|
|
|
|
Is There Room?
Part Two of Two By Dave Andrusko As anyone who reads this column or Today's News & Views or National Right to Life News knows, I believe in the power of ideas. Put another way, I believe, if given half a chance, in the power of truth to fight its way through falsehood, like a flower pushing its way up through a crack in the sidewalk.
So, I've been almost transfixed by the range of pro-abortion response to Sarah Palin's speech in which she refused to concede that genuine feminism=knee-jerk support of abortion and challenged anti-lifers to stop treating women as weak. Two Washington Post op-ed types politely locked horns. Jonathan Capehart said he was "fascinated by [Palin's] thought-provoking slam against women's rights groups." He seemed to be particularly enthralled by what Palin's called the "pro-life sisterhood"--otherwise known as "Mama Grizzlies"--which, unlike "feminist groups," is [in Palin's words] telling these young women they are strong enough and smart enough. They are capable to be able to handle an unintended pregnancy and still be able to, in less than ideal circumstances, no doubt, to handle that. Still be able to give that child life, in addition to pursuing a career and pursuing an education, pursuing avocations." Working for the Post, Capehart unsurprisingly petered out, but his tepid step in the direction of open-mindedness drew criticism from Ruth Marcus. Palin must be thrown off the feminist island, Marcus insists, because "she doesn't want to give women a choice." (Italics in the original.) That's it, case closed. But another pro-abortion feminist, Meghan Daum, writing in the Los Angeles Times is closer to Capehart than Marcus. There CAN be room for what Palin called an "emerging, conservative, feminist identity," even if it is not Daum's cup of tea, or Gloria Steinem's. Daum's droll point is if there are tons of "progressive minded" women who start out apologetically saying "I'm not a feminist, but…," then there ought to room for someone who, like Palin, uses the "F" (feminist) word unapologetically. (Daum's column can be read at www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-0520-daum-fword-20100520,0,6652401.column) The larger point oughtn't to be lost. Whether a woman is a card-carrying member of the "pro-life sisterhood," or merely finds their views simpatico with her own, it's what that stand for that counts: a refusal to consider herself a victim, even in circumstances where it'd be easy to believe that. We've written a lot about young people becoming increasingly pro-life, both attitudinally (self-identifying as pro-life), and in their affiliation. I was struck by what was implicit in what was said by participants in pro-abortion focus groups. They were saying, "It's 2010 in America: women are responsible for the outcomes of their behavior in the same way men are." Added insult to injury was (as one NARAL focus group member put it)was when a friend blithefully said, "It is like nothing, oh well, it is just an abortion." (See http://www.newsweek.com/id/236506) A lot is changing, which means every day there are more possibilities to make the case for life. Be sure to take advantage of every opportunity you have. Be sure to send your thoughts and comments to daveandrusko@gmail.com. |
