer, regardless of the excuse women may have.

JD tried to excuse abortion as a mechanism, or a means, of controlling over-population…what kind of logic is that? An unborn human being is no different than a fully-grown person, they are both living beings. In that case, why not kill all of our senior citizens, since they have already lived most of their lives and are close to meeting their Maker?


wizzlewazzle

October 8, 2009 at 1:46 PM
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2 terminated pregnancies? Sweetie, if you are too stupid to use birth control correctly, you have no right to have an opinion on abortion.

Harsh, but true.


Damian

October 8, 2009 at 2:56 PM
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Anti-abortionists, by their own admission cannot win this debate on merits of reason. Therefore—as many of the political debates turn to these days with healthcare (etc.)—they turn to radical emotionalism, intimidation and misrepresented photographs.

When I say by their own admission, they primarily use photographs of 3rd or late term abortions, regardless of the fact that an overwhelming majority are performed in the 1st.

Read more …

Had they really felt that this was an “all-abortion” issue it would be fair and consistent to use primarily photos of the 1st term. More people may take them seriously had they stuck with this consistency, and could make rational judgements based upon the evidence.

However, even when these people look at how primitive the first term really is, they, themselves, understand the lunacy of such “un“reason.

By their reason, a water molecule is a snowflake, and an acorn is a tree. That is the only way, by direct demanding of the correlation between a fetus and a baby, that they can even attempt to make their argument without including their Almighty (then pretend religion has nothing to do with it).


Apple

October 8, 2009 at 3:40 PM
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Andres~ maybe read more thoroughly the argument before writing “JD tried to excuse abortion as a mechanism, or a means, of controlling over-population…what kind of logic is that?”

He made no such connection, moron.

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There sure are a lot of people grasping at straws on here and most are anti-choice men. Go figure!


Stephanie

October 8, 2009 at 4:20 PM
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Will – Do you have ANY DATA WHATSOEVER to back up your claims as to why women have abortions? Seriously, where do some people get this stuff from???

In fact, 3/4 of women list financial instability as their reason for having an abortion and over 60% of women who have abortions are mothers. Ever stopped to think that many women have abortions because they would be unable to care for their existing, born kids if they had another one?

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Women living at less than the federal poverty level have a more than 4 times greater rate of abortion than women who live at >300% of the federal poverty level. That’s no surprise, since poor women also have significantly greater rates of unintended pregnancy. Ever stop to ask yourself why that is or what you can do about? (Hint: Criticism and judgement are not prodective.)

Aaron & Wizzlewazzle – Newsflash: Contraception doesn’t always work! You have no right or ability to judge that the author of this letter wasn’t using birth control. In fact, the majority of women who have abortions in the U.S. use contraception.

It’s so easy and convenient for guys to convince themselves that women’s reproductive lives are so black and white. That way, as long as they slip on a condom or can find any reason to believe a woman is using contraception, they can have sex and still sleep soundly at night in the belief that they don’t contribute to the “problem” of abortion. Men don’t even have to know how many children – born or unborn – they have fathered, much less do they really have to take any responsibility.

This black and white assumption also makes it easy for them to sit up on their high horse and judge that every woman who has an abortion must not have been using birth control, therefor abortion is a result of women’s irresponsibility and they can feel free to condemn abortion and women who make that choice. Ignorance really is bliss, I guess. :-(


