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A Parody Of Pro-Life
by AinsleyJo | Mar 12 '04
With much credit for inspiration to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who wrote "A Psalm Of Life."
Parody has at least two meanings in this case--details below!!!Return to opinion
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Re: Pardon the Parody (Reply to this comment)
by AinsleyJo
Welcome to the neighborhood!
I don't believe that it's an accident that I just happened to come over here (without even reading my notifications that told of your comment) to get the link to this poem to share elsewhere.
My tolerance for abortion-on-demand only goes as far as the end of the first trimester--and the earlier in that the better.
Of course, that "choice" will be open for the full time when it really isn't a choice but, instead, a necessity (as when the mother and/or other occupants of the womb are put in danger by continuing the pregnancy in status quo).
My actual preference has several parts:
1. Morning after instead of abortion whenever possible.
2. Continuing with the pregnancy as even opposed to morning after.
3. In order for option #2 to become more favorable becoming genuinely caring about people once they leave the womb instead of allowing them to slip through the cracks.
I would say that a considerable number of people decide on abortion because they're afraid they'll be bringing someone into the world to end up being a throwaway person.
Personally, I believe that sex should be reserved for marriage--and, if more people were encouraged to think in this way, there would be fewer unwanted pregnancies.
However, if someone slips up and goes too far and that going too far results in an unexpected/inconvenient pregnancy, this person should be reassured that she'll be met with reaching hands instead of pointing fingers.
Seeing those baby seals getting clubbed for the purpose of vanity sickens me. I would feel better if they were killed more humanely--yet, I also find it unnecessary to kill them at all, because all they're used for is to get their fur and leave their tiny, skinned bodies behind.
Yet, I would put human lives above the lives of the baby seals.
I'm thankful that my mom and dad wanted me, because I'm enjoying this life!
Sometimes...I wonder how many lives didn't even come to be in the most early forms just from my abstaining and never marrying.
Recently, I wrote a story about this man named Eddie Slovik who was executed during World War II just for realizing that he was more of a lover than a fighter (It was called desertion--which is what made him eligible for the firing squad)--and about the kids he would have had if he'd been allowed to live and return home to his wife.
One of my favorite movies is It's A Wonderful Life which deals with life would have been like had one man not been born--and the difference is astonishing.
I think of people like Elvis, Janis Joplin, and Billie Holliday and think about how old they would be today and what they might be up to, had things been different.
We need to live in a way that will bring out the best in everybody and celebrate each person's value, because--as my longtime friend/"adopted" brother/computer guru, Mark, once said--"Remember that God made you and He doesn't make garbage!"
Blessings!
AJ :-)
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Oct 30 '05
9:37 am PST
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Pardon the Parody (Reply to this comment)
by apple3141593
Pardon the Parody
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - A Psalm of Life
WHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN SAID TO THE PSALMIST.
The poem you used as base for your frustration with the politics of Pro-life is an Anthem of Life. It says life goes on no matter what happens to the body. Even though I stand on the other side of this issue, I share your frustration.
As I walked the pavement in witness that life should not be wasted, I too asked myself along with the chanters from the other side, “why is it important to save an unborn infant but OK to club baby seals?†“Why save a child only to let it wither through neglect, lack of education, bodily support and even love?â€
Of course these questions do not address the fact that “Life is real’. They address the weakness and duplicity of politics. Politics whose paradigm is to benefit the ‘party’ no matter the cost (to others), is not capable of finding solutions that encompass both sides of this question.
There are no easy answers, but there is another important question, “Why save baby seals from being clubbed and whales from extinction, but abandon unborn infants to death?†It sounds like two different questions, but both address the fact that “life is real†and because of that and because “Life is earnestâ€, one is not free to club baby seals or unborn infants. It costs one to do so.
For the modern women, baring a child is now a choice. A little time ago for Chinese women, raising a boy child was a choice. In both cases, life is sacrificed. It is just easier to think of stopping a child that we cannot see than to think on girl children left to die in the wilderness.
As all great poems, this helps us answer the eternal questions it raises. Later on this poem says:
“Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;--
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.â€
The path we trod will be used by others who are unsure of their way. Do we want them to follow our self-serving moments of weakness or would be wish to leave a path that will inspire them to greatness. Inspire them to moments of ‘laying down their lives for that of a friend’.
This “Choice†we talk of and revere is never the choice for life. If you choose, you can only choose death. The wondrous and vital ‘right to choose’ was given you by your mother who did not make the “Choiceâ€.
We are left, you and I, with a common burden; no matter that we see it from different sides. Like all burdens that are bigger than we are, we both need to lift together and at the same time or the load is tipped over. How can we each keep ‘lifting our end’ if at times we can’t hold hands?
For a moment let me take you hand, my footing is a little rough here………….
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Oct 05 '05
4:55 am PDT
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Re: Hi AJ (Reply to this comment)
by AinsleyJo
As promised, here's the essay:
http://www.epinions.com/content_3829112964
Enjoy!
AJ :o)
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Mar 17 '04
7:42 pm PST
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Re: Hi AJ (Reply to this comment)
by AinsleyJo
So glad my words have inspired him and that he liked the feedback from me.
When I get the chance, I'm going to be writing the little piece that was, in part, inspired by his song and will let you know when I do.
At this time, I'm going to be watching a movie with Mel Gibson called The Man Without A Face--one I haven't had the chance to watch in its entirety to date but see as something very worthwhile.
I also have my "Thank You" notes to finish.
But, as far as I can see, the next thing I post here will be the one inspired by Daniel's song--along with a story my dad told me about himself.
Hugs!
AJ :o)
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Mar 16 '04
11:24 am PST
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Hi AJ (Reply to this comment)
by barakah59
After the sweet comment you left Daniel I read this poem to him. He said it gave him Ideas to write another song.
Thought you'd like to know.
Mark
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Mar 16 '04
7:51 am PST
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Re: Thank you! (Reply to this comment)
by AinsleyJo
You're more than welcome!
Hopefully, anyone reading this will be able and willing to find a way to include a link to your story either in something they've written (as I've done here), or else on their profile pages. Or both. The more people made aware of this the more likely it will be that somebody will read this who will be able to help!
Hugs!
AJ :o)
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Mar 13 '04
11:55 pm PST
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Thank you! (Reply to this comment)
by shealy
I appreciate you adding us in to your writing.. the link about CPS involves my grand daughter. I hope anyone who hasn't read it yet sees it.. Thank you for helping the cause and I enjoyed your parody.
Michelle
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Mar 13 '04
3:27 pm PST
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Re: Re: Re: Dammit, woman... (Reply to this comment)
by AinsleyJo
Limericks--dirty or not--surely must be considered real poetry, because our state poetry organization (Indiana State Federation Of Poetry Clobs--or ISFPC) generally sponsors a limerick-writing category in our Fall Rendezvous Contest.
Within the week, I think I'm going to be posting a prizewinning limerick sequence I did on a lousy restaurant--it was actually based on more than one restaurant and then slightly exaggerated!!!
Poetically Yours,
AJ :o)
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Mar 12 '04
8:27 pm PST
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Re: Dammit, woman... (Reply to this comment)
by AinsleyJo
Thanks!
Probably what it is isn't that you so much hate poetry but just haven't found much of it that you can identify with or be inspired by.
Anyway, glad you liked mine--but don't stop with me, because there's plenty of other worthwhile poetry out there!
Kudos!
AJ :o)
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Mar 12 '04
7:52 pm PST
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