Is it really my choice?

I am just back from the Gyno for my annual exam

lucky this year -- mammogram scheduled -- but I don't have to have the humiliating and uncomfortable probing that is the transvaginal ultrasound

thank God

The ship has sailed for me -- I've had the ablation -- so no debilitating periods

and I quit the pill last year

I'm a condom girl
although I hate them

they're such thin insurance
aren't they?

We've had them come off
and had to fish one out

there's always the risk of breakage

condoms in our committed relationship
isn't the best long term plan

back on the pill?
ugh
no thanks

so -- I'm finally going to make the leap
and get the tubal ligation

the procedure is a bit different these days -- but it's essentially the same

but
that's not what I'm blogging about today

I'm blogging about how my doctor
how YOUR doctor
decides on your treatment

I'm sure you've heard the phrase

"If your insurance covers X we could do that"

let's just let that sink in

shall we?

doctors do this all the time

they dictate YOUR treatment
off what YOU can afford

what your insurance will pay

this includes tests
and treatment
and medication

I get all sorts of tests when I go to the doctor
that other women don't get

because my insurance will pay
and if not
my doctor knows that I can pay

but if I didn't have insurance
would I get the choice at all?

would I get the choice of having this procedure
that isn't invasive
that isn't painful
and that takes care of my pesky fertility?
(because yes -- I'm still fertile -- although a pregnancy would be dangerous for me and lethal for the baby)

or would I get only one choice
the cheapest choice

so when religious organizations
want to regulate what they will cover

and I'm pretty sure they're not going to cover tubal ligations
if they won't pay for the pill

then
will that be a choice that women even get?

when we make the poor poorer
we take away their choices

because those choices aren't even offered to them
anymore

choice is becoming a luxury item these days

Health Care Reform is essential

and you may not agree with how it's delivered
or how it's paid for

but I have yet to hear one single person
living at the poverty level
say

that they don't want it

only the people who already have what they need
who already have CHOICES
say that heath care reform isn't needed.

that it's wrong
that it's not a human right

I live a privileged life

I have choice
because I can AFFORD choice

The myth of the Liberal Christian

Rick Santorum said in his 2008 presidential bid
that there's no such thing as a liberal Christian

you can be one
or the other

but you cannot be both

and I've been thinking about this

maybe he's right

maybe being a christian is about judging
our brothers and sisters
because they are gay
or because they have sex outside of marriage

maybe being a christian is denying women
the choice to receive good health care
unless she can afford to pay for it

maybe being a Christian is shouting epitaphs
at poor girls in the street on the lowest day of their life

maybe it's passing laws to protect the wealthy

maybe it's making sure that the poor don't get
welfare

maybe being a Christian is getting what you believe
by any means possible

maybe it's about
shaming women
implying that they are unclean
and deserve no dignity

the people I hear speaking loudest about being Christians

all seem to believe these things

and I struggle with this

I've always thought I was a Christian
I've always identified as a Christian

from what I've seen

maybe I'm not a Christian at all.

maybe what I am is a follower of Christ
or not exactly

maybe I'm someone who strives to be a follower of Christ

Christ urged us to care for widows and children
He urged us to feed the poor
comfort the mourner
use our money to help people

He taught us not to judge

am I that now?

I hope to be
I strive to be

I want to be a follower of Christ
way more than I want to be a Christian

so maybe Santorum is right
maybe you can't be a liberal Christian

but I don't think you have any choice
but to be a liberal follower of Christ.

Lord Save us from Sincerity

Sincerity doesn't mean anything. A person can be sincere and be more destructive than a person who is insincere.
EDWARD ALBEE


I think I see the attraction to Santorum


He's so painfully sincere


and we've become so used to hypocrites.  
so used to liars
so used to philanderers
so used to criminals


in our politicians


so when we see someone
speak sincerely
of their ideals
of their goals
of their dreams


without sarcasm
without hesitation


just the words they truly believe
from the bottom of their hearts


it reaches out to people
it makes them want to put their faith in them


because the sincerity of their belief
makes them seem more credible.


