Planned Parenthood's Christmas Gift: Gift Certificates for Abortions
Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2008
by Alf Gordon
Are you having a difficult time trying to find the right Christmas gift for the pregnant female in your life? Planned Parenthood wants to make the process easier. How about a gift certificate for an abortion?
The organization's Indiana branch is offering this unique gift opportunity on its Web site. Certificates can be purchased online in $25 increments, or for any amount if the purchaser visits any of the organization's 35 health centers, and can be redeemed at any of those health centers regardless of where the certificate was purchased.
Planned Parenthood of Indiana president and CEO Betty Cockrum explains that the gift certificate can be used by both women and men to cover services like screenings, birth control, breast exams, and Pap tests. "Nearly 800,000 Hoosiers don't have health insurance and can't afford basic health services," she says. "Why not buy a loved one a gift this holiday season that they really need and one that will contribute to their health throughout the year? The gift certificates are also a wonderful idea for that person in your life who puts everyone else first and has been putting off taking care of her or his own health. Now, there's no excuse for those people in your life not to get the basic health care that they need."
I was surprised to learn that Planned Parenthood offers other health care services, particularly because of their famous (or would that be infamous?) stand on the so-called pro-choice issue. Of course, as a male I cannot take advantage of most of them (obviously I am not a part of their target demographic). Still, I know many people on my gift list who would appreciate the opportunity to get a discount on terminating an unwanted life. In fact, this weekend I may jump into my car and drive straight to Indiana to purchase gift certificates for my loved ones. But I have to stop in Nebraska first to drop off that annoying teenage child that I can no longer control and do not want to have to take care of any longer. I have no need to feel any guilt or shame about either option; I am simply taking advantage of our culture's renewed concerns over today's youth.
So why not join me? Get in the Christmas spirit. Choose the gift of choice and show that special someone--your wife, your daughter, your significant other, your one-night stand--just how much you really care. And Merry Christmas to all--or to almost all...
The organization's Indiana branch is offering this unique gift opportunity on its Web site. Certificates can be purchased online in $25 increments, or for any amount if the purchaser visits any of the organization's 35 health centers, and can be redeemed at any of those health centers regardless of where the certificate was purchased.
I was surprised to learn that Planned Parenthood offers other health care services, particularly because of their famous (or would that be infamous?) stand on the so-called pro-choice issue. Of course, as a male I cannot take advantage of most of them (obviously I am not a part of their target demographic). Still, I know many people on my gift list who would appreciate the opportunity to get a discount on terminating an unwanted life. In fact, this weekend I may jump into my car and drive straight to Indiana to purchase gift certificates for my loved ones. But I have to stop in Nebraska first to drop off that annoying teenage child that I can no longer control and do not want to have to take care of any longer. I have no need to feel any guilt or shame about either option; I am simply taking advantage of our culture's renewed concerns over today's youth.
So why not join me? Get in the Christmas spirit. Choose the gift of choice and show that special someone--your wife, your daughter, your significant other, your one-night stand--just how much you really care. And Merry Christmas to all--or to almost all...
This Article has been viewed 453 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)OMGoodness, Alf! I do not want to believe this but I know it is true or you wouldn't have written about it. Obviously, I was unaware of this. This quote speaks for me:
"Far from liberating women, abortion has become a lucrative industry, exploiting young women beyond anything every imagined. When pregnancy comes at a difficult time, which is the worthier response of society: To surround mother and child alike with protection and love, or to hold out the cold comfort of an abortion clinic? Where is America's true character to be seen - in an adoptive home or at the abortion clinic? In which role is a woman more empowered - giving life or taking it?" The late former Governor of Pennsylvania, Robert (Bob) P. Casey, Sr.
A blessed Christmas Holiday to you and yours,
AvisAt first, Avis, I thought it was a joke. When I did the research I found out it was all too true.
Alf,From looking at your title, people will assume that folks are picking up these gift certificates for their friends and meandering on down to the local abortion clinic. These certificates are to be given to those who need preventative health care and t lack the financial resources to do so. Breast cancer screening, pelvic exams, pap tests, disease testing, infection treatment, birth control, pre-natal care, and medical information are some of the many beneficial and necessary services PP provides to the community. Does this not seem helpful? It is sad that many people ignore these services and only consider the controversial stigma that PP has been branded with in the public eye - abortion.James, the title of the article was intentional and for good reason. When people hear the words "Planned Parenthood", what topic comes to mind? Is it the public's fault that they choose not to change their image, especially knowing how controversial they are? Picture a gun shop advertising Christmas gift certificates and emphasizing all the services they offer--handgun training, shooting certifications, care and cleaning classes--while totally ignoring what they are most well-known for, selling guns. So I believe the title is an accurate reflection of what most people are going to think about when they hear that PP is selling gift certificates.James, I thought the same thing about the title (it was misleading) once I began to read this article. I think after the title catches your attention, readers can come to whatever conclusion they wish, much as you did. Although, I like Alf's response to your comments. Don't you think PP is responsible for their own 'branding'?
Alf - your gun shop branding example has merit, but I don't think it's fair to say that the primary brand identification 'most' people have with Planned Parenthood is 'abortion'. When I think of Planned Parenthood, I think 'birth control' in the 'condoms and 'birth control pill' context. Given that roughly half the country is pro-choice, I don't think 'most' people would make the association you're suggesting. To then go one step further and blame PP's 'poor branding' for your intentionally inflammatory and misleading article title and sarcastic closing comments is a bit disingeuous. You're clearly pro-life/anti-choice and preaching to the converted. Better to be up front with than than hide behind a clever metaphor and blame your target. Still, at least your response was thoughtful and well reasoned which is pretty rare in such a partisan debate.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.