LisB: I am judgemental. I am very judgemental! And my judgement: I salute you for your courage, your thoughtfulness, and your doing what was right for you at a particular time and place in your life as your lights led you.

I have been a gay and women's rights activist for over 40 years. My materal grandmother (may she rest in peace) marched, was beaten and was jailed for advocating that women be given the vote.

When Roe v Wade was handed down, my adoptive mother (hereafter, mother) and I had a long conversation. You see, I was adopted as an infant. My biological mother (hereafter, Sharon) was 16 when I was born. By the time Roe came down, I was well informed of the complexities of the issue of reproductive rights and adoption. In the discussion with my mother, she said: "If abortion had been available to your biological mother, I might not have been your mother." By God's grace, my father walked into the room and I did not have to immediately respond to her. (Sometimes, God is VERY good). You see, my parents did not pursue adoption until after my mother had had 4 stillbirths, lost a son to leukemia at 6 months, and had more miscarriages than any of us of fingers and toes over a 12-yr period.

Hence, I knew I needed to carefully consider my mother's question, as well as the whole question of reproductive rights in its entire complexity. Several days later, my mother and I resumed our conversation. This is what I said: (1) Had Sharon terminated her pregnancy, I would have never been. (2) Had Sharon had legal access to contraceptives, I would have never been. (3) I am because of choices Sharon did not have and because of choices my adoptive parents had. (4) I have no regrets being my mother's son.

When I turned 40, my mother wrote in my birthday card, "... if you have any desire to find your birth mother, you have my blessing." For 2 years, I did not pursue that option. But, my mother asked me on my 43rd birthday whether I had done any seaching. I said, no. She said, you need to do it. So, I did.

At the age of 46 and half years, I finally met my biological mother. Sharon was greated grieved by having given me up. The bullshit her parents put her through was enormous. My mother and Sharon met 3 months later. My mother, a women who had lost children, was so gracious and grateful to my Sharon. Sharon was grateful just to know I was OK. Both found peace in each other. 9 months later, my mother died with both me and Sharon at her bedside.

Sharon has never tried to be my "mother." But, she is a good friend. We do have history together.

Like all true stories, nothing ever ends "happily ever after." You see, for more than a half century I have had to deal with the scars of being taken away from my biological mother, to having to deal with never feeling like I quite fit. This is not to diminish either my mother or Sharon. I have no problem with dealing with tough shit. However, do not buy into the wacky rights utopian view of adoption.... it is not utopia. This is just to say that infant adoption is not without costs, especially for the child.

Do I wish I were aborted? No. Do I wish I were carried to term? No. In other words, there is no simple answer.

Another angle, my Aunt Rita committed suicide at the age of 22 when she was 4 months pregnant because, had she not, my paternal grandfather would have literally killed her. She was Catholic and he was Protestant. Under my grandfather's rubrics, the two could never marry.

Let us be real about the so-called pro-lifers. Only half of their energies are about abortion... the other half is about denying contraception to women and men (they hate Griswold as much as Roe), denying them autonomy over their lives and bodies, about denying every American automony over their lives and bodies in the name of a false god.

There is nothing in the Judeo-Christian theological tradition about abortion until the 20th century even though it was a common medical practice for over 6,000 years. The anti-choice stance of the wacko religious right (protestant and catholic) was a new creation of the 20th century when both divisions of the Christian tradition realized they were losing power over their adherents sex lives.

Anyway, LisB, kudos to you.

Posted at June 8, 2008 1:55 PM in response to Roe V Wade and Obama V McCain and My Choice

I do not find caucuses problematic except when they are mixed with primaries. I would suggest going to all primaries or all caucuses. There are good arguments for both. However, the hybrid doesn't work.

Posted at June 7, 2008 11:45 AM in response to Ideas for Reforming Democratic Nomination Process

The telecoms correctly understands that contributions to the GOP are a bad investment. Thanks to GWB, the GOP will the a minority party for the next generation. More importantly, telecoms like most of corporate America, understand the GOPs bigoted policies are bad for corporate America. Corporate America has nothing to gain from anti-persons-of-color, anti-non-fundamentalist-christian, anti-gay, anti-female, or anti-middle-class policies. Just consider how many companies are providing benefits to employee "partners" regardless of gender or marriage license.

Posted at February 28, 2008 10:55 AM in response to Today's Must Read

I am beginning to wonder when the South will try to leave the Union again. It would not be a great loss to the remaining 85% of the USA to be free of the South's obvious, genetically hereditable, bigotry. Of course, the South would soon turn into a third-world nation a la Mexico and that could present problems for the USA. And, of course, allowing the South to have control of the New Orlean's port and the Mississippi River up to Missouri's bootheel would be problematic.

Perhaps Lincoln was wrong not to have permitted to South's secession... would have certainly made the last 148 years easier.

Seriously, not thinking this all too seriously; however, I am rather fatigued with the problems the South have caused and unrepresentative quantities of Federal dollars going to the armpit of the nation (think Mississippi & Alabama).

Posted at February 28, 2008 10:43 AM in response to Obama's Call For Change Will Require A Group Effort

There is a very elegant and CAPITALIST solution to the problem of protecting telecoms AND insuring the Administration thinks twice before it engages in illegal wiretapping.

Simply place a provision in the bill which requires the Federal Treasury to pay any legal expenses of the telecoms relevant to the wiretapping as well as any judgements levied against them relevant to said wiretapping. This provision would protect the telecoms' profits when they cooperate with the Administration and provide a financial disincentive for any administration to pursue illegal wiretapping.

GOPers should really like this solution since it is predicated on basic capitalism.

And since GWB asserts that everything he is doing is legal, there will be no problem. Any law suits will be dispensed with in summary judgement for the telecom.

Posted at February 28, 2008 10:25 AM in response to Clarke, Other Experts Contradict Administration Line on Wiretapping

Tavis has no future in the post-racist era... he needs HRC as does Jesse and Al... the last thing Tavis wants is the realization of Dr King's vision... the central theme of Obama is grow up, get over the past, and quit dividing the people... again, Smiley has a vest interest in maintaining the status quo... he become irrelevant with Obama in the White House... but in reality, he's been irrelevant for for more than 20 years...

Posted at February 23, 2008 7:09 PM in response to Tavis Smiley Still Clueless in New Orleans

More importantly, an Obama presidency renders Smiley irrelevant... he has a vested interesst in supporting HRC.... without HRC, he is nobody...

Posted at February 23, 2008 6:33 PM in response to Tavis Smiley Still Clueless in New Orleans

On second thought, why is anyone interested in what Smiley things... he is part of the problem, not part of the solution

Posted at February 23, 2008 6:25 PM in response to Tavis Smiley Still Clueless in New Orleans

Mr Smiley is another clueless Washington insider...

Posted at February 23, 2008 6:15 PM in response to Tavis Smiley Still Clueless in New Orleans

I'm still waiting for evidence... just because letters assert something, it doesn't make it true... bring it forward, present in public to the relevant Congressional committees and then, I will consider it... mere assertions from an Administration that has repeatedly lied are meaningless

Posted at February 23, 2008 6:14 PM in response to House GOP Cuts New Intro for 24