Pat

Abortion Conversation Project

Abortion Conversation Project

53 Responses to “Pat”

  1. rogelio Says:

    September 2, 2010 at 11:06 pm

    is this a page for readers to express admiration for pattypoo?

    Reply
    1. Don, BC, Canada Says:

      February 19, 2011 at 5:08 pm

      Pat,
      Thank you for your articles.
      I really enjoy reading them.

      Reply
  2. Pat Richards Says:

    September 3, 2010 at 8:38 am

    To be honest with you, Rog, I don’t know what this page is all about! I don’t manage this blog, I just write for it so I’m not privy to the reasons for all the categories, advertisements, etc. So, since it’s just you and me for now on this page, do what you want with it!!!

    Reply
  3. rogelio Says:

    September 3, 2010 at 9:57 am

    jajajajaja

    maybe you could use this one to write about your thoughts on other aspects of the issue of life.

    how do you feel about embryonic stem cell research?

    personally, setting aside morality, i think it is also not practical, given that all progress thus far using stem cells, have come from adult stem cells.

    and now that it has been discovered that injection of embryonic stem cells can cause tumors, it is even more impractical.

    but do you see benefits from the continuance of such research?

    it is, after all, your blog, not mine.

    Reply
  4. Pat Richards Says:

    September 4, 2010 at 12:42 pm

    If I have no problems with aborting a 21 weeks fetus, I certainly am not going to have problems with using friggin stem cells to find cures for diseases for people who are already alive!

    I dunno, maybe i’ll use this page to talk about how I hated my mother!!!! :)

    Reply
    1. rogelio Says:

      October 7, 2010 at 9:31 am

      jajajaja

      the question is not as lame as it sounds.

      i know choicers that are against embryonic stem cell research because they feel it is going too far and playing god.

      i know people who are lifers, but support the research.

      the question was more about all of the progress made coming from adult stem cells, making embryonic stem cell research not very practical, and that embryonic stem cells now being found to cause malignant tumors.

      but we could talk about how you feel about your mother.

      i’m truly very sorry that you feel as you do.

      i wish you to have peace in your heart and i know that must make it difficult.

      Reply
  5. Pat Richards Says:

    October 18, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    Rogie, I apologize for my delay in responding to your last post. Ah, my mother. Uneducated, alcoholic. When my father left her (and us), she resorted to beating me for the silliest things. I once played the accordian for a group of her friends and messed up and she tied me to a tree in the back yard and hit me with a branch a few times. Oh well….

    Reply
    1. rogelio Says:

      October 18, 2010 at 4:55 pm

      i’m so sorry, pat.

      that had to be devastating to the little girl that you once were.

      do you think she would have been the same without the alcohol?

      Reply
      1. Pat Richards Says:

        October 21, 2010 at 9:12 am

        It’s hard to tell how much affect the alcohol had on her.

        What makes you think I was a little “girl”?

        Reply
        1. rogelio Says:

          October 21, 2010 at 12:10 pm

          while the difference between the sexes are obvious, not just physically, that doesn’t mean that one gender has less value than the other.

          unfortunately far too many people don’t seem to understand that.

          too many men dismiss the thoughts of women, and as a defense mechanism, perhaps, too many feminist women feel the need to come across as ballbusters.

          in those cases, i generally plow what seems to be an unlevel playing field by letting said feminists know that i think it is just precious that they are feminists.

          jajajajaja

          while they are busy being pissed off at that, i like to throw them for a loop by commenting on the merit of what they say, rather than make ad hominem comments, which is what they wanted to begin with, but thought that they would never get because they had preconceived notions about me based on gender.

          but your writing definitely leads me to believe that you are a woman.

          if you wrote novels, the sense of who you are would not be as apparent as it is in a blog.

          i get a definite sense of your feminity with what you write.

          i suppose i could be wrong, and you are an effeminate man, although i doubt it.

          that sense of who pat is, is part of what makes your blog intriguing.

          Reply
          1. Pat Richards Says:

            October 25, 2010 at 12:29 pm

            Well, rogie, I will admit that I am not an effeminate man…

            Reply
            1. rogelio Says:

              October 26, 2010 at 9:46 am

              well, for what it’s worth, your insights have just as much merit, one way or another.

  6. rogelio Says:

    November 4, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    maybe this could be an area for ideas for you to blog?

    i would love to read your thoughts on susan b anthony and a discussion that ensues from it.

    both lifers and choicers want to claim her as their own.

