The Magdalene Laundries - Bush's plans for "Unwed Mothers"

[Bluebear]

Bush tonight announced that he wants to set up "Homes for Unwed mothers", group maternity homes, no doubt when Roe v Wade is overturned as he stacks the courts. Women, please vote for John Kerry.


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 streaming 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

[GAspnes]

1. that's beautiful

I love Joni Mitchell.

[Bluebear]

3. You have excellent taste :)

Bush will send our wimmenfolk to these days again given four more years.

[ezekiel333]

7. Kick

[Bluebear]

8. thanks kick

[skjpm]

16. This is one of the greatest songs of Joni's career

And it is exactly about the attitude Bush expresses. He is one of the nuns who leech the light out of the room.

[Bluebear]

17. I knew I was among connoisseurs!

Oops, sorry freepers, that was FRENCH!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. Little Hitler (Bush) is a THEOFACSIST!

[FizzFuzz]

4. goddam him

:cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:

[baldguy]

5. I knew that sounded familiar!

Ship off and segregate young girls who have "embarrassed" their families, only to be humiliated & abused.

[Bluebear]

6. Get the word out. That's exactly what the fundies are aiming for.

[knowbody0]

9. i just bet you are irish

to jezebels of the world!!!

[Bluebear]

18. No, gay Hungarian lol

[skygazer]

10. I was shocked when he said that

I hadn't heard anything about it. My aunt used to work at one of those places. It was awful - a friend of mine went there back in the 70's. She said it was the wierdest experience of her life - like a juvenile hall for pregnant girls. Send them away like they're criminals. What a medieval concept!

[libertad]

40. That was one of the scariest things he said. I hope someone picks up on

it and runs with it. * is dangerous!

[Philostopher]

11. Creepy sort of resonance

with 'A Handmaid's Tale' there, eh? Of course, there have been people saying it all along. Having choices makes women uppity, right?

[SoCalDem]

12. He wants to drag us back to the 50's ..when "bad" girls went "away"

to attone for their sins...

and people got rich from selling their cute little white babies.:puke:

[Cleita]

13. Yes, they weren't interested in the other ones unless

they were Korean war orphans. It made them look benificent.

[TahitiNut]

14. The Magdalena Laundries didn't close until 1998 or so.

It's an absolutely abominable chapter in Irish/Catholic history.

[Kool Kitty]

21. I caught the last 45 minutes or

so of the film, "The Magdalene Sisters", and it was absolutely horrifying. The credits at the end of the film said that the last "laundry" was closed in 1996. And this film is what I was reminded of when Bush made that statement about the maternity homes. If this bum gets put in again, we women are in big trouble.

[sbj405]

29. Just saw the movie. Rather disturbing, but by far . .

that fact was what completely outraged me. I think it was 96 and the sheer number of women that endured the abuse was astonishing.

[RebelOne]

33. I saw the movie also.

And it infuriated me that such a thing was allowed to happen.

[Bluebear]

15. bush probably knows a bunch of lawyers ready to sell the babies

[Sugarbleus]

23. I remember that so well..................

It was a horrible time. A very sad time. Shame was the brand given, fear and a broken spirit were the by products.

I'm so disgusted with this dirtbag in the White house...I'm equally as appalled and fed up with his followers. I've had it. I've NEVER harbored so much loathing in all my life...as I do for the crowd in the white house now.

Somehow, this country should find a way to ensure this kind of thing never happens again. There needs to be "standards", tests..mental and physical..perhaps even philisophical before anyone can run for President of the United States. Thats an amendment I'd get behind.

[SoCalDem]

24. There are old women today, who have never "found" their

"taken" baby.. They lived their whole lives with the shame and heartbreak..

What a guy Bush is.. He wants to bring all that back.. What kind of woman would vote for a man who would support that kind of trauma for their female relatives..??

[Sugarbleus]

25. Maybe it's women too young to know about "those days"...

otherwise, it beats the hell out of me. I'm aghast every time the guy talks about anything...does anyone else recognize the hidden symbolism in what he says? The "read between the lines" crap he spews?

