And you wonder how we get eating disorders....

My 8 yr old had a birthday party on the weekend.
I discovered that one of the girls was crying, in part because she thinks that she is fat.
Another girl told me that she wouldn't eat pizza, but would have some whole grain pasta, because she "didn't want to get chubby". I asked her who told her that, and she replied "my mom".

3 years ago, I remember thinking about how much I loved my little girl's free spirit and thought about how I would hate to ever see it crushed by anyone suggesting that she was too plump. Thankfully, she's still that great mix of sweet and tough, but it's so sad to see these girls around her, and I can't help worrying about how it might affect her.

Years ago, I had a friend who nearly died of an eating disorder. Have we not learned anything?

Doing away with the abortion debate: a common sense approach

At Just One Life, there's no anti-abortion propaganda, no cajoling. There are only questions about what the family needs in order to feel comfortable raising a new baby. Sometimes it's just a matter of money. Other times, they need services, counseling or other kinds of assistance, said Rabbi Martin Katz, the group's New York-based director.

from here: http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1208095/jewish/Just-One-Life.htm

This seems like it would be the perfectly obvious approach to take.

Pro-choice and pro-life are not oppposites.

Take the enormous effort and resources that go into the "great abortion debate", especially in the United States, and redirect them by simply asking women considering abortion what they really need. In other words, give them a real CHOICE so that they are in a position to choose LIFE.

Anyone willing this instead of engaging in endless battles and protests and demonizing?