Thoughts on this week in Washington and What it Means for the Pro-life Movement

I've been mulling over this past week and the pro-life movement. Our new president, Barack Obama, was sworn in, and Obama's abortion agenda loomed overhead while thousands attended the March for Life. There was great concern that Obama might slap pro-lifers in the face with rescinding the Mexico City Policy on the anniversary of Roe V. Wade, however, he waited until take-out-the-trash Friday when it would be more difficult for the not-so-tech-savy Right to comment or report. No worries that the left-wing media will pick up that story and run with it. Besides, we knew that it would be one of his first acts in office, and we knew there was nothing we could do about it but lament--and pray.

I am happy to report, however, that Heartbeat International's Babies Go to Congress event was a hit. People responded well to the idea of taking moms and their babies saved from abortion by pregnancy centers to meet congress persons to show them that pregnancy centers are good for America. Heartbeat is encouraged enough to consider making this an annual event.

Also, Heartbeat's president, Peggy Hartshorn, was interviewed by several news outlets. Peggy has devoted her life to making abortion unthinkable. This interview on CBN is inspiring. Be sure to watch.

It is my belief that pregnancy centers are where the movement needs to be focusing. We need to promote their work as community organizations. We need to protect their work from abortion-lobby interference. And we need to get involved on that grass-roots community level. It is working in our communities where we might just do the most good.

Babies Go to Congress

“On this anniversary of Roe v. Wade, after 37 years of the dehumanizing choice to abort a child, Heartbeat is bringing to Capitol Hill children saved by the compassionate care of pregnancy centers,” said Heartbeat President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D. “Members of Congress need to hear from the women we serve. I am grateful they have such positive things to say about pregnancy center help. Children are America’s greatest natural resource, and our elected officials need to preserve the bond between mother and child. Our families and the future of our country are strengthened by the life-saving work of pregnancy centers.”

Heartbeat International, founded in 1971, is an interdenominational Christian association of nearly 1,100 pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, non-profit adoption agencies, and medical clinics in 48 states and 43 other countries. Heartbeat provides www.OptionLine.org (800-395-HELP) to connect women with the local pregnancy center for the help they need.

Blogs4Life

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 FRC-Blogs-for-Life-09

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thursday, January 22nd at 8:30 am, Family Research Council, located at 801 G Street, NW, will host Blogs for Life, the fourth annual conference of pro-life bloggers.

Blogs for Life is scheduled to take place the day of the 36th annual March for Life, during which hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates gather in the nation's capitol to celebrate life and demand the reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

The conference will feature several prominent conservative voices including Senator Sam Brownback, Amanda Carpenter, Jill Stanek, Michael New, Ph.D., Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D., Michael Illions, Chris Gacek, J.D. and Martha Shuping, M.D. all speaking with bloggers live from Family Research Council headquarters.


Blogs for Life is an excellent opportunity for individuals and organizations to network with pro-life bloggers and activists and to grow in their knowledge of how internet technology can be used to strategically promote life and transform ideas into action as we move toward a post-Roe America. The event will also webcast live on www.frc.org, providing an opportunity for pro-life bloggers and blog readers to participate in the March, even if they cannot travel to Washington, D.C.


Who: Senator Sam Brownback

Amanda Carpenter, Townhall.com

Jill Stanek, blogger and speaker, JillStanek.com

Michael New, Ph.D., University of Alabama

Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D., President and CEO of Americans United for Life

Michael Illions, co-executive director of GOPUSA

Chris Gacek, Senior Fellow, Family Research Council

Martha Shuping, M.D., Shuping & Associates


What: The third annual conference dedicated to advancing the pro-life message through blogging.


When: Thursday, January 22, 2009

8:30am - 11:30 am ET


Where: Family Research Council

801 G. Street, NW Washington, DC 20001

RSVP: online at www.blogs4life.com (click on Register)


SOURCE Family Research Council

Baby, it's cold outside.

Crikey! My thermometer this morning registered -19.

Biscuits and pizza crust

Last time I shared my recipe for biscuit mix. Right now, I don't want to have a big batch in the fridge, so I make biscuit dough when I need it. This will make a dozen drop biscuits or one pizza crust. Don't hesitate to halve the recipe if you don't want a dozen biscuits.

Biscuits

• 2 cups flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 tbl shortening
• 2/3-3/4 cup milk or water

Sift together the dry ingredients. Cut in the shortening until the consistency of coarse corn meal. Add liquid, mixing with a fork until the dough forms a ball. Roll out on a floured board (or a piece of wax paper) until 1/2 inch thick. Cut with floured biscuit cutter. Bake at 450 on an ungreased baking sheet for10-12 minutes. These can be dropped from a spoon instead to make drop biscuits or dumplings.

