Shake the Nation Campaign

Originally Posted By hanaThis is a grotesque, extremist campaign. Clearly an evangelical Christian movement, it is offensive to me that it is being promoted on a Jewish adoptive parents' message board. As an orthodox Jew, I personally support stem cell research on embryos destined for destruction because of the potential for eradicating so much misery in the world. Perhaps the writer of this email should sign a pledge that her children shouldn't benefit from this research when they get older and G-D forbid develop those diseases. Because the research IS getting done, and will get done whether in Europe or the U.S. Shame on her.

Originally Posted By NicksterMommyHana,My understanding of the campaign is that it is about stopping abortions, NOT stem-cell research. The goal is to overturn Roe v. Wade. Stem-cell research isn't even mentioned in the petition. I thought that Christian, Jewish, Catholic, and LDS folks were anti-abortion, doubly so if they are involved in adoption. If this was an inappropriate thing to post on these boards, I apologize.

Originally Posted By BonniePeople's religious affiliations do not guarantee each individual's beliefs. I am Jewish (Conservative) and pro-choice. I am also an adoptive mom. I believe that women should make their own decisions, not the government.

Originally Posted By hanaThank you, Bonnie. I too am an adoptive parent, an observant Jew, and pro-choice. Christian posters to lists other than evangelical Christian shouldn't assume that people of all religious traditions hold the same views. It is possible to be politically progressive, to believe passionately in women's rights around the world, to promote adoption as a wonderful choice, and to be religiously observant all at the same time. The vast majority of Jews I know (except the ultra-orthodox) are pro-choice.

Originally Posted By vickiI too am Jewish, a parent of both bio and adopted children. I am also pro choice. Choices are sometimes made because the woman or couple feels there is no other way for them. I'm sure many regret it in later life but they still need to be able to make the choice. I think many of those that choose abortion haven't even begun to consider adoption. I am all for sexual education for our children. It should come from the parents but unfortunatly sometimes it doesn't. I think we can be pro choice and pro adoption because every situation is different. My adopted child would have been aborted had the bmom had the money early in her pregnancy. Thank God she didn't!!!

Originally Posted By hanaI agree, Vicki. Actually, there is no "natural" link between adoption and abortion in my mind, except that they are different aspects of a woman's right to choose. Ditto for infertility treatments (and I'm a veteran of all three). Women the world over experience circumstances under which they are forced to conceive, bring a baby to term, and also to give up their babies. Poverty, sexual oppression, war, and second-rate health care and education all contribute to women's diminished choices. When we explain those circumstances to our darling adopted children (my son is from R. of Georgia), we should mention that these conditions sent them to us - it wasn't simply a "loving choice" on the part of some idealized b-mom angel. (I'm referring to international adoption here, but many women are similarly hampered in the U.S.) Imagine a society in which contraception, sex education, and abortion are illegal. In which women are encouraged to have many children because it's their only natural function and because the state needs sons for its growing military. In which poor women are barred from first-rate health care and reproductive counseling. Sound familiar? If we, as Jewish parents are to teach our children tikkun olan - healing the world - we need to stand up and make these connections!

Originally Posted By VickiThanks for your post Hana! I agree...