    Reply
    1. Pat Richards Says:

      November 5, 2010 at 12:20 pm

      Rogie: Not a bad idea. Will take a little research but will do it. Thanks! Any other suggestions are warmly welcome…

      Reply
      1. rogelio Says:

        November 18, 2010 at 10:56 am

        how about consciece/refusal clauses and the history of them?

        i find it interesting that the first one, the church amendment was introduced in 1973 by a liberal senator from idaho.

        the first ones were in regards to abortion, contraception and sterilization, but some now include end of life scenarios.

        that would make for an interesting dialogue.

        i know many choicers are appalled by them as they see it as a violation of a woman’s right to choose abortion, but there are two sides to that, as there usually are.

        Reply
        1. Pat Richards Says:

          November 18, 2010 at 11:45 am

          Those conscience clauses are interesting. Actually, I have some questions about forcing someone to offer something that they find objectionable…..Maybe I will write about it….

          Reply
          1. rogelio Says:

            November 18, 2010 at 8:18 pm

            they actually protect pro-choice medical personnel also.

            if a woman goes into a clinic and doesn’t want to abort, but tries to compel the staff to proceed anyway, they can refuse.

            also, what if an 18 yo emo girl wanted to be sterilized, and the staff knew it was a mistake to do it?

            i know they are unpopular among the choicers, but they don’t remove as they make access more difficult at times.

            but easy access is not a legal right when it forces someone to do something they don’t want to.

            Reply
  7. rogelio Says:

    November 25, 2010 at 2:06 am

    how about writing about fetal homicide laws and whether or not they contradict abortion rights laws. you know, the fetus has no legal rights in one situation, but they do in the other?

    Reply
    1. Pat Richards Says:

      November 26, 2010 at 11:47 am

      Just catching up on comments, Rogie. I think fetal homocide laws are, in fact, interesting and I will write about them. Bottom line is pro-choicers dont like them but dont fight them either.

      Reply
  8. rogelio Says:

    November 25, 2010 at 2:12 am

    or about cpcs that lie to women and how they place a stigma on valid cpcs that actually offer valuable services.

    you could write about how it is immoral to take advantage of someone who is scared and desperate and doesn’t know who to trust, by rewarding that trust with fear and lies.

    if they focused on offering services rather than on being deceptive, they could offer some wonderful services

    Reply
    1. Pat Richards Says:

      November 26, 2010 at 11:49 am

      Another good idea, Rogie. Keep ‘em coming. Meanwhile, did you have a good Thanksgiving?

      Reply
      1. rogelio Says:

        December 7, 2010 at 1:04 am

        hey! sorry for the delay in replying.

        i had a great thanksgiving.

        started at the soup kitchen, then mass, then the family.

        how was yours? did your boys come home for the holiday?

        Reply
        1. Pat Richards Says:

          December 7, 2010 at 8:36 am

          Hey, Rogie. Generally a good Thanksgiving. My 21 year old came home from the University of Virginia and my other son is a senior in high school, so he was home already. Pleasant enough day. I appreciate your working in the soup kitchen. You sound like a very decent person…I will admit, however, that I skilled the mass thing!!

          Reply
  9. Linda Cohen Says:

    December 8, 2010 at 11:29 pm

    We should use present law to rid the heinous CPC mills.

    I have no problem with the ones that do not lie.

    Rogie,
    I must say it is a pleasure to stumble upon someone who is ProLife and appears so reasonable.

    I am pro choice.

    I think that many of pro lifers believe a lot of the things that you do.
    Your reasonable group is so harmed by the radicals,
    Ie, you know the violent ProLifers.

    Don’t you think they really harm your causes?
    If you do, how do reasonable ProLifers reign in the crazies, so real discussion can take place as you and Pat are doing?

    Reply
  10. rogelio Says:

    December 9, 2010 at 1:04 pm

    hi linda. merry christmas to you! :-)

    yes, i know people like that hurt our cause, and worst of all, they hurt people.

    in a face to face situation, it is far easier to rein them in.

    i have been in a couple of situations where someone started to yell at someone, and i told them to stfu because the women and couples and staffers are not our enemies.

    my only real enemy is satana.

    they proceeded to stfu.

    there was another guy who wanted me to go to the home of one of the abortion doctors because due to zoning laws, there was no place for people to legally stand to pray in front of his office.

    i refused because setting aside the fact that that is his home, i would be scared that it would attract some lunatic who would take it even further and harm him or his family.

    sometimes, all it takes is a voice of reason

    but online, if you see me as being reasonable, that is because bloggers like pat or kate allow you to see it.

    they create an atmosphere that is open to disagreement as long as there is respect.

    please believe that online, i have met a lot of choicers that want to paint me with the same brush as the lunatics that i am just as appalled by as you are, simply because i am pro-life.