To use as pizza crust, lightly oil the outside of the dough ball. Press into pizza pan. Top with your pizza toppings and bake at 400 for 12-15 minutes. Watch for the dough and cheese to brown.

Pizza sauce:
Pizza is a great follow up for having spaghetti. When you have leftover sauce, don't put it away with the spaghetti. Freeze it, or store it separately and use it for pizza sauce another night. You can top the pizza with leftover chicken or ham. But, if your spaghetti already had meat in it, you really can just add cheese and you're good to go.

Tomorrow--what to do with the leftover pasta.

Homemade Biscuit Mix

When Holly was here for Christmas, she asked about some of the recipes I used with Isaac was little. This one for Biscuit Mix I used for everything from biscuits to pizza crust. I also substituted it for anything on the back of the Bisquick box.

Homemade Biscuit Mix

• 8 cups flour
• 1 tbl salt
• 4 tbl baking powder
• 1 cup shortening--room temperature
  

Mix and sift flour, salt, and baking powder into a large bowl. Cut shortening into flour mixture with a pastry cutter or a fork until the mixture is like a coarse corn meal.

Store in a covered container in the fridge.

To make 6 biscuits:

• 1 cup biscuit mix
• 1/4-1/2 cup milk

Roll out and cut or drop onto cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. This also makes dumplings which you can drop into a boiling soup, or double the recipe and roll it out on a pizza pan for homemade pizza.

To make 6 pancakes:

• 1 cup biscuit mix
• 1 egg, well beaten
• 1/2 cup milk

Mix well and pour onto hot griddle.

To make 6 waffles:

• 2 cups biscuit mix
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2 tbl melted butter (or use vegetable oil)
• 1/12 cups milk
• 1 beaten egg
  

Beat liquids into biscuit mix. Pour into waffle iron.

Prolife PR

I recently read an article saying that the pro-life movement is changing directions with the election of Barack Obama. Supposedly, the movement is shifting to providing care rather than attempting to strike down Roe v. Wade. Obviously, the writers were unaware of the history of the pregnancy centers.

Since before Roe v. Wade, caring people in communities all over the country set up pregnancy help centers to reach women in "crisis pregnancies". These were people who knew that women need real options, not just the "right" to have an abortion. They needed help in making an adoption plan or in finding ways to be able to raise their child.

Today's pregnancy care centers often have medical staff, ultrasounds, fertility education, and abortion recovery programs. They don't get the coverage that protests or anti-abortion legislation gets, but they are on the front lines meeting the needs of women and families. Unlike Planned Parenthood, pregnancy help centers generally don't charge for their services and generally don't received funding from the government (although some abstinence programs do receive funds).

These centers are at risk of being shut down because those who support a woman's right to choose don't want women to have access to other options. There are a couple of reasons for this. One is that pregnancy centers cut into their profit margin. Planned Parenthood makes money on contraception and on abortion. They don't want their clients going elsewhere for free care.

Another option, however, is that there is a fundamental difference in the philosophy of both sides of the abortion coin. Many on the pro-abortion side truly believe that a women is hindered by having a child, or even the risk of having a child. The Sexual Revolution grew out of Margaret Sanger's writings (among others) and the perceived need for women to be able to have the same cavalier attitude about sex that men have. We've reached that point. Women have affairs as frequently as men, they watch porn and emulate the actresses. No wonder motherhood, abstinence, and fidelity are seen as out of date.

Pregnancy centers have been around longer than Roe v. Wade, but they need to have better PR. They are in the forefront of the battle, but they are the last place receiving support. The battleground hasn't changed from the Congress to providing care for moms in need. That is the battleground. It's time that people noticed.

Countering Planned Parenthood's "Death" Certificates

You might have heard that Planned Parenthood of Indiana is offering gift certificates this Christmas for services, including abortions. Many people, even pro-choicers, are appalled. Well, here is the opportunity to counter that effort.

In response to these "death certificates," the Pro-Life Action League is encouraging its supporters to give to a non-profit service, Option Line, the life-saving 24/7 hotline (1-800-395-HELP) that connects callers to local resource centers that can help manage a crisis pregnancy or deal with the aftermath of abortion.