Bush is socially retarded, emotionally unbalanced but he isn't a moron...he's a HUCKSTER! The flim flam man. He kind of reminds me of Elmer Gantry.....certainly he IS the snake oil salesman par excellence.

[Peanut Gallery]

32. I know a birthmom who lights a candle every year

on her daughter's birthday. She got pregnant in the '60s, as a teenager, and was sent away during her pregnancy. After she gave birth they took the baby away immediately. She wasn't allowed to hold her daughter, and a day or two later she was whisked out of the hospital and told to forget about it. Obviously even though many years have gone by she never forgot about it.

Whatever choice a woman makes in an unplanned pregnancy, she lives with it for the rest of her life. This is punishment enough without having morality crammed down our throats or being forced into "group maternity homes."

[Occulus]

42. Multiple Presidents

Three or five. I think we now can easily see how a lone President can wield too much power.

[Sugarbleus]

51. Wow, interesting. I've suggested that to my

family on more than one occasion. I was just toying with the idea, popping off at the mouth...I said one day, we should have one prez for foreign affairs and one for domestic affairs...

Anyway, it's amazing how a single thought/idea, somewhere in the world isn't really a SINGULAR thought afterall.. :D

[murielm99]

27. They went away in the sixties, too.

One of my friends had a baby at 15. She told me in excruciating detail what it was like in the unwed mothers' home. They were treated like criminals. Some of the women were over 18, but still treated like scum, and like wayward children. All the childbirths were natural, no anesthetics allowed.

My roommate my sophomore year in college went to one of those places, too. In fact, she had just given up her baby weeks before coming to school. She was an emotional wreck. She wanted to keep her child, but could not, due to family pressure. They would pay for college, but not unless she gave up the child. They were sending her away to get her out of their sight.

These girls were sent away to save their families the shame.

Both of these women spent years looking for their lost children.

I had a shrinking feeling in my gut when he mentioned those homes. I know the pain they caused for two people I knew well. And notice that neither of them had a CHOICE. * wants to deprive women of any kind of choice.

[SoCalDem]

47. You are right...a sister of a friend of mine in Kansas

"went to stay with their 'aunt' for a few months", and many years later I found out that she had been in a maternity 'home', and had relinquished her baby...That was 1965, I think..

The BibleBelt states were very fond of humiliating an already frightened girl into giving up their babies.. The "cover story" made it impossible for them to reneg on the "deal", so they had to choose...
a baby to raise alone, in a time when most females did not even HAVE self-supporting jobs....or back to their families who might eventually "forgive" them..

Impossible choices for teenagers ... Both bad ones:(

[kimchi]

19. My first thought was "Handmaid's Tale".

Yes, round up all those preggo teens and show 'em what's what!

[immoderate]

20. I was stunned

when Bush mentioned this.

--IMM

[Bluebear]

22. He slipped it in his speech & 99% of people won't note it

That's why word has to get out what his intent is.

[FizzFuzz]

26. Hey Plastic Turkeys? THANK YOU

for caring about women!!!
Good Karma on ya, man :hug:

[Bluebear]

49. Hugs back atcha

I just had a conversation with a neighbor about this, she heard it in the debate too and her jaw dropped. We discussed what being Democrats means and I said it comes down to empathy. Being a gay man I have no dog in the hunt as far as abortion goes but it comes down to empathy and walking a mile in another's shoes. And I always wondered why old men are the ones designated to make laws about women's bodies.

[libertad]

41. There are so many things about this crazy administration that remind me

of The Handmaid's Tale. The fundamentalist wack-o's running this administration are so similar to those in the book.

[bluedonkey]

28. Horrible,horrible

I saw the movie and it made me physically sick.I never liked nuns before and after seeing this movie I absolutely hate them.They don't love anything,least of all themself!

Bush mentioned 'homes for unwed mothers'in passing and it made my hair stand up!
Did anybody,besides the people here,hear this???
This junta will throw the whole nation back about a hundred years or more!