Phillip Howell

October 8, 2009 at 10:58 PM
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Interesting mix of hyperbole, anger, misstatements and denial of facts. Three facts of settled science:(1) At the moment of fusion (conception) we are a new unique human being; our gender, DNA, hair and eye color, etc are all determined then, (2) The purpose of an abortion is to end the life of the fetus and to remove from the womb the remains of the dead (3) The terms zygote, fetus, infant, toddler, youth, teen, adult, senior simply describe the stage or age of our development.
Why is abortion a personal issue to be decided by the woman when it’s impact means the end of the life of another?
Cee, more women are hospitalized and or die due to legal abortions according to NIH and CDC statics then died from coat hanger abortions. Your, “When “Jokesters for All” finally decide to include posters of women who’ve had coat hanger abortions, bleeding and dying in back alleys,” is not supported by facts, it is a made up argument to gain sympathy.
JD it is men of legislative bodies that passed the laws making rape a crime, force men to pay child support, etc. Because they are men should they not have done this? “In fact, I support forced sterilization for all men who get a woman pregnant but take no responsibility for the child.” Do you support this for women who behave the same, who abuse their children, should the women who commit Münchausen by proxy be sterilized? “In my experience, it’s always been the ultra-conservative “Focus on the Family, Christian Nation” Glenn Beck-loving folks who are the wife-beaters, child abusers, closet homosexuals, alcoholics and drug addicts.” Oh; care to cite any studies to support your hypothesis?
Damain, have you looked at the photos of first trimester abortions found at www.abortionno.org ? Did you see the genitals of the little boy? Does that boy represent what you said, “how primitive the first term really is.” Did you see his ribs, his heart?
Damian, you claim, “they turn to radical emotionalism, intimidation and misrepresented photographs. When I say by their own admission, they primarily use photographs of 3rd or late term abortions, regardless of the fact that an overwhelming majority are performed in the 1st.” Why does the age of someone’s violent death matter? Is the life of a 2 year old child less important than a 22 year old, 62 year old? Is the result of an abortion any different if the fetus is 7 weeks (49 days) or 30 weeks (210 days)? Doesn’t the fetus die because of the abortion?
“Had they really felt that this was an “all-abortion” issue it would be fair and consistent to use primarily photos of the 1st term. More people may take them seriously had they stuck with this consistency, and could make rational judgements based upon the evidence. However, even when these people look at how primitive the first term really is, they, themselves, understand the lunacy of such “un“reason.” Please share with us what development you observed in the pictures you seen at the abortionno.org website. Do you disagree that the term fetus describes the age or stage of development of a human, just as the term teen does?
Beyond the anger vented in many postings are the real issues that abortion harms women as medical studies demonstrate. Abortion is related to increased preme births, difficulty getting pregnant, sterility and mental health issues. If we really care about women why would we expose them to unnecessary risks?


wizzlewazzle

October 9, 2009 at 8:53 AM
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stephanie

i suggest reading the leaflets that come with whatever birth control methods you use. 99% is basically infallible. and condoms are only 86% effective so it is your responsibility to think to yourself “hmm…maybe condoms alone just aren’t good enough.” if you have sex, you need to take proper precautions, THE END. life is serious, and the consequences of sex need to be taken seriously also. the exuse “my birth control failed” is the biggest hunk of bullshit out there regarding this debate. i have been sexually active for more than ten years, always used birth control CORRECTLY (including condoms) and have never had an unplanned pregnancy. if you speak to other people who do the same i promise they will never have had an unplanned pregnancy either. and if this woman didnt learn her lesson after the FIRST abortion she had, she needs to be shipped off to sterilization island.

Read more …

people need to start taking responsibility for themselves, that is the heart of this issue. if you have sex, there are consequences SERIOUS ONES if you don’t take care of yourself AND the potential fetus that could result. the biggest problem with sex is misdeducation and people like you who think that responsibility and sex don’t go together are basically losing this debate for the pro-choice side.

and for the record, im pro-choice. being responsible has nothing to do with what side of the spectrum you are on.

wake up, lady.


AA

October 9, 2009 at 9:13 AM
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And cluelless knucks like phillip howel, wizzlewazzle,aaron, carl and the likes wonder why they can’t get laid..?


Cee

October 9, 2009 at 9:13 AM
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Phillip,

Of COURSE more women die of legal abortion than back alley abortions!

Read more …

Because abortion is currenlty LEGAL in this country, women don’t presently NEED to resort to back alley abortions. Double duh!

Think about all the back alley abortions in history. Women have been doing extreme things to end pregnancy since the beginning of time and would be forced to resort to those barbaric measures again if abortion were made illegal. Boy, the women-haters come out en force!

I don’t believe women should be forced to seek unsafe procudures to end pregnancy and if abortion were made illegal, they would. I don’t get to judge their reasons for wanting an abortion. I am not god and neither are you. If they are making a mistake and if it were really murder as the pro-lifers insist, it’s STILL an issue between that woman and her god! If you go according to the bible, you don’t get to condemn her, you don’t get to legislate against her, you get to PRAY FOR HER! I’m not hearing alot of prayer in this discussion.


JD

October 9, 2009 at 9:31 AM
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Phil, you quote me: “In my experience, Focus on the Family, Christian Nation” Glenn Beck-loving folks who are the wife-beaters, child abusers, closet homosexuals, alcoholics and drug addicts.”

And you ask: Oh; care to cite any studies to support your hypothesis?

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I prefaced my comment with, “In my experience…” which would seem to indicate that I am relying on my personal experience of over 40 years on this earth and seeing with my own eyes as one ‘God-fearing’ ultra conservative after another crashes and burns under the weight of their own greed, hypocrisy and immorality.

So it’s not a hypothesis and no studies are needed. It’s called “reading the news”.

I mean, you’d have to be an idiot or blind to be unaware of the litany of sex scandals involving so called “conservatives” just in the past year, but whatever…

You state: “JD it is men of legislative bodies that passed the laws making rape a crime, force men to pay child support, etc. Because they are men should they not have done this?”