Even if what they sincerely believe
is that women belong in the home
pregnant
caring for child after child


that all the ills of society
were caused by the women's movement


that if we would just keep our knees together
that it would turn back the clocks
to that wonderful time


(aaahhhhh -for the halcyon days of Mccarthyism)


even if he sincerely believes that 
God doesn't expect us to be good stewards of the earth


even if he sincerely believes that 
parents will make the best education choices
for children
even though he admits that the parents themselves
didn't get the benefit of a good education


even if he sincerely believes
that only the rights of Christians should be protected


even if he's a zealot
hoping to be promoted to religious despot


his sincerity shines through

Punk'd

That's the only answer I have for this

in fact

it's shocked me that it hasn't occurred to me before this

that we're clearly the victims of some sort of April Fool's joke
or
that Ashton Kutcher will come out any minute
and tell us that Santorum is hoax

laugh at us
for thinking that anyone in this day and age
would really try to get rid of birth control

that anyone would be against public education

and that people would consider him to be president

and then at the end

Santorum will pull off his mask
and tell the police

"I would have gotten away with it too
if it weren't for those meddling kids"

as Scooby and the Gang pile into the Mystery Machine

yeah

that's got to be it

Punk'd

you got me good this time Ashton!

Which Women?

I was on Facebook the other day

One of my fellow bloggers was lamenting the attacks on women's reproductive rights
and one of her friends said something to the effect of:

"Women will never let this happen -- Breathe easy"

and it went through me like a shot.

Which women?

Which women are going to fight this

some other women??

no

there are no other women

there is you
and me

and that's it

it's us

it's our turn

it's our turn to fight
to stand up

it's our turn to get up our of church pews
and walk out in protest

it's our turn to write letters
to speak out

it's our turn to march
to sit in
to stand firm

it's our turn to be united

I've got news for you

I could easily sit back

my baby factory is shut down
there's no more birth control for me
there's no risk I would need an abortion

why should I care?

I can sit on my sofa and know
that

"women won't let this happen"

women won't stand by and let them pass a law
that allows them to force a procedure on women
that's tantamount to rape

women won't stand by and let them pass laws
that make many of us criminals
just because we use an IUD

women won't stand by and let them
silence us
when we should be able to defend our rights
in a congressional hearing

right??

women will stop it?

won't we?

Which women will do it?

Which women?

What's the big deal about VA's vaginal ultrasound bill.

http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/02/virginia_ultrasound_law_women_who_want_an_abortion_will_be_forcibly_penetrated_for_no_medical_reason.2.html

I don't know if you've read it -- I'll wait while do....but essentially
in VA -- there is a proposed law to require that women have an INTERNAL ultrasound prior to receiving an abortion.

What's the big deal right?

These are just trashy women
who went ahead and go themselves knocked up
they're about to have an abortion
so they'll have something up there anyway

why are they making such a big deal about having something else shoved up there
they should what

be used to it?

afterall

if they want an abortion they'll have to do whatever we tell them to

right?

Let me ask you....

Have you had one of these?

Here's my joking account of my procedure

I've had a number of these
of my own free will
to try to find out what was wrong with me

I hate them

they are invasive
they are uncomfortable

there's a rod that they put up in side you -- there's a photo on that link of the one they use in my Dr's office.
and
they move in around

and

I have to tell you

it's uncomfortable.
it's embarrassing
it's invasive.

When I've had them it's because of an abnormality in my uterus
that needs to be examined
to check the growth of tumors
and cysts.

I would never have one otherwise.

