Happy Mother's Day! By CHOICE, not CHANCE

Our tax dollars are being spent to "support" these modern-day Magdelene Laundries. Health & Human Services website: Implementation of Maternity Group Home Programs
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/grouphomes04/imp05/

President Bush's 2005 budget includes $10 million to support maternity group homes for women in crisis.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/achievement/chap15.html

"What I'm saying is, is that as we promote life and promote a culture of life, surely there are ways we can work together to reduce the number of abortions: continue to promote adoption laws-it's a great alternative to abortion-continue to fund and promote maternity group homes." - George W. Bush
http://www.issues2000.org/2004/George_W__Bush_Abortion.htm


I was an unmarried girl
I'd just turned twenty-seven
When they sent me to the sisters
For the way men looked at me
Branded as a jezebel
I knew I was not bound for Heaven
I'd be cast in shame
Into the Magdalene laundries

Most girls come here pregnant
Some by their own fathers
Bridget got that belly
By her parish priest
We're trying to get things white as snow
All of us woe-begotten-daughters
In the steaming stains
Of the Magdalene laundries

Prostitutes and destitutes
And temptresses like me
Fallen women
Sentenced into dreamless drudgery
Why do they call this heartless place
Our Lady of Charity?
Oh charity!

These bloodless brides of Jesus
If they had just once glimpsed their groom
Then they'd know and they'd drop the stones
Concealed behind their rosaries
They wilt the grass they walk upon
They leech the light out of a room
They'd like to drive us down the drain
At the Magdalene laundries

Peg O'Connell died today
She was a cheeky girl
A flirt
They just stuffed her in a hole!
Surely to God you'd think at least some bells should ring!
One day I'm going to die here too
And they'll plant me in the dirt
Like some lame bulb
That never blooms come any spring
Not any spring
No, not any spring
Not any spring

-- Joni Mitchell

On this Mother's Day, best greetings to our DU moms, and let's keep American motherhood by choice, not chance.