To encourage donations to Option Line and remember the birth of baby Jesus, PLAL will give away copies of the book, "What Mary and Joseph Knew About Parenting" to the first 100 donors who give $42 or more between now and December 25. Forty-two dollars is enough to keep Option Line open and taking calls for half an hour—helping at least 14 people in need or as many as 1,000 women if 100 people donate.

To make a tax-deductible gift of $42 or more go to the Option Line online donation form. Write "Mary and Joseph" in the comments section to receive your complimentary book. Or send your check made out to Option Line for $42 or more, with a note to request your book, to Heartbeat International, 665 E. Dublin Granville Rd., Ste 440, Columbus, Ohio 43229. Option Line is a joint venture of Heartbeat International and Care Net.

Columbus' Biggest Baby Shower

Columbus’ Biggest Baby Shower
Join 104.9 The River for Columbus’ Biggest Baby Shower on Saturday, April 19 from 10am to 1pm at Lindsay Acura located on Scarborough Blvd. just off of I-70 and Brice Road. Theywill be collecting gently used baby items and maternity clothes that will help benefit Pregnancy Decision Health Centers and Maternity Resources and kids will have the oppportunity to meet the characters from Veggie Tales. Click Here for a complete list of baby items that will be accepted.

This is the event where we're donating our knitted and crocheted baby items. I'm absolutely enamored by all things yarn, especially things with faces and things for babies. If I could, I'd spend all my time making things to give away, but alas, I have a paying job.

The KnitWits met last night. We had two new crocheters and one person switched to knitting for the first time. We have a bag full of hats to donate to PDHC. I started making booties to go with them. We're setting up a baby shower in the church to gather more donations. Hopefully, we'll have a nice stache to pass on to moms in need.

I have a little enforced yarn time on my hands this week. My youngest son and I are racing through season 3 of Battlestar Galactica before season 4 starts on Friday. To keep me from dozing, I'm knitting or crocheting. Last night my hands were busy with the amigurumi octopus from Lion Brand Yarn's website. I'll also have time on my hands tomorrow while I wait for the birth of my first granddaughter, Lydia Joy.

Focusing on Babies

Seems like it's been forever since I blogged. It has been too long and changes are afoot.

I've been enjoying time off of theatre and the coming births of Lydia and Rebekah, my granddaughters. It's gotten me knitting and crocheting and once again enjoying making baby things. So, along with making things for the girls, I've been making things to donate to Pregnancy Decision Health Center in Columbus, OH. I've even started a little group of KnitWits (AKA Happy Hookers) to make baby things to donate.

This idea not only comes from my burning desire to play with yarn, but from comments that "choicers" throw out that pro-lifers don't do anything to support the mother who chooses to keep their child. I know that's not true, but I decided to put my talent where my mouth is and help with material aid.

Our first drop will be April 19th at Columbus's Largest Baby Shower, sponsored by 104.9 The River. Our church is even holding a baby shower for PDHC to increase the donations. Just our way of helping. Pictures of the stash to follow.

Vanity Theatre

Community theatre is a strange animal. The mission is usually something about inviting the community to participate in theatre, whether as an actor, tech person, or audience member. For people who were part of theatre in high school and did nothing more with it, it sounds like fun. Sometimes it is. Sometimes you find yourself embroiled in what I call "Vanity Theatre."

Sounds almost redundant, doesn't it? Don't you have to be a little bit vain to be involved in theatre anyway? Maybe, but that's not the point. What I mean when I say "vanity theatre" is a theatre company started by one or more people who are disgruntled with the theatre company they were working for and who decide to start their own company. It's pretty common, at least in my neck of the woods. I can list off about five theatre companies who have branched off of just one in my area.

Sometimes it's really not a problem. The new company quickly gets past the hurt feelings, establishes its own identity and moves on. That's healthy growth. Other times, the connection is as clear as the plagiarized bylaws handed out to new board members. Spend enough time there and you'll know the real reason why the company was started. By the end of tech week, the entire cast and crew of the last show I directed knew the reason the company president left his previous company.

Here's my advice: If you find yourself at a vanity company to work on a show and you find that the founders haven't moved on from their past hurts, finish up the show and walk calmly to the nearest exit. If you are one of those founders, move on. Let it go. Community theatre has enough drama on its own.

The Lost Tomb of the Wilsons

As a child my father took us on regular trips to the family plot at the cemetery. On the right side of the plot lay my grandfather. Next to him lay his parents, George and Maggie Wilson. On the right, across from George and Maggie lay Francis Wilson and Ellen Boyer. All the stones identical, except Ellen Boyer's, which could make one question her relationship. One would assume, since this is a family plot, that there lay three generations of Wilsons. But without evidence, one would only be speculating.

