Just a few minutes ago, I happened to recall a related post I originally put up on the Generations for Life blog on 10/30/06 under the title "Shameless".
Said post follows:
A couple weeks ago, my wife and I received some mail from:
The Executive Mansion
410 E Jackson
Springfield, IL 62701-1719
It was addressed "To the Parents of Maria Jansen."
"What could this be?" we both thought.
Upon opening it, we found a card saying "Welcome, Little One" with a collection of stuffed animals looking out the window at an approaching stork carrying a bundle in its beak.
Opening it up, the right flap said, "The world is one baby sweeter now."
The main part of the card reads:
Congratulations on the birth of your new baby! Childbirth is an exciting event for every family, and we are proud to share in your joy.
A healthy child is a happy child. Therefore, it is important that your baby receive proper immunizations by two months of age. It will help to ensure protection against future illnesses.
Best wishes to your whole family on this very special occasion.
Rod Blagojevich
At this point, we had to chuckle. Honestly, we don't know which of our girls' births this card was intended to recognize, as all three of our daughters are named Maria. (We call each of them by their middle names).
Presumably, it was sent in response to the birth of our youngest daughter, Maria Lucia, who was born in September 2005. Which means the card is at least a year late (“…it is important that your baby receive proper immunizations by two months of age”).
I guess when your office is as scandal-plagued as Governor Blagojevich's is, these sorts of things get put on the back burner.
Inside the card was another (smaller) card that said, on the front, "Breastfeeding Your Child," with a picture of a baby. On the other side was a note that reads:
Dear Illinois Mother:
Congratulations on the new addition to your family. As a mother of two young daughters, I know how special this time can be, and want to take a moment to make sure you know about a new state law that directly affects you.
The new law makes it illegal to prohibit women from breastfeeding in public places. It is every woman's right to breastfeed her child in any place, public or private.
Please help spread the word to all mothers that prohibiting them from breastfeeding in public places is not only wrong, it is now illegal. Again, congratulations.
Sincerely
Patricia Blagojevich
First Lady
My wife and I are both staunch advocates of breastfeeding. But this is quite possibly one of the stupidest laws that's ever been passed.
It's a stupid law because it's so obviously unnecessary, and thus, ultimately, a waste of our tax dollars. It makes about as much sense as a law stating that it's illegal to prohibit donut shops from selling anything made with sugar.
At this point, it's worth noting -- for those of you who may not already know -- that Rod Blagojevich is running for re-election on November 7. It's also worth noting that he is strongly pro-abortion. (The Republican candidate for Illinois governor, Judy Baar Topinka, is also pro-abortion. For more on her, see this post from earlier this year.)
Blagojevich is also one of a handful of governors nationwide who has ruled that pharmacists essentially have no rights of conscience while on the job, and that they must dispense birth control prescriptions "without delay", even if they believe birth control is sinful.
I think you'll understand, then, why my wife and I couldn't help but look at the "The world is one baby sweeter now" card from Rod & Patty -- delivered to our house one year late, but before the election! -- with not a little cynicism.
No comments:
Post a Comment