Firstly, being ‘intent on keeping’ a child should never be a factor in determining whether someone should or could have made a different decision. Many women who become pregnant unexpectedly feel ambivalent about it, and many continue the pregnancy still not sure, but grow progressively happier with their decision and connected to their babies as the pregnancy continues. Many women also have abortions feeling very ambivalent, and people often confuse this lack of certainty with not wanting their babies.

Secondly, abortion advocates in Australia are currently campaigning on 2 levels, one by absolutely celebrating abortion by dancing and partying, something that is at the very least, in extremely poor taste considering the reality of such an experience for most women. Reading their promotional material, blogs, social media commentary, it is clear they are in fact celebrating abortion.. not abortion availability, with comments including… ‘wow, 90,000 abortions.. that’s 90,000 reasons to celebrate.’

The second aspect of their current campaign is to ‘name and shame’ any person who speaks against abortion. Sadly this includes any woman who chooses to share her story of regret, grief or trauma following abortion. Whilst their spokesperson makes comments such as: ‘”If you take the risk of speaking out…break your silence, we will not do what you fear. We will not judge you, demean you, oppress you…we will make you understand that you will not be cast out” However, she has also publicly stated that they are not interested in women’s negative stories, saying they won’t target them as long as ‘they lay off shaming other women…’ and ‘we can’t stop people of faith guilting themselves.’

In effect, they care only for those who are prepared to provide ‘happy’ abortion stories: negative stories apparently make other women feel bad. Furthermore, they state that any woman unhappy about her experience is obviously religious and only suffering a misplaced religious guilt. This is just another way to dismiss and undermine the reality of women’s experiences, and is certainly in conflict with their stated claim that they ‘will not judge or demean you.’

Margaret’s story is her own experience and she has a right to tell it the way she feels it. Margaret’s experience is that those who pushed her toward abortion the first time did not have her best interests at heart even while they were telling her it would be a good and empowering act. She has a right to be angry about this as for her it was an absolute lie, as is the case for many women today.

I thank you for your comment.

Please be assured there are people, like myself, who would never dare to dance on your tears. We weep for you and with you, and hope that somewhere in your future you can find healing and peace.