http://www.charleston.net/stories/011104/sta_11abortion.shtml

January 11, 2004

Activists promote adoption

About 300 people meet at Statehouse to protest abortion

Associated Press
COLUMBIA--Ansely Edwards' deepest questions about life compelled her to join
about 300 people at the Statehouse on Saturday to protest abortion.
The redheaded 15-year-old was adopted as an infant and says she hopes to
promote that option to women who face an unwanted pregnancy.

"My birth mother had the choice of having an abortion with me or putting me
up for adoption," Edwards said. "When I think about that I realize a lot of
other mothers have the choice of doing that." That's why she brought her
message to the annual Stand Up for Life March and
Rally at the Capitol steps.

"I believe they have a responsibility," Edwards said. "Abortion is not an
option."

Frigid weather wasn't enough to discourage scores of marchers who pushed
bundled-up babies in strollers, walked dogs and carried red stop signs that
read:
"Stop Abortion Now," along the four-block route from the University of South
Carolina campus to the Statehouse.
"It's a cold day and I'm proud to see anybody today," said 73-year-old David
Ward of North Augusta, who sat with his wife, Diana, and their tiny
red-sweater-clad dog Lillie.

David Mullaney, a father of four, said he works throughout the year with his
church to spread his message that "children are a blessing," and finds
comfort
gathering each January at the Statehouse with those who share his views.
"It only helps the people dedicated to the cause and gives them hope to
press
on," said Mullaney, who walked with his 8-year-old son, William, atop his
shoulders.

Featured speaker Vera Faith Lord, director of International Pro-Life
Ministries based in Baltimore, told her story about the struggle to cope
with her
choice to have an abortion.

The acts of convicted child killers Susan Smith and Andrea Yates are
"nothing
compared to what I did," she said.
"I paid someone to do that," Lord said about her decision to abort her son
21
years ago.
Smith drowned her two sons in a Union County lake in 1994. Yates killed her
four sons and infant daughter by drowning them in a bathtub in 2001.

Lord encouraged the crowd to stick to its cause and to continue the fight
against abortion.

"Marley Greiner" <maddogmarley@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:97AMb.22562$6y6.548532@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net... http://www.charleston.net/stories/011104/sta_11abortion.shtml January 11, 2004 Activists promote adoption About 300 people meet at Statehouse to protest abortion Associated Press COLUMBIA--Ansely Edwards' deepest questions about life compelled her to
join about 300 people at the Statehouse on Saturday to protest abortion. The redheaded 15-year-old was adopted as an infant and says she hopes to promote that option to women who face an unwanted pregnancy. "My birth mother had the choice of having an abortion with me or putting
me up for adoption," Edwards said. "When I think about that I realize a lot
of other mothers have the choice of doing that." That's why she brought her message to the annual Stand Up for Life March and Rally at the Capitol steps. "I believe they have a responsibility," Edwards said. "Abortion is not an option." Frigid weather wasn't enough to discourage scores of marchers who pushed bundled-up babies in strollers, walked dogs and carried red stop signs
that read: "Stop Abortion Now," along the four-block route from the University of
South Carolina campus to the Statehouse. "It's a cold day and I'm proud to see anybody today," said 73-year-old
David Ward of North Augusta, who sat with his wife, Diana, and their tiny red-sweater-clad dog Lillie. David Mullaney, a father of four, said he works throughout the year with
his church to spread his message that "children are a blessing," and finds comfort gathering each January at the Statehouse with those who share his views. "It only helps the people dedicated to the cause and gives them hope to press on," said Mullaney, who walked with his 8-year-old son, William, atop his shoulders. Featured speaker Vera Faith Lord, director of International Pro-Life Ministries based in Baltimore, told her story about the struggle to cope with her choice to have an abortion. The acts of convicted child killers Susan Smith and Andrea Yates are "nothing compared to what I did," she said. "I paid someone to do that," Lord said about her decision to abort her son 21 years ago. Smith drowned her two sons in a Union County lake in 1994. Yates killed
her four sons and infant daughter by drowning them in a bathtub in 2001. Lord encouraged the crowd to stick to its cause and to continue the fight against abortion.

Her birth mother had three options

- have an abortion
- drop out of school and go on welfare and condemn herself and the child to
a life time of poverty, while the mother stays home to care for her child
- put the child up for adoption

Unfortunately the option for most of today's young mothers is to drop out of
school go on welfare and raise their progeny. Adoption is simply not an
alternative, not while the state is funding the keeping of children.

It is a sad irony that the radical right who oppose abortion also oppose
providing welfare or health care to the single mothers and children who
result from their no abortion policy.

It is never so easy as the anti-abortion forces would have us believe.

Doug Thomas

During a dinner a few days ago I mentioned to someone that we were in the
process of adopting a child. One of the other dinner guests mentioned that
he had a friend, who recently had had an abortion, and he said it was a bit
odd how some people would unsuccessfully be trying to fall pregnant and
others would have an abortion. He then asked me how I felt about it, since
my wife and I obviously were in the former category. My personal view is
that I cannot judge others over the decisions they make in regards to
abortion without knowing anything about their specific circumstances. I can
do nothing but respect the difficult decision his friend made and hope that
it was the right decision for her. It would be wrong for me to judge people
in a certain way, just because of my own personal circumstance. That is just
plain hypocritical. The important thing is that she made the right decision
for her in the situation she is in at the moment, and we do what is the
right decision for us.

I respect the choice of other. I wish anti-abortionist could one day grow up
to do the same.

"Marley Greiner" <maddogmarley@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:97AMb.22562$6y6.548532@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net... http://www.charleston.net/stories/011104/sta_11abortion.shtml January 11, 2004 Activists promote adoption About 300 people meet at Statehouse to protest abortion Associated Press COLUMBIA--Ansely Edwards' deepest questions about life compelled her to
join about 300 people at the Statehouse on Saturday to protest abortion. The redheaded 15-year-old was adopted as an infant and says she hopes to promote that option to women who face an unwanted pregnancy. "My birth mother had the choice of having an abortion with me or putting
me up for adoption," Edwards said. "When I think about that I realize a lot
of other mothers have the choice of doing that." That's why she brought her message to the annual Stand Up for Life March and Rally at the Capitol steps. "I believe they have a responsibility," Edwards said. "Abortion is not an option." Frigid weather wasn't enough to discourage scores of marchers who pushed bundled-up babies in strollers, walked dogs and carried red stop signs
that read: "Stop Abortion Now," along the four-block route from the University of
South Carolina campus to the Statehouse. "It's a cold day and I'm proud to see anybody today," said 73-year-old
David Ward of North Augusta, who sat with his wife, Diana, and their tiny red-sweater-clad dog Lillie. David Mullaney, a father of four, said he works throughout the year with
his church to spread his message that "children are a blessing," and finds comfort gathering each January at the Statehouse with those who share his views. "It only helps the people dedicated to the cause and gives them hope to press on," said Mullaney, who walked with his 8-year-old son, William, atop his shoulders. Featured speaker Vera Faith Lord, director of International Pro-Life Ministries based in Baltimore, told her story about the struggle to cope with her choice to have an abortion. The acts of convicted child killers Susan Smith and Andrea Yates are "nothing compared to what I did," she said. "I paid someone to do that," Lord said about her decision to abort her son 21 years ago. Smith drowned her two sons in a Union County lake in 1994. Yates killed
her four sons and infant daughter by drowning them in a bathtub in 2001. Lord encouraged the crowd to stick to its cause and to continue the fight against abortion.





---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.572 / Virus Database: 362 - Release Date: 28/01/2004