Planned Parenthood selling "I had an abortion" T-shirts

I got up this morning and wondered what I would write about. I had a few things floating around in my mind, but nothing just jumped out at me. So, I got up, took a quick bath, shaved my legs and then put on my robe and turned on the computer. A quick check of my email and I get one from my ex-husband. Not all that unusual. We do share a child and similar views on most things in life. What I got shocked the shit out of me. I really couldn't believe it.

I followed all the links. I even went backwards and started at the Planned Parenthood site to make sure that this wasn't someone's sick joke. It isn't. Follow the link to really see the shirt in all its distaste.
http://store.yahoo.com/ppfastore/ihadabt.html

Why in the world would you want a shirt like this? Why? Are you proud to have made a "mistake" and then opted to end another person's life so you won't be inconvenienced? This is nothing to be proud of. I was at WalMart last night and bought a silly shirt that sports "Be nice or You're Fired" on the front of it. That is funny to me. I wanted to wear that as a joke. I tell EVERYONE that they're fired for whatever reason I deem funny at the time. So, it says something about me. People who know me will think it is funny. How amusing is "I had an abortion?" Really? What are you hoping to communicate to others? That you're an evil bitch? That you could care less about the lives of others? And, on top of it ... you're not just putting an end to just any old life. It is the end of YOUR baby. A piece of you? I used to have a sticker on my car that read "I am the face of pro-choice America." I used to roll my eyes and cringe when the newspaper made me go cover pro-life rallies in front of Planned Parenthood. I wrote the story in an unbiased fashion and then would bitch and moan about having to do that. Then, I got pregnant. Nothing else could have changed my mind about being pro-choice. But, hearing that heartbeat and seeing that little "blob of goo" move around in me changed me profoundly. Never again could I see a fetus in any other way but as a baby.

Now, don't get me wrong. Seriously. I'm Catholic, but I'm also a woman. While I think NO WOMAN should ever have an abortion, I do believe it should be legal to get one. I know it contradicts all that I believe, but I have never walked in the shoes of a woman who has had to choose. I was blessed by God to never have to make a decision like that. I can remember a few scares when the thought crossed my mind, but I do thank God that I never had to make a decision like that only to regret it later. I have several friends who have had abortions and the stories they told me were awful. At the age of 14, a friend of mine, also 14, described for me in detail what happens in an abortion and how completely sickening it was. I remember getting off the phone and being sick and crying for hours and I wasn't even there. A friend of mine in college was married and had one. That was beyond my comprehension. Her husband was in the Air Force and off at basic training and she just "wasn't ready" to be a mom while he was going to be gone so much. I told her I'd take the baby. I had only been married a few weeks, but discussed with him (my now ex-husband) and we agreed that we'd take her baby. I was still in college and he was working at a record store, but we valued life and we were ready to give this baby all he/she could ever need - our love and support. But, she discounted my genuine plea and had the abortion. Want to know the sickest part? Her mother-in-law took her to the clinic. I have never gotten over the loss of that precious little life because he/she wasn't convenient. I have three inconveniences. They cramp my style. They require my attention, my money and my energy. But, you know what? I wouldn't trade them for a million dollars. But, thank God, it was never a choice as to whether to have them or not. And, I am grateful that I never felt my back was against a wall and I had to make a choice as to whether or not to have them.

I know the arguments for abortion. Rape, too young, not ready, not financially capable of supporting a child, etc. And, again, it is not my place to judge these women. However, I will do all I can to promote life and the options that go along with it. It isn't easy to be pregnant and carry a baby to term. God knows it is even harder to be a mother. But, no baby chooses to be born. I know many people who may have chosen not to be born had they been given an option. My church has a wonderful program called Project Gabriel. It partners trained volunteers with mothers-to-be in need. These women are given help getting to and from the doctor, given the tools they need to be good mothers - from instruction on how to do things to equipment from cribs to kitchen tools, and they're given support AFTER the baby comes. If you feel compelled, please give a donation to St. Mark Catholic Church for Project Gabriel. Mail it to 2800 Pennsylvania Drive, Denton, TX  76205.

Support life. I encourage anyone who values life to contact PPFA in some fashion and tell them your opinion of this tasteless shirt. I sent an email to the store website and asked them to pass it along to the appropriate person.
Contact information: To place an order or for more information: Call: 877-478-7732 Fax: 212-868-4692 Email: store@ppfa.org Mail: PPFA, Marketing and Sales Department, 434 West 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001