I can't imagine being forced to have one
against my will
FORCED

I suppose that in the minds of the people who formulated this bill
it doesn't matter what happens to these women
to these girls

because someone's going to be working in there anyway
why should they be granted any dignity?

all of this is in the spirit of "informed consent"

as if

it never occurred to the woman that there was a baby in there

by the way
on the way in

she walked past at least 20 people

some of them were praying holding photos of dead babies
some of the were preaching loudly standing on a box

one of them chased her down the sidewalk
telling her that she shouldn't do it - that they would help her find a place to live

one of them shouted at her husband telling him to "stand up and be a man!"

past posters of aborted babies

yeah

she knows

so

why show her an ultrasound?
why put that want inside her
and push it around

to humiliate her?
to punish her?

it's a vile idea.

from vile people.

The Christian Jihad

and yes -- I'm trying to be shocking -- bear with me.

This is from Wikipedia (for what it's worth):

Contemporary Islamism holds that Islam is now under attack, and therefore -experts explain-

Jihad is now a war of defense, and as such has become not only a collective duty but an individual duty without restrictions or limitations. That is, to the Islamists, Jihad is a total, all-encompassing duty to be carried out by all Muslims – men and women, young and old.

so -- let's consider that for Christianity

 Contemporary EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY holds that CHRISTIANITY is now under attack, and therefore -experts explain-

Jihad is now a war of defense, and as such has become not only a collective duty but an individual duty without restrictions or limitations. That is, to the EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS, Jihad is a total, all-encompassing duty to be carried out by all CHRISTIANS – men and women, young and old

Isn't that what we're hearing all the time now?  How Christianity is being attacked?  That it must be defended at all costs?  Is this not how we end up with Abortion doctors being murdered?  Women being harassed outside of Abortion clinics?

Is this not how we end up with homosexual teens being bullied -- literally to death in some cases?

all in the name of God?

Let's explore this fuller -- back to Wikipedia

The Sufic view of Islam classifies "Jihad" into two; the "Greater Jihad" and the "Lesser Jihad". Muhammad put the emphasis on the "greater Jihad" by saying that "Holy is the warrior who is at war with himself". In this sense external wars and strife are seen but a satanic counterfeit of the true "jihad" which can only be fought and won within; no other Salvation existing can save man without the efforts of the man himself being added to the work involved of self-refinement. ..... Some contemporary Islamists have succeeded in replacing the greater jihad, the fight against desires, with the lesser jihad, the holy war to establish, defend and extend the Islamic state.

This is the mistake many people make about Islam -- they confuse the extremist with the norm of the religion (and -- no -- I'm not a Muslim -- stay with me on this one a bit)

Those who choose the "lesser jihad" -- get all the press -- they're blowing up buildings so they can get their 72 virgins

they're killing their daughters because they think they're too western

they're trying to pass laws that enforce religious views -- In what way is this different from what the Taliban did?

ouch - -right?  Do we want to be like the Taliban?

But those who fight the greater jihad -- the jihad of the soul -- perfecting themselves -- get no press at all.

which is the vast majority of Muslims by the way.

This is the problem with the Christian extremist -- they are so focused on the lesser jihad of making sure that everyone else follows their rules -- that everyone else is forced into their view of christian morality

that they are hurting the church

they are the reason that I am an isolated Christian

that I have stopped going to church

that I read and practice alone in my home

they are the reason that people leave the church.

leave Christianity

Leave Jesus

be because they make such a big splash with their lesser jihad

no one can see the millions of Christians who are just working on their souls

trying to be worthy of all the blessings they've been given

It's what's right

In 1921 -- Margaret Sanger founded the American Birth Control League with this founding statement.


We hold that children should be (1) Conceived in love; (2) Born of the mother's conscious desire; (3) And only begotten under conditions which render possible the heritage of health. Therefore we hold that every woman must possess the power and freedom to prevent conception except when these conditions can be satisfied.


I thought that today
when we are turning our blogs to the topic of reproductive rights
we should get back to the founding principles.


Children should be conceived in love


I love that she started with that statement.  That children should come from love.  A child should never be burden.  A child should never be an inconvenience.  Birth Control allowed women who wanted to have children to plan them.  It allowed women who didn't want to have children to NOT have children.  


