Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

“What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. I’m especially proud and inspired by all the woman who felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories.” Oprah Winfrey

I skipped the Golden Globes last night. To be honest, while I totally agree that women should not be sexually harassed, and had no personal problem with wearing black to protest, I find it hard to believe that many of the Hollywood elite did not know about the sexual harassment going on. I knew it was going on and I have nothing to do with Hollywood. Everyone knew this stuff happened. It is no secret that sexual favors have been happening for the advancement of careers forever. You would have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to know that.

Sexual harassment was the monster in the room of Hollywood that no one spoke of, but everyone knew of, but pretended was not there. It served a purpose and often that purpose was “self.” In her acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award for outstanding contributions to entertainment, Oprah Winfrey spoke of the power of women speaking the truth and bringing sexual harassment to light, praising “the women who felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories,” which finally brought it out into the open. I commend them too. It takes a lot of courage to share such personal experiences.

As a result, the “me too” movement has been born, and that is a good thing. Still, for me, it rings a little hollow for there is another “me too” issue. This issue too is a monster in the room that no one wants to speak of, and just like the denial of sexual harassment, many of these same Hollywood’s elites deny its existence. In fact, they work hard against it denying the voices of millions of women by denying their personal stories and experiences. It is the “abortion hurt me too” women.

A one of those women, I find it frustrating and hypocritical to hear the likes of Meryl Streep, Ashley Judd, Scarlet Johnsen and so many others preach to us. This “I did not know” crowd proclaims to have known nothing, or kept quiet about Weinstein and others. Instead, they chose to remain ignorant and looked away. The truth was there, they just denied it and did nothing to protect those being abused.

They do the same thing with abortion, denying the experience of millions of women who have been harmed. This is because, as with sexual harassment, it somehow serves their own agendas. To hell with those of us who are speaking our truth. We don’t count. They don’t want to hear or acknowledge us. Sound familiar?

So, let me ask you ladies in black

• 
  Do you know abortion hurts millions of women emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically?
• Do you know women continue to die from supposed “safe, legal” abortion?
• Do you know that everyday women and girls are coerced into abortion by husbands, boyfriends, and parents?
• Do you know that abortion clinics do not have to have the same standards as other health care facilities?
• Do you know women are not told of the risks of having an abortion before they have one, so they can make an informed choice?
• Do you know they are not told about the development of their babies?
• Do you know many abortion “doctors” have harmed women and yet continue to move from state to state continuing their practice?

If not, now you know.

What are you going to do about it? My guess – nothing, because as with the sexual harassment “revelations” – you already know these things.

Sure, I get it, with all that sexual harassment I am sure many of you feel the need for abortion. It makes it easier to feel like you’re in control when you shout “my body, my choice! I know it is not an easy decision and you probably truly believe you are doing what is good for women, especially if you have had an abortion yourself. But, please, don’t stand up there in that spotlight and preach to us so self-righteously pretending you care about all women.

Oprah ended her speech with this, speaking about the end of sexual harassment, "And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say, 'me too' again. Thank you."

“Me too” is terrible and needs to be addressed, but so does, “abortion hurt me too." A lot of “magnificent women” have been speaking out about it for years in groups like Silent No More, and Operation Outcry. Until their truth is heard and acknowledged, and changes are made to truly protect women instead of abortion, you are the monster in the room that I choose to ignore. Your words are hollow.