That's what the Discovery Channel's program, "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" turns out to be: speculation. A tomb was discovered in Jerusalem in 1980 with 10 ossuaries, or small caskets for bones. Some of the ossuaries were labeled with the names of Jesus bar Joseph, Maria, Mariemene, Judah, Jose, and Matthew. Twenty some years later, filmakers Simcha Jacobovici and Titanic director James Cameron decided to "investigate." In the Ted Coppel interview following the program, Jacobovici admitted that the purpose of the documentary was to get scholars all in the same tent to investigate. Investigating evidentally wasn't his job.

Of course, for many Christians, finding the body of Christ is an impossibility. The Doctrine of the Resurrection precludes finding Christ's body on earth since He took it with him when he rose from the dead. Therefore, many Christians--myself included--find the beginning premise that the body of Christ could be found as impossible.

Another problem with Jacobovici's hypothesis is that he identifies Mariemene as the woman we know as Mary Magdalene. He uses as documentation The Gospel of Phillip, a 4th century text that recounts the story of Mary Magdalene from the point of view of her brother, Phillip. Phillip is one of the "sources" for the myth surrounding Dan Brown's book, The DaVinci Code. In The Gospel of Phillip, Mary Magdalene was called Mariemene. The problem with this source is The Gospel of Phillip is not part of the recognized canon of scripture. It was written centuries after the rest of the gospels and is not considered a trustworthy account. Other than the similarity of the name, there is no reason to connect these two women.

However, if Mariemene is Mary Magdalene, then the other Mary must certainly be Mary, the mother of Jesus. Jesus had a brother named Jose, so certainly the names are lining up. Jacobovici believes this is looking like it is the tomb of Jesus. Except, who are Matthew and Judah? Jesus had a brother named Judas, but no brother named Matthew. Jacobovici finds it's easiest to remove Matthew from the picture (after telling us that Mary, the mother of Jesus, had Matthews in her family tree), and identifying Judah as the son of Jesus and Marimene. But this is all speculation. While he does do DNA testing between Jesus and Mariemene, he does no further testing. Jacobovici doesn't even bother to mention the other three unmarked ossuaries in the tomb. He does try to connect an ossuary that turned up with the inscription "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus". This ossuary might be the missing 10th ossuary that was cataloged at the site in 1980, but never placed in the Israel Antiquities Authority archives. Except that ossuary was listed as having no inscription. The found ossuary is currently held up in litigation and cannot be examined, but that doesn't stop Jacobovici from using it as "evidence".

Evidence is the one thing that Jacobovici's documentary is lacking. His work is speculation. Without evidence, even genealogical information is suspect. When I ordered death certificates for the people in my family plot, I uncovered facts. My grandfather and his parents, George and Maggie, lay to the right, but on the left side of the plot lay Maggie's parents, Francis and Ellen Boyer Wilson. George's parents were buried several counties away. Because they were in the same plot, I assumed they were the same family. I was wrong. I found I had two Wilson families who had intermarried. This was my first lesson in making sure that I have evidence, not assumptions in historical research.

Jacobovici's "research" wouldn't hold up in genealogical circles. He has theories and no real way to prove them. Yet, he hopes that scholars will research these artifacts to uncover his version of the truth. So far, the scholars weighing in don't seem to be interested in the project.

To read about the problems with the statistical evidence read: Special Report: Has James Cameron Found Jesus's Tomb or Is It Just a Statistical Error?

Time and Chance

This was a big week for Life in the news. First, both sides of the abortion issue got the cover of Time Magazine. The article nicely features Asheville Pregnancy Support Services in Asheville, NC, and also mentions both Heartbeat International and OptionLine.

Having said that, I do have some concerns that the idea of both sides of the debate coming together is really a push toward Hillary Clinton's "safe, legal, and rare", where both sides find the common ground of focusing on the woman, decrease the number of abortions, yet keep abortion legal. The side for Life will have to do some serious thinking over the next couple of years as those who Peggy Hartshorn, President of Heartbeat International, calls "the mushy middle" most likely settles for fewer abortions, not an end to the practice. Will we settle or stay the course?

The next big story deals with little Amillia Taylor, the youngest known live birth. Even Charles Gibson of ABC News admits that Amillia's birth "may have an effect on the debate over abortion, and it may change the way people think about life." According to an article by LifeNews, Gibson teased the evening's top story, “A tiny miracle that raises big questions in the debate over abortion."