    those are the people who claim to be pro-choice, but in reality, they only concern themselves with laws and politics and not with the people that the laws are supposed to protect. and too, there are some of them that see abortion as an industry, but once again, their concern is the business, not the people.

    i see them as pro-choice dunkles.

    people like me don’t get much of the spotlight because it won’t sell newspapers or increase television ratings.

    i don’t care about attention like the crazies do. i care about the people facing VERY difficult situations.

    i have been there. i know how it feels.

    thankfully, there are people like pat, kate and lorraine who WANT for someone not to be in those situations, just as i do.

    we understand that the true way to stop abortions is to change the situations that make someone seek one to begin with.

    that is a pretty strong common ground.

    it is just that some of us are willing to use it to everyone’s advantage, and some of us aren’t.

    Reply
  11. Pat Richards Says:

    December 10, 2010 at 8:27 am

    Well said, as always, Rogie. I do like trying to create an atmosphere that encourages discussion. Indeed, when I was lobbying for abortion clinics I did the same but, unfortunately, there were some who were distressed at my activities. It was never very clear to me what their concern was. Honestly, I was just trying to educate pro-lifers in an attempt to make them understand that we were human, just trying to do what we thought was best. I felt that if they saw us as humans, then they would be less likely to shoot us.

    Reply
    1. rogelio Says:

      December 10, 2010 at 10:37 am

      if i may, i would like to add, that i think that some of the choicers who have hostility towards lifers do so because of the venom that the notorious lifers show towards them.

      and perhaps some of them have been through an abortion, and felt the initial relief that so many feel, but haven’t accepted that even if they feel they made the right choice, it doesn’t mean that the process didn’t come at a price to them and that they haven’t completely come to terms with it.

      i have encountered one woman who is so adamant that she believes that pre-abortive counseling undermines the decision of the woman.

      but i believe that it is very important as is post-abortive counseling, regardless of your stance on abortion.

      that is why i wanted to know more about h&h.

      unfortunately, there is an element that can only express their stance by instilling terror among choicers and they are successful. so i am just grateful that there are some people that have explained enough about it to me that i am comfortable enough to suggest it as an option to the post-abortive healing that i had.

      some people can’t seem to separate the act from the person. indeed, there are some lifers who detest me because of what i did in 1984.

      when we look only for the bad in a person, that is exactly what we will find. but if we offer a person to show the good within them, we will have a chance to see it.

      i don’t think it’s right to base my entire perception of a person on their stance on abortion alone.

      a person should not be defined on a solitary act.

      i was never comfortable doing that to someone else, but i did it to myself for 25 years.

      i am very grateful that god forgives because some people sure as hell don’t.

      Reply
  12. doc Says:

    February 2, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    Really educative many thanks, I believe your audience will probably want further blog posts prefer that carry on the excellent efforts.

    Reply
    1. Pat Richards Says:

      February 4, 2011 at 12:05 pm

      Thanks, Doc, but I cannot actually post a blog/article under this “Pat” category. I can just post on the main page. It’s too bad cause I’d love to post original blogs under “Pat” as well, something a little different from my other stuff…

      Reply
  13. Anthony Says:

    February 4, 2011 at 9:48 am

    Pat,
    Why do most the ProLifers never have good comments or opinions?

    Reply
    1. Pat Richards Says:

      February 4, 2011 at 12:07 pm

      One of my pet peeves, Anthony, is when people generalize. I have been in the middle of the abortion “wars” for many years and I have found that people on both sides of the issue have good and bad opinions. Of course, ultimately I disagree with the pro-lifers “logic” but I dont know if “Most” pro-lifers NEVER have reputable comments or opinions…

      Reply
      1. Anthony Says:

        February 4, 2011 at 3:58 pm

        You don’t agree that most ProLifers on this site really have said nothing substantial? That’s how I read most their responses.

        Reply
        1. Pat Richards Says:

          February 6, 2011 at 11:16 am

          Oh, I agree that the ones on this page dont have much to say substantively but we’re really only talking about literally one person…

          Reply
  14. Xuan Seats Says:

    February 26, 2011 at 5:39 am

    L is attached to only the best build quality lenses made by Canon. The HD video on the other hand is just awesome, taking 1080p at 30fps, 1080p at 24fps and 720p at 60fps with ease.

    Reply
    1. Pat Richards Says:

      March 2, 2011 at 8:59 am

      This is very helpful information, Xuan. I was thinking of filming an abortion tomorrow. Thanks!

