“When I’m asked today what someone might have said to get me to change my mind about having either abortion, I tell them it would be this: ‘What do you think would disappoint your parents most? To find out that you’d gotten pregnant, or to learn that you had taken the life of their grandchild?”
In this quote by Abby Johnson, she presents a thought-provoking question that challenges individuals to consider the potential impact of their actions on their parents. By framing the issue of abortion in terms of familial relationships and generational connections, Johnson highlights the emotional and moral complexities involved in the decision-making process. This quote emphasizes the importance of considering the perspectives and feelings of loved ones when grappling with difficult choices, such as whether to terminate a pregnancy. It serves as a poignant reminder of the deep and lasting consequences of such decisions on the lives of others.
In today's society, the debate surrounding abortion continues to be highly contentious. Abby Johnson's quote highlights a unique perspective on the topic, focusing on the potential impact on family dynamics. The question posed challenges individuals to consider not only their own desires and beliefs, but also the potential disappointment it could bring to their loved ones. This thought-provoking question serves as a reminder of the complex emotions and moral considerations involved in the abortion debate.
"When I’m asked today what someone might have said to get me to change my mind about having either abortion, I tell them it would be this: ‘What do you think would disappoint your parents most? To find out that you’d gotten pregnant, or to learn that you had taken the life of their grandchild?” - Abby Johnson"
Abby Johnson's quote raises thought-provoking questions about the impact of abortion on family relationships. Reflecting on this quote, consider the following questions:
By contemplating these questions, you can gain deeper insights into your own beliefs and attitudes towards abortion and its potential impact on familial relationships.
“If I have this child? Why wasn’t it obvious to me that I already had a child, who was growing inside of me? Once you are pregnant, there is no if. That child, though tiny and in an early stage of development, already exists!”
“Never trust a decision you don’t want your mother to know about.”
“One thing," I said, when we had broken apart and the swirling feeling in my head subsided. "Maybe...don't tell your mom too much about this. I think she has ideas." "What?" he asked, all innocence, as he put an arm around my shoulders and led me back toward his house. "Don't your parents cheer and stare when you make out with someone? Is that weird where you come from? I guess they don't get to see it much, though. From jail, I mean." "Shut it, Weintraub. If I knock you down in the snow, these kids will swarm and eat you.”
“For the life of me, I don’t understand these bumper stickers. I would think, the more you believe in something, the less you’d want to stick it on your car. Just ridiculous the way people flaunt beliefs like they’re pocketbooks.”
“And that's how it was with Garrett. Because he understood me, the me I wanted so desperately to be. Think about your best friend - how you tell them everything, how they're the person who knows you best, all your deepest fears and insecurities. They're the one you call when something amazing happens or when everything falls apart and you need someone to come over and watch movies and tell you that everything's going to be OK. It's not like family, who are obligated to love you and even then sometimes fail to be everything they're supposed to be. Your true friend has chosen you, and you them, and that's a different kind of bond.That's Garrett to me. I'm used to talking to him all the time, about the most meaningless stuff. To have him gone feels like a loss, an absence haunting me every day. Without him, there's just the empty space that used to be filled with laughter and friendship and comfort.Can you really blame me for finding it so hard to let go?”
“This was what Parker had learned early on about disappointment; its sting lasts only in the beginning, only until the body goes numb from its repetition.”