To the editor:
I wanted to thank N. Taylor for speaking up about the anti-abortion protesters outside of Kelowna General Hospital. Having biked by them earlier that day it was fresh in my mind.
The arguments [billboards] I read included: “MEN: It’s your baby too”, “Choose life, your mother did”, and “Your baby has a right to life”.
These are all valid points, and none of them are incorrect. However, that does not give you the right to judge a woman before you even know what her unique situation is.
A woman is in an abusive relationship and was inseminated against her will, she has chosen to get help and leave him. She is alone, depressed and scared, without a home or career. She decides she cannot support a child in her present state because a child has a right to food and shelter, not to mention deserves a loving and safe home environment.
This is just one of many circumstances, albeit a fairly extreme one.
What if the woman has a disorder that will lead to her death and possibly that of her child’s as well? Now read those signs. How would you feel?
I am not saying I’m pro-abortion or anti-abortion. I am pro-choice. I feel that every human deserves the right to make their own decisions and should not be bombarded with negative judgement while trying to exercise that right.
Please just have some compassion and maybe try other outlets for your belief. Try volunteering in an outreach program, give women options and education, not judgement. Leave the judgement to the powers that be.
Erin Bailey, West Kelowna