Amillia was born at 21 weeks, 6 days. Since the standard of care is not to try to save a child under 23 weeks, Amillia's mother lied about Amillia's age. Life News, quoting the ABC News story says, "Bio-ethicists we spoke with today argue that Amillia is a miracle baby, and that it's unwise to change public policy based on miracles." However, since it is policy NOT to save a child at fewer than 23 weeks, how do we know that Amillia really is a miracle baby? Perhaps the miracle is not that modern science can save a baby that is younger than 23 weeks. Perhaps the miracle is that a baby younger than 23 weeks got the chance to live.

Flipsyde - Happy Birthday

This is a powerful song from a post-abortive dad. He's learning from his mistakes and making a stand for life. We had some discussion at work about the line, "I won’t tell a woman what to do with her body; but if she don’t like children, we can’t party." Here's what I wrote: </p><p>"But at least he’s making a stand for what he finds important, and he’s taking the conversation in a different direction. He’s making the point of saying I’m not going to be involved in a woman who’s going to make a choice for abortion. Now, there are all kinds of issues there. He’s not saying he’s not going to stop sleeping around either. But for a member of the relativistic generation, he’s actually decided on a right and a wrong."

Forced-abortions in the News

Don't be confused by the media stories about the rash of parents forcing abortion on their daughters. The stories are only news because Congress votes today on a bill to prevent the evasion of parental notification laws by taking minors across state lines for abortions.

First we were confronted by the story about a New England couple who kidnapped their adult daughter to force her to have an abortion. Today's story concerns a family who forced a teen to drink turpentine to induce abortion. These are NOT common tales. They are extraordinary. And they are brought to light only so we can see that parents cannot be trusted with the care of their daughters.

The pro-life argument for parental notification laws is that parents have the primary care for their minor children. They need to agree to any medical procedure being performed on their child, whether it be ear-piercing or surgery. Parents need to be involved in the decision-making process, especially since teens don't always make the best decisions. These news stories form a basis for the argument that parents don't make the best decisions either. Moreover, parents are not to be trusted.

Parental rights are continually being bombarded by our society, which believes that "it takes a village" to raise a child. That's a lie. It takes caring, commited parents who are not prohibited by rule from making decisions about their child's care. Special cases such as these two reported in the news are just that--special cases, and should be treated as such under the law. But they shouldn't be used as the wedge to further remove a parent's primary right to provide for their children.

The Road Less Traveled

I have a son who is getting married in a few weeks. His life is about to change. Change is one of those things that is inherent in human life. And change is one thing that one can't plan for, but when it happens, well, everything changes. My son is a special guy who doesn't have his life planned to the nth degree. He waits. Things land in his lap. That's how his life works.

Most people have problems waiting for something to fall in their laps. In our society, we're taught to plan. From our earliest days we're told to get a good education so we can get a good job. Women, especially, are told to hold off getting married and having children until we've reached our goals. Men are expected to have a "good job", at least be on the career path. Together they should be able to marry so they can buy a nice house in a nice neighborhood, drive nice cars and live a nice life.

But what happens when real life enters into the equation? When changes happen to spoil our plans? We've been taught by society that the point of all this life stuff is to reach our financial goals, but is that really the point? My parents died when I was a child. That wasn't part of the plan. My aunt and uncle took me in. That wasn't part of their plan. Things change. Life happens, and our plans come to a screeching halt.

Interestingly, I think that the moment we make the decision to take our eyes off our goal is when we get off the merry-go-round that our culture expects. When something shakes up our foundation and we have to start looking for the best path through the treacherous ground, that's where the rubber meets the road.

I never would have chosen the path that my life has taken. I wouldn't have chosen to be orphaned at 13 and to move to another state to live with people I didn't know; but I also know now that my life would have been incredibly different if my parents had lived. In the middle of loss, I had no idea that there would be such blessings on the other side.

From that perspective, when I read blogs about abortion and a woman's right to choose, I wonder about the ferocity with which women hold onto their plans and their refusal to come to terms what life has handed them. I think they are missing the real opportunity to make something of themselves.

Robert Frost wrote, "Two roads diverged in wood, and I--I took the road less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." Taking the road less traveled may not be the easier road. There are undoubtably some unforeseen problems along the way, and some trails may need to be blazed, but this is the type of road that can define one's character. It's not the road that everyone else is taking. It's uncommon.

