How could you?

I have a huge issue with the images that children are seeing today.  I was going to write a blog about it, but I'm having a hard time putting my feelings into words about it.  Being that I am a photographer, I see things in great detail, and I put them to memory.  Luckily, my childhood was kind of bland, but I still have very clear images of a time that my grandparents killed and skinned a pig, or when my parents killed chickens.  And, that was for food.  What sticks with children when it's an image that they can't associate with anything positive?  It bothers me.  It bothers me a lot.

CHildren should not be forced to reinforce the politics of their parents...No matter WHAT the issue. Its just another form of exploitation.

What sticks with children when it's an image that they can't associate with anything positive?

What kind of a world must these kids think that they're growing up in?  A place where grown ups rip babies to shreds before they're even born? 

I can't even begin to imagine the emotional trauma some of these kids must be undergoing.  They'll be a psychiatrist's nightmare when they get older. Don't these people realize what they're doing to their children?

I wonder if the parents that are protesting with their kids like that are also the ones who won't let them play certain video games or watch certain movies because they're "too violent"?

CHildren should not be forced to reinforce the politics of their parents...No matter WHAT the issue. Its just another form of exploitation.

I think so too.  I think it's wrong; very, very wrong. 

I wonder what DSS would have to say about it?

While my own feelings are very much anti-abortion, I agree that exposing children to this sort of thing goes far beyond reasonable or sane. That parent should be locked up for child abuse.

While my own feelings are very much anti-abortion, I agree that exposing children to this sort of thing goes far beyond reasonable or sane

I don't necessarily agree with abortion either Mason, but I sure as hell wouldn't take my child out there and use them as a protest tool.

Aw 'cmon, mom probably thought she was doin' the right thing takin' her kids along to battle for the Lord...

Aw 'cmon, mom probably thought she was doin' the right thing takin' her kids along to battle for the Lord...

Oh well, in that case....

Seriously, it aggrivates me to no end that they're there in the first place.  It's a hard enough decision for a woman to have to make without having to run the gamut of morons to get into the damn building.  It makes me wonder what kind of lives they live that they can afford to stand out there day after day.

"I think it's reprehensible. I think that there is no excuse, absolutely none, for using your child in such a disgraceful manner."

Is the outcome of that child, exposed to that picture, more reprehensible than the outcome of the child shown in the picture? Mangled and shredded tiny bodies, I think was the description.
While I see your point and respect your outrage...even share it to a degree, I must objectively point out that parents, while they should never force a belief or opinion on a child, do have a right to expose them to their values, whether or not anyone else agrees with those values. That's called raising them. And there are alot of people who expose children to things on regular TV that are just as detrimental and will necessitate just as much therapy, and breed just as much violence. Additionally, the heart behind sitting 6 year olds in front of the television has nothing to do with anything so "altruistic" as saving the unborn.

With respect for you and your thoughts, you have an excellent heart. This is certainly not to say that protecting the innocent isn't the chief concern, but let's be ballanced and identify abuse in all of it's forms. Dead babies, children negleced and unmonitored in front of the TV, and children exposed to a picture of what happens inside the building behind them. Let's at least be fair.

I can't even begin to imagine the emotional trauma some of these kids must be undergoing. They'll be a psychiatrist's nightmare when they get older. Don't these people realize what they're doing to their children?

Indeed. I think it's about same par as a parent that teaches her or his child details on sex in order to sue other parent or someone famous for revenge and/or money. Hey what about the kid? He or she will be scarred for life! No amount of money is worth that.

I had been thinking on this one all day, because there was so much I wanted to say, but damn, little whip . . . you hit it all.

*Yeah, what she said*

wonderwild, not to be picking on you or anything, but why do so many people, when reading an article about a very specific wrong, feel that the author is somehow derelict in their duty as a writer because they havent mentioned multiple other wrongs?

I did not find Dharma derelict in any way. The inverse, in fact. However, I felt the need to articulate that this represents a much larger issue. And if we are to call that mother, to use your term, derelict...abusive....to say that she is wrong in her perogative to include her child in that protest then we must also call it wrong when these other things happen. And that was the view that I was expressing. In addition to, not in condradiction to, her point. My reference to fairness, which I should hardly have to defend, is simply a call to see that the real issue wasn't that one mother, it's a widespread carelessness for, as she well pointed out, the innocents. Forgive me if expanding on a well placed subject leaves you deffensive. I intend only the highest respect.

My connection was spotty earlier, so I couldn't comment until now...