Born of the Mother's conscious desire


Wanted.  Every child who was ever rejected -- ever abandoned -- ever adopted -- had to ask themselves.  Why was I not wanted.  and yes -- I want her (or him) -- but it's not the same.  Why did my mother not want ME.  Birth control allows us to reduce unwanted pregnancy 


And only begotten under conditions which render possible the heritage of health


With the ability to provide for that child.  Give the child a healthy environment -- feed our children -- take them to the doctor -- ensure that they are not abused or neglected.  Birth Control protects children.  It protects families.


There are those who would tell you that Birth Control was the first step in the dismantling of the American family.  That it created wanton sexuality - that it is unnatural - that it's against God's will.


But we live in a country where 1 in 5 children go to be hungry every day
we live in a country where over 100,000 children await adoptive homes
and over 400,000 children are in foster care


now


imagine


an America with no birth control
or only birth control for those who can afford it


what does it do to those figures?


how many children are born to mothers who cannot feed them?
how many more are aborted -- assuming that abortion is still an option?
if not
how many illegal adoptions?


I want to live in an America
where children are wanted
where they are conceived in love
where they have enough to eat
where they have parents who love and nurture them


and yes
we don't have that for every child today


but going back to a country without reproductive choices
is the wrong choice


it's not just about reproductive rights
it's about what's right for families
it's about what's right for children


and it's about what's right for America
and it's time to fight for what's right.

The price of freedom

as the blog a thon comes to a close -- or at least this wave of it -- culminating in our joint blog efforts on 2/15

don't think I'm going to fall silent

my blog will return from time to time to this topic

but not be exclusively dedicated to it.

Once you find your voice it's hard to say that you will not raise it again

why would we

I am concerned about the Obama compromise and the bill being floated to expand that even farther

that religious based companies might not be required to offer medical care

in cases where it opposes their religious or moral beliefs.

Where does that end?

Let me say first and foremost -- that these employers

for example -- employees of Chick Fil A -- and Hobby Lobby (yeah I had to make a HL dig) and Catholic Hospitals and Colleges

have very clearly made a stand as to their moral beliefs

Obama now says -- that's ok -- it'll be coverage available through the insurance companies

creating another step for employees to go through

by the way -- the HR departments will need to inform associates in how to do this

inform them that this coverage is not available

and how to get it

now -- in a world where all of the employees are religious Catholics -- that's not a problem

but they're not

they're other Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists -- what have you.

who may or may not use birth control (and frankly who are already pre-damned for not being Catholic)

but my concern is

what happens after this

this first step

Will I be denied birth control because my CEO thinks that single women should not have sex?

Will I be denied STD testing because my company things that lascivious behavior leads to STDs

Will I be denied a D & C after a miscarriage because it might disguise an abortion?

Will I be denied treatment or testing for HIV?

Will I be denied my FMLA right to care for a partner's child who is critically ill because my company believes that single sex relationships are a sin?

Will I be discriminated against in employment because I am divorced? or have a baby out of wedlock? or have an abortion?

Will I be denied medical benefits for my children if I marry outside my race?

Will I be able to have my tubes tied?

I never thought it would come to this

I thought we lived in an enlightened age

I thought that the rights that our mothers and grandmothers fought for

were well established

were secure

And yet

here I am

in 2012

fighting to keep the rights

that my Mother had -- decades ago

because some politicians thought it would

result in more votes

by riling up the religious right

I should not have to fight for equality

You should not have to fight for equality

and yet

we must fight

we must speak out

we must encourage others

to be brave

to be outspoken

to be heard

Gay equality

racial equality

sexual equality

when you take away the rights of any of us

you put us all at risk.

so

Thank you Religious Right

Thank you GOP

Thank you Westboro Baptist Church

and Rick Santorum

and

yes

Even Sarah Palin

Thank you for waking me up

and as long as I think I can reach one more person

and encourage them to do the same

the price of freedom

is eternal vigilance (Thomas Jefferson)

Thank you for reminding us of that.

now

watch out.