GET HIM THE HELL OUT OF OFFICE!!!!!!!!

[DemonFighterLives]

30. I never caught that in the debate

I never thought much about it before, though I knew some things were hushed up in the past. Even in my own family, a potential child of my grandfather came to light a few years back.
I wouldn't put anything past Bushco and thanks for the enlightenment

[Peanut Gallery]

31. Thank you for posting

I caught this last night - it was just a quick statement. He said something about maternity group homes in the context of adoption as an alternative for abortion.

Although Bush didn't go into any detail, I had the impression that the subtext was about forcing single women to not only carry the pregnancy to term but give their babies up for adoption. And the maternity group home comment - so much of this administration's methods are cult-like. That sounded like more of the same to me.

The circumstances surrounding unplanned pregnancy are too diverse for a blanket solution. This issue, as a question of morality, does not belong to the government or any one group to decide. It is between the woman, her doctor, and whatever higher power she believes in (or doesn't believe in as the case may be).

[SarahB]

34. I missed that- unbelievable!

What a nightmare! I've seen The Magdalene Laundries and when I did, it really struck me. Same with the fictional (so far) story of The Handmaid's Tale. It doesn't matter to these people. If their daughter's (or mistresses) get pregnant, they'll still get their "D&C's" out of the country if necessary, just like women with plenty of money did before Roe Vs. Wade. As usual, it'll be the poor and middle class who suffer, who lose their choice, who get bullied into making choices they aren't ready for so as not to be 'sinners' or risk their lives in illegal procedures to end their pregnancies.

Vote for Kerry. I don't think most women around my age have any clue of what it means to not have this choice. Even if we have never utilized the option of having an abortion in an unplanned pregnancy, knowing that that's an option is something we have all grown up knowing we have. If it weren't, it'll be a completely different world for women, for our daughters, and for society.

Their agenda is anti-woman and completely f*cked. This is his bone to throw to the fundies. It's a scary damned world. How about, if they take away our choice, let's give vasectomies to all males at puberty? Then, if they want to impregnate a woman, she must give written consent and they can surgically extract his sperm? Sounds fair to me. Take away our choice and it seems fair. Let's see what's the stats? Somewhere along the lines of 1/4 of women are raped I think. No option of abortion along with that? Maybe this sounds radical (it is), but so is taking away my choice and that of my daughter's in the future.

[Lady Effingbroke]

37. Exactly, SarahBelle!

I am 34, and have had the unbelievably good fortune to spend my entire life in a time when abortion, birth control, and, most important, the right to vote are all readily available to women - rights and privileges paid for by the toil, tears, and even blood of generations of courageous women (and not a few men) who have come before those of us lucky enough to have these rights.

Unfortunately many women of my age, and younger, take these precious rights completely for granted - rights which, if limited or rescinded, would change our lives much for the worse.

Vote Kerry!

Thanks, plastic_turkeys, for bringing this to everyone's attention.

[Jose Diablo]

35. I have never, before now, heard of the Magdalene Laundries

It is unconscionable what has happened in the past, and what religious leaders want to bring back.

To sell the children of out-of-wedlock relationships, at a profit, is beyond belief.

And to realize the mothers in many instances were if fact victims of sexual abuse by their fathers, uncles, grandfathers and priests makes me extremely angry. To think that what the mothers needed most is understanding, love and protection, but are made to feel shame because those that did that to them wanted the mothers to feel the sin belonged the mothers, to protect the abusers from punishment by the law. Well the abusers should have been horsewhipped. As should have those operators of those laundries.

Church of God? I don't think God was any place near those places except maybe for those poor women. Then Bu$h and the religious leaders want to bring this back? I think NOT.

Thank you for posting the story of the Magdalene Laundries. It is amazing how much information is brought out on this board to clarify many parts of issues that are never discussed anyplace else.

[LizW]

36. Me either

It is a horrifying story, but not exactly a surprising one. Patriarchal religion has a poor record for treatment of women.

I never, ever take for granted the gains women have made. We could go back there so easily if we're not vigilant.