Phil, since you seem to know everything, I’m surprised you didn’t realize that any laws protecting women passed over the last century were extremely hard fought and were legislatively opposed at every turn by those wonderful “Christian Nation” Bible-loving men you so admire. It’s fair to say that many of those same groups STILL oppose basic rights for women, including the right to vote! All in the name of Jesus, of course.

And your comments about looking at the genitals of a fetus are beyond creepy.

As for Mr.Wizzlewazzle: women are not gonna take advice from a moron. Sorry. They are much smarter than you – plus, they have a womb.

Would you take advice from a woman on how to increase the size of your tiny dick?

Okay then.

Your infantile opinions about birth control are the reason why you don’t have a girlfriend. Do you even know any women (besides mommy)? I have no idea why any girl in their right mind would hang out with such a hateful imbecile…

Also, try to use proper grammar in your ignorant creeds. It might make your “arguments” more palatable.

Just kidding.


Roshan

October 9, 2009 at 9:44 AM
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“I will not quietly walk by and allow these people to tell me that I am a murderer. I know better.”

Really? How? Did you know about contraception better?

Read more …

Anti-Abortion folk have a right to express their opinion. Deal with it. Certainly it cannot be worse than dealing with your two abortions, or is it? If you made a rational choice and are perfectly happy with your decisions, you should be able to walk by those posters as you walk by other random things that don’t concern you on a daily basis.

These are just visions of an often ignored and hush-hushed reality that most people are simply oblivious to unless personally confronted with it, when sometimes it is too late.

I am personally pro-choice(ish) but I welcome all groups to present their opinions is as shocking a manner as they deem fit. The only thing I would object to is any misrepresentation of fact which I don’t think this group was doing in any way. You can’t accuse people for being well funded and well worded. It just means a lot of people support that idea. That’s how a democracy is. Deal with it.

Anti-abortion groups (or their counterparts) are not going to go away, and I am thankful for that even though I am not in support of many of their viewpoints.


wizzlewazzle

October 9, 2009 at 9:53 AM
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i am a woman, you morons. when was the last time the MEN here commenting read the leaflets that came with the birth control they so strongly rely on the women they fuck to use?? you know nothing about it, so please eject yourself from the debate now.

and im not debating the moral correctness of abortion. im just saying fucking stupid people who aren’t educated or responsible enough to take a pill every day if they want to have sex shouldn’t open their mouths when it comes to abortion.

Read more …

and ok, ill admit it. once its possible that her birth control failed but twice?? take a statistics class. shes irresponsible.


Andres Saenz(UNM Alumnus)

October 9, 2009 at 10:07 AM
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“Apple” is a very fitting name for you…you’re like the proverbial apple that the wicked witch gave to Snow White, full of poison. Did you know that China uses abortion as a means of controlling their colossal population? They have a one-child policy over there, just FYI. Why else would JD mention over-population and abortion in the same context, if he didn’t try to justify abortion as a means of controlling over-population?

I’m sure the thought crossed his mind…


Kimberly

October 9, 2009 at 10:42 AM
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Christina,

Thanks for your bravery, in standing up and saying that you exercised your right to determine whether or not to give birth. It’s amazing to me that this is even the slightest bit controversial, but as long as it is, we all need to be honest and brave like you.

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I had an abortion. I had no regrets. It gave me a second chance at leading a good life. I’m grateful for it every single day.


Rapnsum

October 9, 2009 at 1:13 PM
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SHOW THE TRUTH – I agree with the protesters ! And for more shocking TRUTH on abortion- watch a new documentary called: Maafa21 which proves abortion is BLACK GENOCIDE.

Topics discussed in Maafa21 include
1. Racist quotes by President Richard Nixon
2. Gunner Myrdal’s book: An American Dilemma
3. Charles Darwin and Frances Galton who coined the term “Eugenics“
4. Frederick Osborn, Leon Whitney, Charles Davenport, and the American Eugenics Society
5. Planned Parenthood Founder: Margaret Sanger and her ties to Eugenics including documentation of her speech to the KKK
6. Journalist Samuel Yette who was fired by Newsweek for exposing high level attempts to bring Genocide to the Black Community
7. William Bouie Haden, The Black Panthers, Jesse Jackson, and other Civil Rights leaders who warned that abortion and birth control would lead to Black Genocide
8. Hitler’s correspondence with the American Eugenics Society
9. Faye Wattleton, former President of Planned Parenthood, who admitted that Planned Parenthood takes donations from racists.

Read more …

See Preview Here: www.maafa21.com

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