As I've said before, it's never too late to throw out your baby. Yet another true-to-life case of just that is brought to our attention. According to media reports, a 17-year old girl was being questioned by police after a newborn baby girl was found alive Monday in the trash can at a Denny's in Anaheim, California.
This is not the first time we've heard of such circumstances (remember a number of years ago when a teenage mother gave birth in the bathroom and then headed back out to the prom?) But frankly, I've never fully understood the mentality of people who find themselves in these situations.
Where's the scandal here? The fact of the matter is that if she'd been "smart" about the whole thing, she could have followed two viable options available to her: 1.) If she didn't want the baby girl, she could have aborted her months ago, or 2.) Why not abandon the little girl at a hospital or other "designated safe zone"? After all, according to the report, "California and 46 other states allow parents to legally abandon a child at a hospital or other designated safe zone within 72 hours of birth, no questions asked."
Why should we be surprised to see a baby thrown away like a paper towel? We have so accommodated ourselves to the gradual undermining of human life that we hardly notice anymore...until extreme examples like this one provide a mirror into the culture we are tragically becoming. Don't be surprised to see charges filed against her. That's what happens when veritas is in vertigo. 
UPDATE: Some additional video coverage of this incident.
Okay, so I've had a really hard time NOT thinking about this. I think what I want to say is that I'm praying for this 17 year old. I've been in her shoes, but I, after a short "freaking out" period by everyone involved, had a tremendous amount of support. I honestly don't know how ANYONE could do this without support, let alone not having anyone who knew. I had one person who said to me, 'Mandy, that child is a gift from God. You need to ask for forgivness, and get over it. You need to enjoy this child and not worry about what anyone says about the situation.' Thats what changed my attitude about the whole thing, and I'm not sure how things would have gone if someone wasn't there to tell me that. Now, instead of support, this girl is at the point where she made a really bad choice, and she's only going to get dogged for it. I pray that someone will show her love and support.
Posted by: Mandy | July 18, 2007 at 09:22 AM
theory: this sort of thing is *way less* common now than it was 20 years ago.
and 20 years ago it was less common than it was 50 years ago, which was less than it was 500 years ago, which in turn was less than 1800 years ago.
we *know* than humans used to leave babies behind at campsites when they didn't think they could care for them.
it's only because of humanity's conquering of tools and developing more efficient means of food production (leading to massive wealth) that allows us to consider such an act evil rather than good. (good for the tribe, good for the mom, obviously sad for the baby)
now, i am not saying i have any patience for this girl's complete lack of morals.
what she did was attempted murder, and she ought to be tried for it.
my point is that i'm betting it's less, not more, common.
human beings are *improving*.
Posted by: chris from flickerbulb | July 18, 2007 at 09:24 AM
I do this sort of thing all the time. I have two things in my hand, I want to throw one of them away, and I accidentally throw the wrong one out.
I bet she had the baby and a granola bar wrapper in the same hand and just pitched the wrong one in the can. When she got home she was like, 'Why do I still have this granola bar wrapper?...OH CRAP.'
Posted by: Resident Atheist | July 18, 2007 at 09:32 AM
Resident Atheist:
Most of your comments are tolerable and enlightening.....this however was neither. Disgusting.....not funny.....very insensitive.....I could go on and on...
Posted by: Abby | July 18, 2007 at 04:57 PM
Touch a nerve, Abby?
Intolerable? Disgusting? Insensitive? Yep. Crass? Ridiculous? Satirical? You bet. In my opinion, that's what makes it funny.
If you don't like it, I suggest you avoid my posts. I'm just getting warmed up. (Tonight's response to John is a doozie.)
(P.S. Half the reason it's funny is knowing I'll get reactions like that from people like you.)
Posted by: Resident Atheist | July 18, 2007 at 07:21 PM
Resident Atheist, it seems your Coulteresque attempt at metaphorical sarcasm has overshadowed your actual beliefs about babies being left in trash cans, right?
Posted by: John | July 20, 2007 at 10:00 AM
Do I really need to answer that? Abby knows I was kidding, as she indicated that it was 'not funny'. Anyone who would take that seriously should not be allowed on the internet without a helmet.
Posted by: Resident Atheist | July 20, 2007 at 11:07 PM