"As they passed the rows of houses they saw through the open doors that men were sweeping and dusting and washing dishes, while the women sat around in groups, gossiping and laughing.
"What has happened?" the Scarecrow asked a sad-looking man with a bushy beard, who wore an apron and was wheeling a baby-carriage along the sidewalk.
"Why, we've had a revolution, your Majesty -- as you ought to know very well," replied the man; "and since you went away the women have been running things to suit themselves. I'm glad you have decided to come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of every man in the Emerald City."
"Hm!" said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully. "If it is such hard work as you say, how did the women manage it so easily?"
"I really do not know," replied the man, with a deep sigh. "Perhaps the women are made of cast-iron.""
- L. Frank Baum, "The Land of Oz"
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
From Alternet
"Have you guys heard the news?" Maggie (name changed) unwrapped the scarf from around her neck and patted her flat belly. "Preggers." It was around 30 degrees outside, and her cheeks were splashed pink from the Indiana wind.I found the article to be very sad, although for different reasons than the author probably intended. It descends into a bunch of argle-bargle about the roles of men and women when it comes to abortion, feminist anger, a punting of male responsibility (the author is a guy) and stuff about how women's "voices had been excluded from relationships, dialogues and society in general" and etc.
. . .
My girlfriend Ali and I exchanged a surprised look. Our forks, dotted with pasta sauce, dangled identically, flaccidly, in our hands. She was quicker than me to gain her composure, and turned to address her best friend.
"What are you going to do?" Unnecessary question, really -- a conversational life vest, used when you’re sputtering for something to say. We knew the answer. Maggie, a 22-year-old college senior with no intention of bringing a child into the world yet, was going to have an abortion. She told us that she had already made up her mind; she had even determined the time, date and location. A better question might have been, "How are you going to pay for it?"
She answered that one before we had a chance to ask. "We’re having a party Friday to raise money," Maggie said. "You guys are obviously invited."
An abortion party. For the price of whatever we were willing to donate, she explained, we could partake of baked goods, beer and dancing. It was going to start at 10 p.m. at Maggie’s.
It's hard to read. Made worse by the fact that someone brought their three-year-old to the party.
[H/T The Corner]
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Comments on ""My First Abortion Party"":
2. Shrode
- 07/08/2009 9:26 am CDT
Just went and read the article.
Disgusting.
There is blood on the hands of every person who went to that party. (Except for the three year old.)
A red sheet to resemble a giant womb? Disgusting.
And people wonder how the Nazi's did what they did.
A good friend of mine on this blog bristles when people make Nazi comparisons, and rightfully so. So let me explain myself.
My point is that the Nazi's were somehow able to participate in heinous acts of death against other human beings by redefining Jews as "not human", and by focusing on what they defined as the greater good, plus they bought the propaganda and somehow blinded themselves and their own consciences so that having mementos of Jew bones seemed normal.
I think the same sort of thing is going on here. Having a party to raise money to kill a human being, and decorating with red womb? Ugh. And the writer seems totally incapable of noticing the horror.
We ALL have the capacity for great evil.
4. salguod
- 07/08/2009 11:17 pm CDT
A former co-worker throws a bash every year on the anniversary of his divorce. He's up to 4 or 5 now. It just sad that something so tragic is a cause for celebration.
Of course, this is a whole other level of sad. A human life was begun and they are throwing a party so they can afford to snuff it out, quick, before it flames up too brightly. That no one finds this even odd, let alone sad or tragic (or horrific) is, well,I don't know what it is. Unfathomable.
And there's a 3 year old there ...
Then, the most disturbing conclusion that the author makes is to wonder if the man - the father, the dad, the owner of half of the baby's DNA - has any right to be involved in the decision.
Words fail. My heart aches.
Leave a Comment:
This may not be the right response, but my second reaction to this (first one being disgust), was to think, "You know Bill, you really shouldn't read all that stuff."
That's not fair, I know. It's just so depressing. How do you find these things? :)
It reminds me of why I don't watch the local news anymore. I do not want to hear or see any more stories about child abuse.
The "head in a hole" response probably isn't the right one. I'm just saying, there comes a point when I just don't want to know anymore. :)
That said, I'm glad you posted this. I need the reminder of how far our pro-death culture is becoming...and how clueless urban people in their 20's are. (As if "Friends" wasn't reminder enough. :)