Blog with us on 2/15 -- TJ would have -- we hope you will too.

We all have medical rights

One of the things that this accommodation Obama made for the Catholic Church has me thinking about is one of the rules for adoption here in Tx

If I had a religious belief that required that I shun medical intervention for my child

I would be prohibited from adopting.

Yup

they would discriminate against me
and my sincerely held belief
that medical care is an abomination
in the eyes of the Lord

they would violate my religious rights

why?

because the rights of the child
are more important

that the child has a right to medical care

the fine state of Texas recognizes
that a child has a right to medical care
no matter what the parent's religious beliefs are

interesting

and yet

we will make a decision
that the rights of the Church
outweigh
the right to have equal access to medical care


Now is not the time for polite complacency...it's the time to speak up
blog with us on 2/15

Thwarting God's Plan

So -- what I understand is that the issue is around thwarting God's plan

 

birth control that is....

 

now when man was created -- the world was a different place

people died young

babies often didn't make it

women died in childbirth

 

having a large number of children made sense.

 

but thanks to modern medicine

we have beat a great many diseases

we've discovered vaccines

and antibiotics

 

we've learned about the dangers of germs

 

Do we not thwart God's plan every time we intervene medically?

 

every time we do surgery

every time we give a blood transfusion

or use a defibrillator?

 

do we not thwart his will when we vaccinate our children

or when we get infertility treatments?

 

isn't all of modern medicine an abomination?

 

Was it not God's will that I die as a baby

when I stopped breathing

before my Mom got me started again

 

or later in life -- should I not have died from a childhood disease

or should I not be crippled from my broken foot

 

Isn't it God's will that I remain childless?

Is my adoption thwarting his plan for me?

 

All of these things that we have done in modern medicine

has created a world where people live long prosperous healthy lives

 

far beyond God's plan for them.

 

and far beyond the plan for our Earth

 

Our bodies were designed to pump child after child into this world

to replenish the supply

killed young by disease and war and injury

 

we have already thwarted God's will

 

so I ask you

 

how is birth control

any different from any other medical intervention?

I want to love the GOP -- but they keep pushing me away

it's true

I am a closet Republican.

yup -- shocked you didn't I

but I am

I shoot guns (not all the time - but I have and do)
I believe that the federal government should have less to do with my daily life
I'm a supporter of pro-business action

I'm fiscally conservative.

and I think that the GOP is missing a huge audience.

You're missing women who support women's rights who are conservatives
you're missing gay men and women who are conservatives
you're missing minorities
you're missing out on athiests and agnostics and folks who just want their politics without religion

you're missing out on average men and women who are puzzled by the hate and bigotry they hear

you're alienating us all.

now -- is that to say that everyone who votes republican is a hater?

no

I think that Americans are long since used to choosing what they believe to be the lesser of two evils.

and that a great many people who will vote Republican are counting on the fact that the politicians are two faced -- that they will make a loud noise about being against abortion and health care reform

but when they are in office they'll wander back to the middle and do nothing

but here's the danger

instead of courting the Religious Right

you've been taken over by them
taken over by men and women who genuinely believe that this country would be much better if it just pushed aside the religious rights of those who don't agree with them

including the right to not believe at all

I think our days of centrist republicans and democrats may be done
and I'm horrified by it.

Come blog with us about reproductive rights on 2/15

Obedience

In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. -- Eleanor Roosevelt

Are we not also responsible for our own sin?
 I do not need someone else to prevent me from sinning by passing laws to force people to be obedient to God.

if I am only obedient because my government forces me to be

am I really obedient
or merely compliant?