      Reply
  15. Pat Richards Says:

    March 10, 2011 at 10:14 am

    Well, just wanted to say how I”m thinking about my two boys who are in Boston checking out Harvard. My youngest, who is 18, has applied there and he even got an interview! My oldest is at the Univ of Virginia as a junior and has already been accepted to their Graduate School of Public Policy.

    Reply
    1. Anonymous Says:

      April 2, 2011 at 12:05 pm

      felicidades!

      you must be very proud of your boys!

      Reply
      1. Pat Richards Says:

        April 11, 2011 at 1:53 pm

        I really am…fortunately, my spouse and I were able to be around for all of their concerts, award ceremonies, baseball games, etc. I think that makes a big difference.

        Reply
        1. rogelio Says:

          April 13, 2011 at 4:33 pm

          well i know it had to be hard to be present for all of the activities that were so important to them with as much traveling you had to do with your occupational efforts.

          i think that you used the terrible childhood that you had to be such an outstanding parent and spouse.

          so often, terrible family cycles are repeated.

          i am very glad that you broke that cycle and made far better lives for your family than you had.

          Reply
  16. Pat Richards Says:

    March 11, 2011 at 10:31 am

    Waiting at the airport for my two boys to come home. Pouring rain, absolutely pouring. I couldn’t concentrate, just kept thinking of my boys coming through the storm, the turbulence. I was practically in tears. Suddenly, the phone rings and my youngest says they just landed. He said the turbulence was “cool”. Oy vey…

    Reply
    1. Anonymous Says:

      April 2, 2011 at 12:07 pm

      jajajajaja

      kids don’t seem the danger in things the way we viejos do.

      when i was 16, i ran away from home and hitchhiked across the US.

      the summer before my senior year of high school, a hurricane was approaching and my best bud and i loaded our boards on top of my car and tried to head to the beach to catch some hellacious waves.

      Reply
  17. Pat Richards Says:

    March 17, 2011 at 9:31 am

    It just amazes me how one little pain in one’s little toe can disturb your whole day and affect your entire disposition. It totally, totally sucks getting older. Indeed, I find myself talking about my ailments to my friends, which is exactly what “old people” did when I was a kid….

    Reply
    1. Anonymous Says:

      April 2, 2011 at 12:12 pm

      jajajaja

      i know what you mean, pattypoo.

      remember how funny commercials were that spoke of occasional irregularity?

      as i got older and found anti-biotics or pain meds causing that problem, i discovered that it’s not as funny now as it was 35 and 40 years ago.

      although i have to admit that i still want to guffaw at the very thought of the commercials for milk of magnesia when the woman is announcing to the world of her family member’s “inner turmoil”.

      Reply
      1. Pat Richards Says:

        April 14, 2011 at 3:59 pm

        I know what you mean. I totally hate watching the evening knews cause all of the commercials are directed right at ME!!! How old are you? I”m 61…

        Reply
        1. rogelio Says:

          April 25, 2011 at 6:04 pm

          i will be 49 in october

          Reply
  18. Pat Richards Says:

    April 11, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    Just quit my part time job. IT’s too bad, I absolutely loved the work but absolutely hated the boss….

    Reply
    1. rogelio Says:

      April 13, 2011 at 4:36 pm

      that’s a shame, pat. :-(

      was this the teaching job?

      i think it’s terrible how good teachers are so unappreciated.

      that’s such an important job in our society. it’s too bad that our society can’t see that.

      Reply
      1. Pat Richards Says:

        April 14, 2011 at 3:58 pm

        No…I worked for Fairfax County, Virginia. Lots of constituent work.

        Reply
  19. Pat Richards Says:

    April 16, 2011 at 11:07 am

    I dont know what made me think of this but I recall a time when my mother made me play my accordian for a group of friends of hers and I screwed up La Donna Mobile. After the group left, my mother tied me to a tree in the back and hit me several times with a branch.

    There, I feel much better now!

    Reply
    1. rogelio Says:

      April 25, 2011 at 6:05 pm

      i’m so sorry that you had the childhood that you did.

      was she drunk again when she did that?

      not that it justifies it….

      Reply
      1. Pat Richards Says:

        April 26, 2011 at 3:45 pm

        My mother was an alcoholic, she loved her sherry. I dont recall if she was drunk when she beat me. Oh well, her abuse built character..

        Reply
  20. friteuse sans huile seb Says:

    January 5, 2012 at 2:16 am

    I’d forever want to be update on new blog posts on this web site , bookmarked ! .

    Reply
    1. Pat Richards Says:

      January 6, 2012 at 8:36 am

      Thanks for bookmarking me! Happy New Year!

      Reply

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