Emily, I have spent my life teaching, loving, and equipping young women in search of their value and purpose. I volunteer my time to love incarcerated women, single pregnant moms, troubled teen girls, women suffering post-abortive trauma, those who have endured physical, sexual abuse, and thousands more. I believe ALL life is sacred. So your statement "The pro-life movement is intrinsically misogynist" is a falsehood. It's sad for you to make such a false judgement on women like me who spend themselves on behalf of other women's beauty and worth. Maybe you should come over for coffee? And meet a real live woman who fights for women every day to believe the best of themselves and achieve their dreams. You are welcome at my events and in my home, any time. There is always a seat at my table for you. Secondly, this statement begs to be addressed, "On the other hand, the cornerstone of the pro-life movement is the criminalization of abortion–– in other words, advocating for legal restrictions over other women's bodies." -- I disagree. I have too many women in my office crying tears of regret over losing their babies when they were in college. These women have deep pain and profound grief, and ache to hold their children in heaven one day. Am I "misogynist" and "controlling" when I wrap my arms around these women and cry with them, assuring them of God's grace and eternal love? Believing that all children have a right to life has nothing to do with legal restrictions over women's bodies. This is a belief that CHILDREN have a right to live. Your mother chose life didn't she? Are you glad she did? I would hope that those of you who fight and protest and march for "choice" also grieve over the millions of babies lost. What could their dreams have been? Their gifts? Their talents? What would they have looked like? What love and joy and purpose could they have had? Could they have blessed an adoptive family? Only in heaven will we know. And when we see them there, may we embrace them as if they were our own. Jennifer Strickland www.URMore.org
Emily, I have spent my life teaching, loving, and equipping young women in search of their value and purpose. I volunteer my time to love incarcerated women, single pregnant moms, troubled teen girls, women suffering post-abortive trauma, those who have endured physical, sexual abuse, and thousands more. I believe ALL life is sacred. So your statement "The pro-life movement is intrinsically misogynist" is a falsehood. It's sad for you to make such a false judgement on women like me who spend themselves on behalf of other women's beauty and worth. Maybe you should come over for coffee? And meet a real live woman who fights for women every day to believe the best of themselves and achieve their dreams. You are welcome at my events and in my home, any time. There is always a seat at my table for you. Secondly, this statement begs to be addressed, "On the other hand, the cornerstone of the pro-life movement is the criminalization of abortion–– in other words, advocating for legal restrictions over other women's bodies." -- I disagree. I have too many women in my office crying tears of regret over losing their babies when they were in college. These women have deep pain and profound grief, and ache to hold their children in heaven one day. Am I "misogynist" and "controlling" when I wrap my arms around these women and cry with them, assuring them of God's grace and eternal love? Believing that all children have a right to life has nothing to do with legal restrictions over women's bodies. This is a belief that CHILDREN have a right to live. Your mother chose life didn't she? Are you glad she did? I would hope that those of you who fight and protest and march for "choice" also grieve over the millions of babies lost. What could their dreams have been? Their gifts? Their talents? What would they have looked like? What love and joy and purpose could they have had? Could they have blessed an adoptive family? Only in heaven will we know. And when we see them there, may we embrace them as if they were our own. Jennifer Strickland www.URMore.org