Attack at Planned Parenthood Clinic

[Aroura]

I do not think all individual life is inherently sacred, so I would have helped the woman with the stray cat. Unwanted kittens are most likely just going to be killed later in a shelter, which I suppose you know if you work with strays. I find people who refuse to fix their pets abhorent, but I am getting off topic...lol.

I used to think there was nothing at all wrong with killing animals for food. I grew up on a farm, after all, and I helped kill a few turkeys and chickens, even.

But as I have gotten older, my views have changed a bit. I still take no issue with the morality of meat eating in and of itself, but the lives of most food animals are horrid, the cost to our ecosystem is worse, and to individual human health it is also harmful.

I now eat meat rarely. Only free range chicken (I bought a locally raised Turkey on thanksgiving). I used to also eat wild caught fish. Then I discovered what overfishing is doing to the world, and I have stoppe eated eating fish as well. I admit I indulge in occasional processed meats...but acctually now that I think about it, we have not bought anything except chicken or turkey for months. Anyway, meat eating is fine in limited amounts, as long as the animals have a decent life, imo.

So yeah, the way I view life and suffering and moral behavior has drastically affected my personal eating habits.

I think abortion is a terrible, horrifying option. But I am glad it is a legal option. I think my emotions and my logic disagree on the topic a bit. Clearly a zygote is not a person, nor is a fetus. But If I had lost my daughter at say, 18 weeks I would have been devestated. At the same time, as an older woman who was giving birth for the first time, we had a much higher risk of complications and birth defects. My husband and I discussed it early in the pregnancy. We wanted a baby, but If the fetal tests had returned results of severe defects, including downs syndrome, we would have jointly agreed to terminate the pregnancy.  I have mental issues that mean I cannot care for a special needs child. I got my tubes tied the same day my daughter was born so I would never have to face such a choice again.

I grant that I am not in a position to judge the lives, circumstances, and choices of others. I am glad that options exist, for many at least. It has only improved society, as a whole, to give women this option more freely.

I'm glad your baby was born healthy. I'm also glad to hear you admit that you would not be able to care for a special needs child but let me say one thing on the issues of terminating a baby with down syndrome. 

My 20 year old daughter has down syndrome. She has a wonderful quality of life. She walks, talks, sings, dances, learns how to read and do basic math in school. She is capable of bathing herself and getting snacks from the kitchen. To say that she wouldn't have any sort of quality of life is a misnomer. Nearly every child born with down syndrome is fully capable of learning as "typical" people do. It just takes them longer. Many are born with medical issues that can be fixed with surgery. Many have no medical issues at all. There is quite a large number of adults within the down syndrome community who lead independent lives. Some even marry. Males are born sterile, females have a 50% chance of giving birth to a child with down syndrome. 

All that being said, I am a strong advocate of getting ride of the triple screening tests that determine not only down syndrome but spina bifida as well. Why? Because they are only screenings. They are at best between 40 - 60% accurate. I had one and the screening showed zero signs of my daughter having down syndrome. These people CAN and DO go on to lead productive, active and happy lives. 

I cannot speak about other disabilities which are more severe because she doesn't have them. I can only speak for people who have down syndrome. And I would really hate to see someone terminate a pregancy based on a screening that isn't even capable of providing actual proof of down syndrome. Those who choose to do so are missing out on so much joy and love. While I firmly believe that it should always be a woman's right to choose, this is the ONLY area in which I am truly torn on the subject. While I have the views regarding my post here, I also have to say that if the fetus, no matter if it has down syndrome or not, is threatening the life of the mother and she will most  likely die if she carries to term, then by all means, the choice must be made to save her life. However, if the reasons are that one doesn't think they could raise such a wonderful child, please rethink that because there are so many people who would love the opportunity to raise a child with down syndrome via adoption. 

If given the chance to adopt a child with down syndrome, I would totally do it in a heart beat. Given my experience with being a mom of one already, I welcome that with open arms.

Then you should go do that right now.  Seriously.  There are thousands of special needs kids who actually exist and need adoption.

I am glad to hear about you and your daughter though. : Of course they can, I never said they couldn't, just that I could not give what was needed.  If you can, then you should.