For the last several years Planned Parenthood has been selling their "Choice on Earth" Holiday cards and the ones to the left are this years products. This is one occasion where I am totally fine with them using holiday cards vice Christmas cards.
The images used on their cards once again give absolutely no indication of the reality of "choice". Two images are of a mother with a child, yet Planned Parenthood offers zero services for those who want to keep their child.
Mark Steyn wrote quite accurately recently "What’s the "pro-choice" line? "Every child should be wanted"? Not anymore. The progressive position has subtly evolved: Every child should be unwanted." But in some ways for PP every child is a wanted child, at least wanted by their abortionists so that they might get their bounty. But this view towards families is not just a recent development, but one with a steady message since at least the seventies. Anybody with a large family can attest to the questions they get about them being "all theirs" and the glances turned their way for making a societal faux pas. Though I once had the same attitude in my enlightened liberal days.
Considering the recent news of environmental activists saying having a child is selfish and damaging to the environment and the recent books as Mark Steyn notes such as ""Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence." Planned Parenthood and radical environmentalist are natural allies except the part about the pill damaging the ecosystem with hormones. But Planned Parenthood and radical environmentalist have always had their convenient blind spots when it suits their purposes.
The card with the doves though is obviously the most annoying. Whether the dove is seen as a symbol for the Holy Spirit or as a symbol for peace it is still inappropriate. Blessed Mother Teresa said "I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion"
But I guess the reality of babies ripped apart and removed by suction is not the best image even for a "holiday card." Even contraception doesn’t lend itself to the comfy holiday image they are trying to portray. A tree decked out with condoms and pill packages just doesn’t hit it out of the park.
Though the question is exactly what holiday are these cards for in the first place? Christmas with the celebration of the birth of our savior is obviously not it. They see a pregnant young mother as a target and not something to rejoice in. The miracle related during Hanukkah with the traditional Jews defeating secularist Jews when Judaism had been outlawed by Antiochus IV Epiphanes does not really fit into a holiday they would be happy about. The made-up of holiday of Kwanzaa doesn’t fit the bill considering the historic roots of Planned Parenthood and their view on blacks that extends to the present day with a concentration of their clinics being in poorer black neighborhoods. Well how about the secular holiday of Christmas where the overriding message is "Family is important." Somehow abortion and contraception is not really family friendly. If only they would start making those dime-a-dozen holiday TV movies with the message "Preventing family is important" then PP would have a match.
In years past I have responded with Planned Parenthood cards of my own since I am always willing to help get out the real message of Planned Barrenhood.
2003
2005
So I guess I will continue this bi-annual holiday tradition.
Dawn Eden orignally sent me a link to PP’s latest message.
Planned Parenthood supporters, as I reflect upon the past year and consider the next, I can’t help but feel a sense of good will. Good will toward the women, men, and families that we serve. Good will toward you, my Planned Parenthood family. And good, determined will to accomplish the work that lies ahead in the new year.
Well I agree that they have work that lies ahead – "lies ahead" is pretty much a forecast of their business model.
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Those cards might be for New Year’s Eve, I suppose.
Peace,
–Peter
As usual, your wit is saber-sharp, cutting through the smokescreen, right to the heart of the issue. Well done!
“Choice on Earth”
That doesn’t even make any freakin’ sense.
I hope there is some backlash against this in PP circles…I know there are people who consider themselves Christian who support PP or are involved in it…maybe the sheer ludicrously and inappropriateness of these cards will make them think twice about what they are supporting. We live in hope.
I was just reading Thomas Dubay recently and he skewered the pro-choice label well: “actually, ALL sins are pro-choice…murder, lying, stealing, assault, etc….you choose to ignore the other person’s humanity and do wrong. It’s not a point of pride.”
‘Mark Styne wrote quite accurately recently “What’s the “pro-choice” line? “Every child should be wanted”? Not anymore. The progressive position has subtly evolved: Every child should be unwanted.”‘
A couple that I know, who are expected their first child, went to a OBGYN to do the normal thing that happens when you find out your pregnant – make sure you and the baby are okay. The first question the doctor asked the mother, while the father was sitting there, was if she was happy that she was pregnant. So I guess the progressive idea of “a child should be unwanted” has seeped into the medical mindset. I remember when doctors used to say “Congratulations!”
Scary.
Their dove card is disgusting! Your cross/grave card is a good response Gerald. I was thinking of a choice “nativity” scene where all are gathered around a jarred baby in a landfill. (No, of course I wouldn’t send one–except maybe to the director of PPRI.)
Yup, I did it twice. Sorry Jeff. I’m going back out to rock the car out of its ruts. Maybe my brain will get back on track then.
Joanne, go brew yourself a very, very strong pot of coffee. 🙂
Yes, ‘choice’ to kill right here on earth and maybe with your tax dollars too.
Jeff, those cards you designed are fabulous and the essay is great. Thanks so much for being the satiric wit you are. The Planned Parents cards are so bizarre; sometimes I cannot believe that I was ever “pro-choice.” But I was, back when I didn’t understand a lot of things I do now. Even then, though, I wouldn’t have bought a “choice on earth” card or a Planned Parenthood t-shirt. I never thought abortion was a good thing. THAT is what I can’t understand — thinking abortion is good.
I think “choice on earth” explains very well the PP position: remove ‘peace,’ replace it with ‘choice.’ Abortion nevers brings peace: PP seemes to finally understand.
AS long as there’s “choice” on Earth, there won’t ever be Peace on Earth.
This post is excellent! I think I will repost it on my crummy little blog.
WAC
Sure, there is choice on earth – between heaven and hell.
The cards make PP sound like some alien conspiracy: “There will be peace on Earth… when every last one of you pathetic humans are dead!”
The news here http://www.lifenews.com/nat3535.html
is that PP is not sending out those “holiday” cards this year, if I’m not misreading the article. Instead, they are sending a “Choice on Earth” email to their pro-abortion friends…
It is gross that those cards exist, but maybe good news that PP either recognizes that the cards condemn them, or they are worried enough about their image to be careful what they send. Since their image is all-important to them while they position themselves for acceptance into our public school systems everywhere, it shouldn’t surprise us when they almost appear to be “playing nice.”
I have often wondered what would happen if I walked into a Planned Parenthood clinic and announced that I was ready for them to help me plan my parenthood. Help me start my family. Plan my babies. How much “help” would they offer me?
The cards they have made are sickening.
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