I am a sophomore in high school and I have two of these. Not because they were given to me, but because i wanted them. My mother had given me one many years ago and i lost it, but when i remembered they existed i had to have one. And once i received it, I realized it wasn't a toy to me like it was when i was little. Now it was an amazing reminder of how precious and wonderful life is. I show everyone i know these little fellas because i want other people to see what i see in the importance of the fetal models and the importance of life
I am pro the models. Sometimes the truth can make people very uncomfortable but what matters is the message rather than sad feelies of offence. It helps them to see that it's a real human baby they're advocating to kill and I think their consciences need an opportunity to speak, loud and clear!
We've got lots of these soft models to give away. Children are fascinated to be told that "one time you were that little" and to find out what they could do when they were that size. Adults are amazed at how early the details develop. However, we're going to order some of the old hard models. Every once in a while, a parent carrying a relatively small child would like something for that small child who is at the age when they put things in their mouths. The old, hard models would work well. When we first got the "squishy" ones,we offered people a choice and the soft ones were the overwhelming favorite.
One point that needs to be made is that while in some places these babies can be an effective method and create a positive reaction, there are also instances where they do not. Rhonda Phillips comment about how they wrap them in blankets and insert a card about the babies was really helpful because that is a unique, more loving presentation method. It helps avoid any negative reactions with the use of these babies in teaching/creating awareness. However, a place like a Pregnancy Medical Clinic is probably one of the most effective settings for distributing these babies just as they are. Outside of a Medical Clinic, the presentation of these babies really needs to be addressed (such as wrapping a blanket around them) to avoid any negative reactions. Yes they can be effective and interesting to some in the form they are presented in currently, but it depends on the person and age. The last thing we want to do in the pro-life movement is to scare anyone away. Since there are a number of people who are "repulsed" by them, there needs to be more care into how the babies are presented.
I just saw one of these on the ground in a parking lot. It was both confusing and disturbing at the same time. It was so realistic I wondered if I should take it to a pathologist or something.
Personally I've always liked the baby models. As a kid I found them fascinating and beautiful. Volunteering with Justice For All, I have seen college students amazed at how developed a baby is by 12 weeks, showing them pictures of fetal development. However, I would add that, depending on the venue, it may not be a good idea to simply pass out models. I volunteered with Justice For All with a lady who works at a crisis pregnancy center. She explained how in the past she had had these models available at an informative crisis pregnancy table at a college campus, and students from a liberal club on campus took the models and cut them into pieces for erasers. So, I would say using the models depends on how they are presented/passed out/audience/etc.
Yes, just for clarification, this post is ONLY asking about the squishy models. I don't think there are any pro-lifers who oppose the use of fetal development images like those that appear in Justice For All's exhibit brochure. :)
I've never seen the "squishy" models but a few years ago the hard plastic version was sent out to residents in our city (at random I believe) and I REALLY liked them. Some people in our local parenting group were horrified by them. A lot of those same people were very liberal/pro-choice but one mom said it wasn't "precious" to her since she miscarried at that time and actually held her baby at that stage. I don't know, I think they're good. I also think the bigger models are great to see...people really need to see it. I think comparing them to the models you'd see at an OB office is a great comparison.
Your article, unintended or not, garnered a heated reply from a top pro-life advocate here in my state. "In absolute total disagreement with this (Brahm's article) I've had countless, thousands of, conversations with people of all ages who've loved, gushed, healed from their own loss, even cherished them. I do not think this kind of writing/bashing does anyone of us any good. Gives fodder to the prochoicers." I have to agree, Josh, that you appear to be biased against the 'little squishy things'. My personal experience has been that these fetal models are a great teaching tool. Our organization wraps the models in 'blankets' and insert a card which details fetal development. Kids love them and some adults are amazed that a 3 mo old baby is so developed particularly after being indoctrinated that a baby is merely a blob of tissue or a clump of cells. In fact, one of our Democratic legislators was stunned when he was able to get a visual of what a 3 mo old fetus looks like. These models aren't weird in the least. What is weird (and tragic) is dehumanizing these little people to the point that murder by abortion is acceptable to many. If we can change minds about abortion using these visual aids I'm all for it.
Thanks for your thoughts, Rhonda. If I appeared biased against the models, then that is my failure at writing the post clearly. I wanted to avoid giving my personal opinion in this post because I wanted to start the discussion, but I was slightly in favor of using the models when I wrote the post, and after reading some great comments both here and on the Facebook page, I am even more strongly for the models. (I think there are a few things we should probably avoid, like putting them all in a basket, but that doesn't make the models intrinsically bad or even weird.) I simply think that it's worthwhile for us as a group to occasionally stop, look at an objection from someone on our own side, (or even the other side,) and consider that objection without bias. I think Rob Port is wrong about these models being inherently weird, but those are the kinds of conversations we should have sometimes, because we want to be effective. I strongly object to the idea that a post that begins a conversation about this subject should be described as "bashing." I think the concern about giving pro-choice people fodder is one worth considering, but I'm not yet persuaded. There is a lot that could be said about this, and maybe I'll do a post about this in the future, but my main thought is that we should be willing to help both sides of the issue think better, and entrust them to God. If pro-choice people regularly visit my blog, (and I know several that do,) I think they are going to get some wonderful arguments for the pro-life position.
