ZB,
I liken it more to DWI. Is getting behind the wheel drunk stupid and wrong? -- yeah, but that first offense, it's like, "Yeah, you were an idiot, but we all make mistakes."
But they do it time and time again and you start to say it's not an unfortunate error, it's a fatal character flaw.
That's why we have laws on the books for repeat offenders.
The T-shirt irks me because I don't feel it's good to be proud of your mistakes, and getting knocked up when you don't want to is just that -- a mistake.
Setting aside moral and religious arguments, it's a mistake from a fiscal perspective. That's money pissed away that could have better been used elsewhere and a medical procedure -- no matter how minor -- always has risks.
When the doctors started listing thing that could go wrong with a C-section for my wife, I just about fainted.
I'm pro-life, the law says it's legal now, but I still don't think it should be a badge of honor.
I was dreaming when I wrote this, so forgive me if I go astray -- God, I have got to turn this Prince CD off.

First, don't turn it off, that's a great song. Love that song. So, it's a little outdated now, but still...

I'll try to answer the rest of your comment once I've gotten some more work done.

Wow! That's pretty brazen. Two of my friends had abortions and it was so painful for them that I haven't heard them talk about it in years and anytime it comes up conversationally, I always see them stiffen and find an excuse to leave the room. I can't imagine either of them choosing to wear a shirt that announced, not just the fact, but their pain and emotional suffering.

I'm staying out of this one. We aren't going to solve the abortion issue until people decide to take control of their zippers.
Hey Zombieboy! What's that I saw on Drudge about somebody putting out leaflets offering money for killing Denver PD officers? Boy, THAT'S gonna make them slow to use their guns.

Oooh, honey. I would love to live in that Black and White world you're referring to.

Allow me to say this: I had an abortion. I'm *still* dealing with the guilt, shame, and sadness attached to it. I expect I will have to deal with it for as long as I am alive. While I would not have described the situation as "I don't want to have to shop at Costco," I believed that I was making the right choice -- for me and my situation -- at the time.

Things are never -- NEVER -- as cut-and-dried as keep the baby/don't keep the baby. There are several factors and motivations in either direction. When I wrote that I thought going back to the days before Roe v. Wade would be barbaric I truly believe that. In those days, a woman who sought an abortion literally took her life in her hands. Back-alley doctors who were on the fringes of society were part of the very few choices available. I do not believe we should revert back to those days.

I honestly think that abortion is a last resort and, for most (I believe) an agonizing choice to have to make. In other words, I believe that outlawing abortions would not stop them from happening, it would simply heap more shame and guilt upon a woman who has to choose.

I tend to agree with Zygote (irony is so ironic). I will suffer the pain of knowing what I did for the rest of my life. I hope no one has to go through that which I did -- but I am heartily greatful that I had a safe, clean, caring doctor and staff to help me in a very difficult and painful time. I hope God can forgive me for what I've done. What I also did/do not need is someone berating me for what -- at the time -- was the only solution in a horrible situation for me.

Like I said; nothing is black and white.

And I would never, ever buy a shirt like that. I'm not now, not then, nor will I EVER be PROUD of that decision. I did what I had to do. I live with that decision.

As I said at Nathan's, I support the ugly loopholes simply because I support the right to choose, and that can't really come with a disclaimer or amendments.

Emma, I am sorry for what you had to go through. I think it was very brave to say what you did.

{{{Hugs}}} and Love, Emma.

My position is that I'm convinced that abortion is morally wrong, but I don't pretend I can prove it, I can only persuade. And my conviction is based very strongly on religion (although not all my moral positions are...some are on non-religious moral points, but I digress).
Thus, my advocacy has, for some time, been to try and keep keep it as much of a personal decision as possible: earlier and personally executed with RU-486.
Because I think the DUI analogy is apt: carelessness doesn't ruin you for life. Forgiveness from repentence is always available. Immaturity is a mitigating factor. I'm willing to admit that I don't know all the answers, just that I must act on my feelings and understandings: that the whole situation is absolutely messed up, in which people fight for the right for women to avoid responsibility but see no hypocrisy in simultaneously fighting to deny men the same right.
It's ridiculous that groups that get funding for abortion encourage women to go ahead and have sex because they can always have an abortion if an accident occurs. Make no mistake: if you aren't old enough to know the natural result of sexual activity, you aren't old enough to have sex.
I identify myself as pro-life...but am unwilling to fight for the complete abolition of abortion. Where does that put me? Reluctantly pro-choice? Hypocrite?
The only way to ensure that you don't have repeat DUI is to execute anyone who does it, or re-enact prohibition...but I can be against DUIs and condemn multiple convictions without being tempted to advocating the steps to ensure a complete absence of DUIs.
I think abortion is a wide, gray area, wide enough to encompass many views that might seem self-contradictory to others....

Oh, man. This is where my ultra-conservativity shows. I am a fence rider, for the most part, but this is the issue that stokes my fire. I don't think that I will go into it, in depth, as I don't want to alienate anyone. All that I will say is, if you didn't mess with it; what would happen?
This is a difficult conversation to have with anyone and mistakes may be mistakes, but that is not what the argument should be. As far as our country goes, this should be a lawful debate, and the answer should be decided per the law. (or as they would say in "Young Guns": "We do things 'law way'") This is an argument over the beginning of life, and when life begins. When does a baby turn from a mass of cells to a fetus that is alive?
You are right, Z. There is a certain amount of contradiction with the liberal debate of this point. It's too serious and there are too many variables that contribute to the one big question which I ask in the previous paragraph. This argument cannot be compared to an appentdectomy, and this point cannot be heralded as something that anybody "has" to do (with exception of the extreme, and even then, it's still questionable). I have been involved in such a situation, though it's something that I never, ever, talk about and though it was done against my will, and against all persuasion, I still feel guilty for my involvment. My involvement in this situation also helped formulate my opinions on it, and the topic is of a very personal nature to me.
It seems to me, with all of the debate, and limitations put on it at the federal level, this topic would be destined for a vote. But, the court seems to be the sole charge for this topic, therefore, it will never be remedied.
I try to empathize with those who have undergone an abortion, and they definitely have my sympathy, but, we have to recognize this for what it is, and turn away from doing it, as individuals, and as a society. It's called "repentance" in religious circles, I don't think that it has a name otherwise.
I don't bomb clinics and I'm not insane about my opposition to abortion, but I do think that it's wrong, no matter what mask you put on it or what perfume you try and fancy it up with. It's a choice that people are given the choice to make, and given freedom from the law, people will do just about anything to make life easier on themselves. Though former Pres. Reagan had a pretty rosey view of human nature, I do not. I do not believe that people will do the right thing given a choice unless their ethics and morals root from the same place (and even then it's questionable).
-Super

P.S. - I do believe that this is the most negative post that I have ever written here.