:: On Douchenards

(Updated below)

So, I read this article by Kevin Burke at the National Review Online  provided by Liss over at Shakesville and became a little bit offended. Just a little bit. Okay, so much so that I actually clicked on "email the author" and sent him a message.

I became this offended because Mr. Burke's premise is that those who oppose Sarah Palin are doing it out of "the collective grief, shame, and guilt from personal involvement in the abortion of an unborn child."

I'm so tired of jerks like this who try to espouse their shady political views by calling women hapless-helpless-victim-idiots who don't really know what they're doing (and of course need the guidance of the proprietary male to shed some light).

This is what I wrote to that douchenard:

Mr. Burke,

You should be ashamed of yourself. I understand your worldview is skewed and prejudices are deeply ingrained, not to mention your job depends of bigotry. But saying women are opposed to Sarah Palin's lack of experience, hatred for "The Others", race baiting, and horrid policy stances due to "post-abortion" emotional problems is just sad and shows you have no real weight to your argument.

Most of us has never had an abortion or known someone else who has. And no one, ever, wants more abortions. Feminists only require the right for a female to choose what happens with her own body, without asking the permission of a keeper. That includes being educated about pregnancy prevention options, and saying "no" (including "no" to their husbands).

Some of us, like you, have five children whom we adore, and you may not stigmatize us as "anti-life" just because we do not wish to control other women's choices.

What is more likely true is that while lamenting the fact that middle-aged white men may no longer easily control and exploit most women around them, you sir are in fact groping for something to cling to.

Your flimsy attempt at continuing to frame women as "victims" instead of PEOPLE with their own convictions, views and opinions about Sarah Palin is naive at best.

As a second question, I'd like to know how many special needs children this creep has raised. Since apparently, to him, it's no biggie.

UPDATE: Here's his (canned) response:

Thanks so much for your comments.

You are right that this is not the only reason that one can have a negative reaction to Sarah Palin. I focused a sharp light on an issue we see in our healing work with thousands of women and men around the world suffering after abortion. They have taught us how deeply sensitive this are of loss is, and how they reacted when the issue of abortion is raised in different context. Often people are unaware of how their repressed grief, guilt and shame contributes to their avoidance or type of reaction when this issue is raised.

Calls to our many sites that offer healing retreats increases considerably when stories like this are in the news because it does in fact trigger people. The People Magazine cover of Sarah and her son Trig can be a very painful reminder to someone who has unresolved feelings of guilt, shame and grief from their abortion of a Down Syndrome child...or their role in the death of that child. The reality of post abortion suffering is often very threatening for many to face in our nation...to even admit that this might be an area that can hurt those that participate in the procedure and a loss that requires healing. There is an entrenched denial on this issue...and often a powerful reaction when you try and raise the issue. But denying the experience of those suffering after abortion only contributes to their shame and isolation. We need to reach out with love and compassion for those that do feel a sense of grief and loss from their abortion experience. Thanks again for reading the article and taking time to comment.

Kevin Burke, LSW

While it's true that some women perhaps experience guilt and regret, this douchenard is trying to tie it to Sarah Palin to be relevant. And I love how he reinforces his view that women are stupidasses who don't know what they're doing in the first place, and then don't recognize "repressed guilt" later either. Oh, how ever do we live with those lady brains anyway?

Mr. Burke also assumes that no one else but him and his clan acknowledges women's feelings. And he further assumes women need his brand of fanatic religious counseling and "love" to feel better, which is likely the opposite of truth. After all, the only ones judging these women and "isolating" them, are people like him.

Comments

[heather]

awesome! you MUST post his response! i'll bet you had as much fun emailing him as i have emailing the douche ;)

[Candance]

You get him!!! And I'm with Heather-you must post his response.

Now, will you please go after Belinda Luscombe who wrote in Time magazine that women don't like Sarah Palin because she's too pretty?