Media Bias: Redbook Magazine Tells Women Only One Side of Abortion Story
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by Maria Vitale
June 2, 2008
LifeNews.com Note: Maria Vitale is a LifeNews.com Opinion Columnist and the Education Director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. Vitale has written and reported for various broadcast and print media outlets, including National Public Radio, CBS Radio, and AP Radio.
"Love Your Life." That’s the slogan on the cover page of the May edition of "Redbook" magazine. It’s an ironic statement, however, given one of the articles inside the pages.
"The Shadow Side of Motherhood" explains that "Becoming a mom is one of life’s greatest joys. But for some of us, the path to motherhood takes a gut-wrenching turn."
The article deals with the various sadnesses that can accompany pregnancy–miscarriage, life-threatening illness, postpartum psychosis, premature delivery, separation anxiety from placing a child for adoption.
In the midst of these stories is an account of a completely unnatural, preventable death — the death of a child from abortion.
Interestingly enough, the word "abortion" is never mentioned in the section entitled, "I terminated my pregnancy." The writer, a mother of two, had learned that the child she was carrying possessed an extra chromosome.
"After what seemed like hours, I hung up the phone and dialed my husband, relaying the news in the way I’d received it. I did not ask what ‘we’ should do. I already knew," the woman writes.
The grief the writer felt after her abortion was overwhelming.
"I remember thinking, ‘Recovery? My baby is dead. And I killed her! There won’t be any recovery–not today, not ever.’"
And yet, at the end of the piece, the writer states, "I would not do things any differently. I believe that God matches special-needs kids with special moms. I am a patient, giving, and blessed mother. But I am not special–not like that."
One is left to wonder: Were there any family members who could have persuaded this mother that she was special enough to raise a child with a disability?
If she was truly convinced she could not mother a child with handicaps, did her doctor inform her that there are couples around who are ready–actually eager–to adopt a child with special needs?
Was there anyone who could have discussed with the woman why a disability needn’t be a death sentence–that people with disabilities are not burdens, but blessings?
I only hope that, in the future, when presenting a piece on ending a pregnancy, Redbook tells the other side of the story–and even dares to utter the word "abortion." Sanitizing the language of death can in no way mitigate the pain felt in a mother’s heart after her precious little one dies at the hands of an abortionist.