Like me, my son is on the divergent road. While I was forced onto the road, I made a choice to stay there, blazing trails in home education and now in pro-life. My son has made the conscious choice to live in the moment rather than follow the well-worn road to society's goals. Who knows where the road will lead him and his future wife? One thing's for sure. They will be better prepared for change when it happens, because their goal is something out of this world.

Abortion Rights Advocates Drop Lawsuit Over License Plates

Ohio News Network (ONN) is reporting, "Abortion rights activists in Ohio are dropping a lawsuit to block sales of license plates that say 'Choose Life' because of a Supreme Court decision in a Tennessee case." This is wonderful news for those who were concerned that they lose the right to support adoption programs in Ohio by buying a specialty license plate!

Personally, I've wondered if the whole lawsuit was a bit of sour grapes. I mean, abortion supporters might want plates of their own, but how does one market that? "Choose death"? Besides, how does a movement that wants to make abortion, "safe, legal, and rare" also fight in court funding for adoptions? They were in a no-win situation, and it's about time those abortion rights activists figured it out.

Planned Parenthood's response and my comeback

I should have posted this sooner. Planned Parenthood did respond. It can be seen here.

Of course, I had to respond to his response. We're rather using the Dispatch as a blog at this point. But the point has to be firmly made that Planned Parenthood is a business that rakes in taxpayers money. Here's my response: Planned Parenthood is big-business operation

Tuesday, August 29, 2006
In an Aug. 21 letter, Gary Dougherty, executive director of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio, responded to my Aug. 6 letter by questioning my analysis of the organization’s annual report, calling it "fuzzy math." Yet, I reported only the bottom line, a $63 million profit, as also reported by numerous media.
Since 1987, Planned Parenthood has received $3.9 billion in taxpayers’ money. From 2004 to 2005, it performed 255,015 surgical abortions (a record number). Some sources estimate that it made $108 million from its abortion business alone, or 31 percent of its clinic income.
No matter how Dougherty cuts it, abortion is big business. It’s in Planned Parenthood’s best interests to keep its clients ignorant of the link between breast cancer and abortion, the risks of infertility after abortion and the reality of post-abortion trauma. Telling the truth cuts into its bottom line.

Weird Weekend

This was a weird weekend.

It started off with finding out that someone had tapped into my checkcard and helped themselves to a couple of thousand dollars worth of computer gear. I kinda feel like one of those commercials with the old woman talking with the voice of a hacker kid.


Yep, they've got web hosting and a notebook computer and who knows how much other digital equipment. And to top it off, they started the whole run with two donations to charity. I guess it eased their consciences.

After talking to the bank, I followed through with my plans to go to the Bluegrass Musicians Supply shop here in town. I got to play with a really nice electric autoharp, and then E and I listened to some jams in the basement. Next time I go, I'm taking a harp. I need to try out those new picks I bought.

Today was the family reunion in Wellston. Lots of good food and wacky family. It's one of those things that you don't necessarily want to do, but it's fun when you get there.

One of the family members mentioned being my inlaw's best man at their wedding. So, I asked him if he knew anything about the limburger cheese on the manifold of the wedding vehicle. He said, "Now, why would you think I would know anything about that? I don't know anything more than I know about the swiss cheese in the mailbox." I'd never heard about the swiss cheesed mailbox, so I figured I'd found the perp. The twinkle in his eyes told me I was right.

Planned Parenthood Capitalizes on Abortion

The fight against Pregnancy Resource Centers heated up a couple of notches when California Representative Henry Waxman issued his report last month. Editorials flew, accusing PRCs of misleading women by providing false information about the effects of abortion. In response to an editorial by Robyn Blumner that appeared in the Columbus Dispatch, I submitted this letter to the editor, which ran on the August 6, 2006.

Planned Parenthood capitalizes on abortion

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Robyn Blumner’s July 24 Forum column "Crisis Pregnancy Centers dole out misinformation in misuse of tax money," on California Rep. Henry Waxman’s recent report, did little more than pass on bad information.
While some pregnancy centers receive funding for abstinence education, in total about $30 million, state and local governments are doling out funding for Planned Parenthood to the tune of $272.7 million, according to its 2004-2005 annual report.
The abstinence programs that the pregnancy centers offer are free to clients. Planned Parenthood earned a profit of $63 million in 2004-05.
Planned Parenthood stands to lose millions if the American public learns that abortion is linked to breast cancer, infertility and abortion-related trauma.
Abortion is big business. Why are our tax dollars going to fund a multimillion dollar business that is making money by harming the women it claims to protect?

SANDY BARTON
Columbus