Dear Editor,
I adopted my one and only son in 1978, and I thank God every day for the little 15-year-old girl who chose to carry her baby to term. That baby became a wonderful son, father, husband, and a successful member of his community– and also gave me two curly, redheaded grandsons.
But, on the other hand, I would never, in a million years, think I have the right, authority, or obligation to force anyone to give birth to a baby they may not be able to afford, may not want, or may not be capable of caring for. Determining someone’s destiny is way above my pay grade. Teaching over 40 years, (24 in the inner city of Dallas), I have seen my share of unwanted, neglected, abused and damaged children. It is ugly and heartbreaking.
Since the men in Austin are forcing women to have babies, don’t fool yourself into thinking they are pro-life. They are anti-abortion, and there is a difference. Pro-life is a package deal.
To be pro-life means taking care of people, both the born and unborn, fighting racism, including the lives of LGBTQ in our communities. Pro-life means making sure pregnant mothers get all the health care they need. Healthy mothers have healthy babies.
Pro-life means making sure all mothers have the necessary resources to take care of their babies once the child is born.
Pro-life also means making sure we’re funding the astronomical demand that is coming for Child Protective Services, fully funding the already overloaded foster child services, and making sure all the children’s homes are well stocked with what they need to care for all the children that will definitely be filling up their beds.
We can all be anti-abortion. We can pray every woman who gets pregnant will choose to carry the baby to term. But, if her life has dealt her a hand of poverty, neglect, abuse or damage, then let her choose what her destiny will be. It must be between her, her doctor, and her God.
Ken Paxton, Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick, and Ted Cruz along with the other suits in Austin are not God. They should not have the power over women’s bodies. I’m not sure why women’s bodies need to be controlled. A woman can have one birth in a nine month period, but ironically, how many women can a man impregnate in a none month period? Whose bodies really need to be controlled?
I’m voting for the candidates who consider the welfare of a mother whose pregnancy threatens her life.
I’m voting for the candidates that support providing school lunches for children, and don’t force a fourth grader to give birth from an unwanted pregnancy as a result of rape or incest. I suggest you do the same.
Ann Taylor PsyD
Oakwood, Texas
