Sara Persechino, the young communications director for Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund says in an editorial that she had an abortion of an “unwanted pregnancy” at the age of 17 and later suffered a miscarriage of a “wanted pregnancy.” She then went on to give birth to two living daughters.
Using the word “pregnancy” for the first two babies and “daughter” for the last two babies, she draws a line between the two sets of children. How does she keep these children in separate categories with the last two as invaluable and the first two having no value at all?
She says “My abortion enabled me to go to college, start a career, and attend graduate school.” My life, my career, and my family are possible because I had access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care. ” Has she heard the numerous stories of women who have successfully navigated college, career, and graduate school after giving birth? Is she pretending they don’t exist?
She writes about “parents who did not have the resources or capacity to care for additional children; young women not ready to parent; and people escaping abusive relationships.” She is advocating for abortion for women who are in tough circumstances financially and emotionally.
Instead of being offered help, women are offered the option to kill their children. Instead of being told about the availability of open adoption where a mother can choose the family who adopts her child, meet them, and keep in touch, women are told it is better off to terminate the life of her child.
Related: It’s About Much More Than Abortion
She says “Everyone loves someone who has had an abortion – even if you don’t know it.” This is true and the truth is that a lot of women regret their abortions. Many of those women have channeled their grief into action for protecting other women from the evils of abortion. Post-abortive women are the heart and soul of the pro-life movement.
She talks about “the thoughtful, compassionate decisions people make” when choosing abortion. She doesn’t mention the panicked pregnant mothers coming into abortion facilities terrified of going back to an angry boyfriend, husband, parent, or sex trafficker who has demanded they have an abortion or they will be kicked out of the house or beaten up or killed.
She writes:
Shame, stigma, and silence have allowed extreme politicians control over the narrative, public policy, and now our bodies. It’s time to break that cycle.
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The key to our power and our liberation are our stories. It’s time to raise our voices. It’s time for our elected leaders to listen.
I agree. If women were able to talk about their abortions and their pain and regret, the abortion extremist politicians like Governor Chris Sununu would no longer control the narrative. Maybe a newfound willingness to talk about abortion experiences is why things are really falling apart for the abortion industry.
You can read their stories at silentnomoreawareness.org.
