New trend: abortion clothes

Perhaps Nathaniel Hawthorne's Hester Prynne should have marketed her scarlet "A" as a political statement for all women like her. Plannedparenthood.org seems to think it is a good idea.\nAccording an article in the Chicago Tribune last Wednesday, Planned Parenthood began selling T-shirts last month that read: "I had an abortion." \nTo me, the use and sale of this shirt illustrates the "pro-abortion" message that anti-abortion advocates often accuse abortion-rights proponents of using -- instead of the latter's preferred message of "choice." \nThe shirt's designer, Jennifer Baumgardner, told the Tribune the message's intention was to "signal how incredibly common (abortion) is and how isolated women are from other women who have had (abortions)." \nDoes Baumgardner want women to get together and swap abortion stories? Or would she also like to print shirts that read "I had the clap," or "I have herpes"? At least the latter idea could conceivably be the business of someone else.\nIn spite of the unpleasant stigma with these familiar issues, there is something to be said for discretion and prudence.\nFurthermore, the isolation Baumgardner is intending to fight undermines the defense abortion-rights supporters often use: privacy. Selling what amounts to be scarlet letters to women who have had abortions can only intensify the animosity between the antithetical constituencies -- along with putting off many of the rest of us. The public display of this shirt smacks of a voluntary pariah-ism and self-righteous social martyrdom for one's own irresponsible sexual behavior.\nAs an alternative, plannedparenthood.org should heed the warnings from its more moderate allies, like Rebecca Poedy, executive director of Planned Parenthood of Idaho. She came out publicly against the shirts because she believes them to be detrimental to Planned Parenthood's efforts to prevent unwanted pregnancy and that the use of the shirts is "a poor decision" and her organization is "not supportive of it." \nPrevention? What a novel concept!\nWhile the shirts may not encourage abortions, they certainly do not discourage them. Even if one believes abortion deserves legal protection, it is absurd to think that it should not remain a procedure of last resort. Actions should be taken to prevent unwanted pregnancy before it is even an option. If a woman feels she must have an abortion after all other alternatives are exhausted or impossible post facto, it is undoubtedly nothing to be proud or boastful of.\nUnfortunately, activists on both sides of this issue are blinded by their own propaganda and rhetoric to work toward real solutions to this national and global problem.\nGranted, plannedparenthood.org and its affiliates laudably distribute literature and preventative measures to pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, but their most publicized actions and merchandise unfailingly support the abortion-rights section of their agenda, and that is no accident.\nThis is so unfortunate it borders on the tragic.\nWhere are the T-shirts that say "I take the pill"? Why not print shirts for sympathetic and responsible men that say "I ALWAYS wear a condom"? What would be wrong with "Get tested, I did"?\nI understand that abstinence proponents would have a problem with the aforementioned ideas, but we must confront more realistic alternative solutions. True, abstinence works for those who practice it, but neglecting the needs of the millions of people who do not is no more responsible than the fashionable abortion advertising I protest.\nInstead, however, liberal politicos and lobbyists forsake the "women's health" they claim to fight for in favor of disruptive, divisive, self-serving abortion rhetoric to energize the faithful and build their coffers for future political and judicial fights that achieve little more than and increasing the clout of said activists.\nMeanwhile, teen and other unwanted pregnancies soar, STDs continue to spread and everybody else suffers.