The only problem I have with the word is that Bristol might not have felt she had much choice - that she likely didn't feel she would be loved and supported by her family if she decided to abort.
But even when there are laws, people do make decisions. Imagine that Bristol went to a party with her highschool friends and almost everyone was drinking (illegally - underage). Sarah could be proud of Bristol's decision not to drink at the party.
Yes, it would certainly be interesting to see what happened in the parallel universe where Bristol went "and I want an abortion"...
I see your point (I think) about decisions in situations where there the law is involved. But my point remains; how dare Sarah Palin say she is "proud" that her daughter made a decision and then try and ensure that every other woman in America has no decision to make (other than to break the law).
Assuming
anonymous
September 11 2008, 12:13:35 UTC
You're assuming that the word "decision" implies she decided between killing her baby and giving birth to the baby.
I suspect, however, Palin meant the decision to KEEP the baby and raise the child.
See, those of us who are against killing unborn babies see two decisions: keep the baby and raise the child as your own, or give the baby up for adoption.
Given that the Palin family is Pro-Life, the "decision" to kill the baby probably wouldn't be implied in their vocabulary.
Re: AssumingtchernabyeloSeptember 11 2008, 14:50:23 UTC
So I go web-trawling, and as far as I can determine the quote she made was : "We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby, and even prouder to be grandparents"
Possibly still ambiguous, in that "have" could be taken as meaning "keep" rather than simply "bear". But if the only decision was "bear child and not keep it"/"bear child and keep it", then "keep" would have been a more logical choice. I recognise that not everyone, particularly when faced with such emotive family issues, chooses the perfect word. But that they go on to stress they are "even prouder" to be grandparents implies that she is then talking abotu a subsidiary choice - i.e., that Bristol has decided first to have the baby, and THEN to keep it
( ... )
Re: Assuming
anonymous
September 11 2008, 18:54:21 UTC
I use the phrase "killing the baby" because that what an abortion does: it kills a baby. Have you noticed of late those who are pro-choice tend to avoid the word abortion and opt for "pro-choice"? Use of the word "fetus" desensitizes people, since "fetus" doesn't sound like something alive. If it moves, it's alive.
Technically, if Bristol had given her baby up for adoption, the Palins would still be grandparents. However, if she would have given the baby up for adoption, they would probably have no contact with that grandchild; with this decision (that to keep the baby and raise it), they "get to act and BE" the grandparents in person.
Even if "abortion rights" are "taken away", and women are "deprived" of such a "right", there's still a choice: to have sex or not to have sex. Our bodies are made as such that the sex act creates life, there's a purpose to that act besides pleasure.
Comments 13
But even when there are laws, people do make decisions. Imagine that Bristol went to a party with her highschool friends and almost everyone was drinking (illegally - underage). Sarah could be proud of Bristol's decision not to drink at the party.
Reply
I see your point (I think) about decisions in situations where there the law is involved. But my point remains; how dare Sarah Palin say she is "proud" that her daughter made a decision and then try and ensure that every other woman in America has no decision to make (other than to break the law).
Reply
She obviously hasn't spent any time in Britain - I can't imagine her sticking with that name for very long if she had!
Reply
I always wondered what the world would be like if the Clintons had named their daughter "Walthamstow".
Reply
Reply
Nothing more need be said.
Reply
I suspect, however, Palin meant the decision to KEEP the baby and raise the child.
See, those of us who are against killing unborn babies see two decisions: keep the baby and raise the child as your own, or give the baby up for adoption.
Given that the Palin family is Pro-Life, the "decision" to kill the baby probably wouldn't be implied in their vocabulary.
Reply
Reply
"We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby, and even prouder to be grandparents"
Possibly still ambiguous, in that "have" could be taken as meaning "keep" rather than simply "bear". But if the only decision was "bear child and not keep it"/"bear child and keep it", then "keep" would have been a more logical choice. I recognise that not everyone, particularly when faced with such emotive family issues, chooses the perfect word. But that they go on to stress they are "even prouder" to be grandparents implies that she is then talking abotu a subsidiary choice - i.e., that Bristol has decided first to have the baby, and THEN to keep it ( ... )
Reply
Technically, if Bristol had given her baby up for adoption, the Palins would still be grandparents. However, if she would have given the baby up for adoption, they would probably have no contact with that grandchild; with this decision (that to keep the baby and raise it), they "get to act and BE" the grandparents in person.
Even if "abortion rights" are "taken away", and women are "deprived" of such a "right", there's still a choice: to have sex or not to have sex. Our bodies are made as such that the sex act creates life, there's a purpose to that act besides pleasure.
Reply
Leave a comment