[Iris]

44. We're already halfway back there with the rigid standards of

being a "good mother" we have in today's culture. "Good mother" to the point that women are basically expected to be little more than handmaidens and chauffers for their own children.

[Iris]

43. A movie last year - The Magdalene Sisters - you can rent it at Blockbuster

n/t

[cedahlia]

38. thank you for posting this

when I heard "group maternity homes" my jaw dropped. Like, did that fucking asshole just say what I think he said???

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, given that this administration has shown plenty of evidence they'd like nothing more than to see women set back 50 years (or more!), but sometimes they still manage to surprise me with their audacity to say such things as this out loud!

And all these morAnic bubble-headed repuke women out there eat up all that "W stands for Women" bullshit like it's cake. God, I wish more women in this country would wake the fuck up!!! :mad:

I think *, Darth Cheney, Asscroft, Condi, and co. belong in their own special group home...one for the certifiably evil and "unfit for command!"

[patrice]

39. I'm watching the debate on CSPAN. Women want health care.

Kerry's plan for small business health care tax credits is Better.

[donsu]

45. NO! no homes for unwed women NO! that's going backwards

back to the old days

when smirk said this it caused me to pace the room slinging curse words toward the TV.

everything we women fought for the bloody bushgang wants to overturn.

may they all develope severe, chronic rot in their nether parts!

the catholic church forced shame on countless women - fie on the insane catholic church.

[RememberTheCoup]

46. OT, but...

I've always wondered -- is that penguin video real? Where did you get it?

[Bluebear]

48. It made the rounds on the net...

I am sure it is photo shopped but it always makes me laugh.

[BattyDem]

50. I'm sure that's what he's planning ...

but it's going to backfire ... big time ... for one very simple reason: DNA testing.

30+ years ago, there was no such thing as DNA testing, so if a girl got pregnant, the guy told everyone she was a lying slut. She could never really prove who was the father of her child - her boyfriend, her father, her neighbor, her brother, her priest, etc. She was a slut who couldn't be trusted to tell the truth because, after all, she got pregnant so we know she has no morals. The girl was completely discredited and humiliated and the guy walked away with no responsibility. Men never had to worry if they cheated on their wives because it was the woman's problem if she got pregnant. Your son got a girl pregnant? No problem - just start the smear campaign and it will all go away.

Rich men will be able to get abortions for their daughters, girlfriends, etc. They've always been able to do that. But middle class guys will be screwed and they'll be paying child support for 18 years. Women were forced to have back-alley abortions not only because they would be shunned, but because they couldn't afford to support the child. With DNA testing, they won't have to support the child alone.

I know they'll be many tragic situations where back-alley abortions will happen, and that's why this guy needs to be stopped - but just because they change the law doesn't mean that American women will automatically accept it without question. I can't imagine that today's women, who've grown up with freedom of choice, will be teaching their daughters to be ashamed enough to risk her life to end it. Women won't go back to quietly accepting the shame and fear and public condemnation that used to accompany the pregnancy of an unmarried woman. They're going to be pissed and they'll teach their daughters to make every guy pay.

I don't want to make it sound like I'm dismissing the issue as if we have nothing to worry about, because nothing could be further from the truth. I'm simply trying to point out that men who never knew they (or their son) got a woman pregnant because she had an abortion, will get someone pregnant in the future and suddenly be faced with an 18 year, financial responsibility - and something like that has a way of enlightening people. You know how it goes ... it's not a problem until it affects them personally.

Like I said, rich guys like Bush won't care one way or the other ... but the average, white, non-fundie, middle-class guy is in for a rude awakening. The free ride is over and when they realize that, they will be demanding that a woman have freedom to control her own body - put them together with the men and women who are currently pro-choice and you'll have an overwhelming majority. Congress can either amend the Constitution to protect a woman's choice or be voted out - the courts won't matter.

Well ... that's just my theory.

Let's hope that Kerry wins and it will never have to be put to the test because there is one big problem with my theory: it could take years to happen and millions of lives could be ruined by then, which is why we MUST elect John Kerry!