I must objectively point out that parents, while they should never force a belief or opinion on a child, do have a right to expose them to their values, whether or not anyone else agrees with those values. That's called raising them. And

If a parent wants to be against abortion and protest outside the clinic with graphic posters, that's fine. It's their choice to protest and express their views. But, if they want to pass their views/values down to their children there are better ways to do it than hand them a poster with a an aborted fetus on it. Parents should instead be teaching their children to value life. All life. Respect it and cherish it. When the child is older (maybe birds and bees age), then they may want to bring up the topic of abortion and at that time, if they've raised their child well (in the way they want) that respect and love for life may translate over to being against abortion. That's bringing up a child.

The fact that people sit their children in front of a tv and let it raise the kids is no excuse for this type of behavior (parading 6 year olds in front of abortion clinics). That's apples and oranges.

Oh, and I forgot to mention (if it wasn't already obvious), I'm with you on this one, dharmagrl! That's just plain craziness!

don't necessarily agree with abortion either Mason, but I sure as hell wouldn't take my child out there and use them as a protest tool.

Nor would I. Am agreeing with you on this one.

That is brutal, kids should never be used as the visual for protest.

Wow....

Wonderwild:

I must objectively point out that parents, while they should never force a belief or opinion on a child, do have a right to expose them to their values, whether or not anyone else agrees with those values. That's called raising them

You're exactly right, and parental neglect in any form is reprehensible, be it using your child as a protest tool in front of an abortion clinic or exposing them to violence in the form of 'entertainment'.  I also agree with your point about passing on your values to your children...but in same cases, cannot what you call 'raising' your children be 'abuse' to someone else?  People being left alone to raise their children has caused a lot of legislation about what parents can and cannot do...parents are no longer allowed to put a hand to their child in some states because of another parent's methods of rasing their child...

Oh, and I like you, WW.  You make me think...come back often!

LW:

horrible things that responsible parents try to shield their children from until they are old enough to deal with it

That's the point that I should have made in my original post.  Until they have the maturity of years or personality to comprehend such things, children should be protected from them.  Exposing them before they are ready is....well,  who knows what kind of lasting effect it's going to have on them?

Chip:

Parents should instead be teaching their children to value life. All life. Respect it and cherish it. When the child is older (maybe birds and bees age), then they may want to bring up the topic of abortion and at that time, if they've raised their child well (in the way they want) that respect and love for life may translate over to being against abortion. That's bringing up a child.

Yes, absolutely! 

Amitty and Mason...thanks for your comments!

 

Chip;

Parents should instead be teaching their children to value life. All life. Respect it and cherish it.

This I agree with, wholeheartedly. I think there is an appropriate time to broach as enormous and ...graphic a subject as abortion. However, decisions regarding that age and the right of a parent to determine the "correct time" is in jeopardy, as Dharma posted below...

People being left alone to raise their children has caused a lot of legislation about what parents can and cannot do

This is another cause for concern. Each person believes that they are correct in their method of childraising. Granted that there is a percentage of parents that are not fit by anyone's standard...the question remains, for the standing portion of parents such as, I would hope, all of us here, who are entitled to raise their children without legislative interference, why must they (we) be robbed of the right to pass on the moral and political heritage of their (our) choosing? Perhaps a more proactive approach to social services, stricter pentalties for offending parents, or perhaps there is no answer, not even in government involvement, because the only persons likely to follow the rules are the ones who had the sense not to wound the innocent in the first place.

Similarly

in same cases, cannot what you call 'raising' your children be 'abuse' to someone else?

Perhaps, but who is to say what is and what isn't abuse? It's possible that, to someone with an ultra-conservative view, certain cartoons which feature animated violence is abusive, while to another more liberal parent "time out" inflicts wounds to a child's sense of acceptance. Who has the right to say? Does someone else have the right to make that choice for your children? Do you have the right to make it for someone else's? Does someone who has never met your family have the right to govern you because someone else failed? And yet, what child doesn't deserve safety. A heartbreaking dilemna, in any event.

Oh, and I like you, WW. You make me think...come back often!

Also, thank you for the welcome. I feel I am in great company.

Been mostly away from JU for a few days, so I have appeared to be a runaway blogger for a little bit... HAHA!

However, decisions regarding that age and the right of a parent to determine the "correct time" is in jeopardy, as Dharma posted below...

I'll agree with this point. Unfortunately, people's lack of common sense (at least in my opinion in this specific case and in others) has caused the goverment to step in a legislate in ways that are unwelcome to the parent. It's too bad that people feel the need to teach their children about their stances on abortion by having them tote posters outside a clinic at such a young age...