Planned Parenthood T-Shirt: I Had An Abortion
I've always been supportive of a woman's right to choose. Being supportive, though, doesn't have to mean trumpeting your involvment in a abortion. Does it?
Predictably, and perhaps understandably, some folks are less than enamored of the latest wardrobe choice available to women
Jim Sedlak, executive director of American Life League's STOPP International said, "Planned Parenthood's new t-shirt confirms that the abortion chain lacks any sense of integrity, tact, and compassion. This shirt's message celebrates an act of violence that is traumatic for women, and worst of all, kills an innocent child."
Pro-life groups believe that this is just the latest attempt by Planned Parenthood to push its pro-abortion agenda.
"This latest stunt goes right along with the philosophies which have produced such items as a 'Choice On Earth' holiday card and a Florida advertisement which said, "Give the gift that stops giving ... a gift certificate for a holiday vasectomy at Planned Parenthood,'" said Sedlak.
News of the sale of the shirts brought widespread outrage from religious and pro-life groups.
"The day women are proud of killing their children is the day we wonder where we are as a society," says Kim Gordon, director of Iowa Right to Life.
Of course, anti-choice sorts are going to be up in arms. I would expect nothing less from these zealots. Still, they, in their own twisted way, do have a valid point.
Abortion is not a subject to be trifled with. While I do not believe that a woman who has made the choice to terminate a pregnancy needs to be forced to wear a Scarlet Letter, advertising her decision seems the height of poor taste.
Pro-choice folks, not surprisingly, see things just a wee bit differently:
Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood, sees it differently, saying the shirts give women a way to "stand up for choice."
"It's a heart-wrenching decision, but women don't need to be ashamed of it," said Feldt.
True enough, but is it necessary to advertise? It's a choice, not a marketing tool.