To indulge the sarcastic side of my personality a snarky reply to your comment " I wouldn't put them in a basket," came to mind...such as what then...a replica of a dumpster ( more realistic as to the actual fate of these little humans). But I do sincerely appreciate your willingness to address this issue and have a conversion. It is a fact the those" little squishy things" make advocates for abortion very uncomfortable.
When I have models available at a booth for my pro-life club or the PRC where I work, I don't hand them out- I just have them available to look at. If somebody wants to take one or I feel the need to offer, then I do. Also- I feel that they're an improvement over the old, hard, plastic models (the ones my parents used in activism 20 years ago) because they're more realistic looking/feeling. Aren't the squishy ones a better alternative to the old ones?
I worked at a Pregnancy Medical Clinic for several years hwere we used these models. They are educational tools. They were effective in showing clients and educating them about fetal development. Are they weird? No more so than the model of a cervix and uterus I see at my ob-gyn. I have seen skeletal models...models of eyes...models of the inside of an ear...are they weird? I guess that depends on your maturity level. Anything can be perverted or misused. Medical models can be used in a powerful way to give a tangible example to allow our understanding to go deeper. I am all for being less weird but let's not be less educated.
I would say weird, but effective. At first, I felt awkward giving a way the little babies to people and explaining what they are. What I noticed though is, the weird factor really depends a lot on me. If I ask stupidly, “do you want a baby” then yes things are a little weird. If I ask, “would you like a model of a baby? It is the actual size of a unborn baby at 12 weeks” then it is not as weird. Also, the way we hold the fetus and our demeanor factors a lot. To parents, I tell them it is a great teaching tool to tell their kids about the value of life. To kids, I give it to them as a reminder that once they were that small, and they were and are amazing. The product that we are handing out is weird, but it is our goal to try and make it not as weird as we can. Mari Lupercio, has helped me a lot in this way of being less awkward.
We give the 12wk models away at fairs/festivals, but we try to assess people before we give them one. We don't just set out a basket of them for people to grab. They do feel weird, but I think they've been really effective. Year after year, we have people come back to our booths saying how the fetal models helped change someone's mind about having abortion.
However, a place like a Pregnancy Medical Clinic is probably one of the most effective settings for distributing these babies just as they are. Outside of a Medical Clinic, the presentation of these babies really needs to be addressed (such as wrapping a blanket around them) to avoid any negative reactions.
Yes they can be effective and interesting to some in the form they are presented in currently, but it depends on the person and age. The last thing we want to do in the pro-life movement is to scare anyone away. Since there are a number of people who are "repulsed" by them, there needs to be more care into how the babies are presented.
"In absolute total disagreement with this (Brahm's article)
I've had countless, thousands of, conversations with people of all ages who've loved, gushed, healed from their own loss, even cherished them.
I do not think this kind of writing/bashing does anyone of us any good. Gives fodder to the prochoicers."
I have to agree, Josh, that you appear to be biased against the 'little squishy things'. My personal experience has been that these fetal models are a great teaching tool. Our organization wraps the models in 'blankets' and insert a card which details fetal development. Kids love them and some adults are amazed that a 3 mo old baby is so developed particularly after being indoctrinated that a baby is merely a blob of tissue or a clump of cells. In fact, one of our Democratic legislators was stunned when he was able to get a visual of what a 3 mo old fetus looks like.
These models aren't weird in the least. What is weird (and tragic) is dehumanizing these little people to the point that murder by abortion is acceptable to many. If we can change minds about abortion using these visual aids I'm all for it.
I simply think that it's worthwhile for us as a group to occasionally stop, look at an objection from someone on our own side, (or even the other side,) and consider that objection without bias. I think Rob Port is wrong about these models being inherently weird, but those are the kinds of conversations we should have sometimes, because we want to be effective.
I strongly object to the idea that a post that begins a conversation about this subject should be described as "bashing."
I think the concern about giving pro-choice people fodder is one worth considering, but I'm not yet persuaded. There is a lot that could be said about this, and maybe I'll do a post about this in the future, but my main thought is that we should be willing to help both sides of the issue think better, and entrust them to God. If pro-choice people regularly visit my blog, (and I know several that do,) I think they are going to get some wonderful arguments for the pro-life position.
giving a way the little babies to people and explaining what they are. What I
noticed though is, the weird factor really depends a lot on me. If I ask
stupidly, “do you want a baby” then yes things are a little weird. If I ask,
“would you like a model of a baby? It is the actual size of a unborn baby at 12
weeks” then it is not as weird. Also, the way we hold the fetus and our demeanor
factors a lot. To parents, I tell them it is a great teaching tool to tell
their kids about the value of life. To kids, I give it to them as a reminder that
once they were that small, and they were and are amazing. The product that we
are handing out is weird, but it is our goal to try and make it not as weird as
we can. Mari Lupercio, has helped me a lot in this way of being less awkward.