If you believe in the Genesis story
you believe that God created everything

including the tree of knowledge

God could have ensured that Adam and Eve would never have sinned

He could have put the tree somewhere else in the universe
He could have built a giant wall around it
He could have made the fruit unappealing

um

He could have NOT created that darn snake

but He did not choose that

He chose to let temptation exist
He chose to allow sin to exist
He chose to create man -- who was capable of disobedience.

when religion and politics get together - we do not make a more godly nation
we make the nation more compliant with doctrine
but we do not make the people more obedient to God's will
the people's hearts do not soften
it does not make us closer to God

This is my dance space -- that's your dance space

Had to work a Dirty Dancing quote into my blog somehow.


I posted something on FB today about a Hindu religious leader who was interrupted while giving a prayer at the beginning of a Senate session....something that I thought even my most religious conservative friends would be offended by.


I was offended that people were rude to an invited guest.....afterall - -he didn't break in and start praying -- they INVITED him....


the comments I received from one of my friends was this


 But if it were the other way around, oh wait that would never happen. Only other religions have that right. With all due respect Christians should be interrupting all other religions prayers until we are allowed to publicly pray like they get to in America! This country wasn't founded on prayers to pagan Gods!


Which I found interesting.


When has anyone been told they cannot pray?

Children are not prohibited from praying at school.  Children are not permitted to pray publicly in school -- even if they are Hindu....or muslim...or whatever.

You may pray to yourself -- anywhere -- anytime.
what is NOT allowed is for them to impose that requirement on others.


Here's my problem with the religious right


and frankly with my friends who are extreme in their religious views when it comes to birth control or abortion or gay marriage -- or religious tolerance.

it's that what they feel is right - -involves pushing their belief system on others.

If you think birth control is wrong -- don't use it.

If you think abortion is wrong -- don't get one

If you think sex education is wrong for your child -- exempt them from it

If you think that gays should not marry -- don't marry a gay person

we liberals are not asking you to do any of these things

we're asking you to leave that which belongs to God in God's hands

we're asking you to allow us to decide what is right and wrong

to use our free will.

afterall

if we are wrong

we are the ones who will lose our eternal souls.

if we're willing to make such a huge bet

who are you to judge us?

We are what we read -- and watch

I've been thinking a lot about how what we read forms who we are

particularly right now - I'm reading some wonderful child psychology books by Dr. Leonard Sax - and I can see how what I'm reading is seeping into my every day life.

eventually I will digest it

but for now - it's so strongly in my mind.
like a new religion I've taken up

I'm a bit zealous about it.

There was a time in this country when extremists were fringe people -- off in the distance -- they might be living off in a commune somewhere -- or in a cult

Now that we have the wonders of the Internet -- we are all exposed to so much information

and this information isn't filtered through anyone

I don't have an editor
neither do any of the blogs I read
on either side of the argument.

We're able to say what we want
substantiated or not

We're allowed to call names
We're allowed to be racist
and sexist
and homophobic

all we want

in the past -- extremists might get out a soapbox
and stand on it
and preach to anyone in earshot

who might or might not stop and listen
and might or might not agree

but now -- now we can search not only for the news we want
but in the version we want

You can read about how Komen bowed to the pressure of the religious right who is cut-throat in it's desire to send us back to the dark ages
or
You can read about how the leftist socialist hippie abortionists used political power to bully Komen into backing down from their just decision.

your choice

now you can feed your brain
with ONLY the message you want to hear

you can filter out your facebook friends so you don't have to see
messages you don't agree with

you can feed yourself with FOX if you so choose.

the end result is that we all become much more extreme in our views
because they are continually reflected back at us

Instead of the Internet being a window
it's a mirror

Yes -- I'll be blogging on 2/15
and every day before then
I think our message is simple
and yes
it's biased
it's our opinion
but it's without venom
and I won't call it NEWS.

Your God

Thanks to a great friend who found this for me

Whatever did happen to the God of love?

As I listened to this -- I realize there are some who would think that I'm not a good christian
that I don't believe
that I am making fun of Christianity

I am not mocking Christianity
just some of the Christians do in the name of Chritianity

as for whether or not I am a good Christian
well -- I'll leave that for God to judge

Blog with us about Women's Reproductive Rights on 2/15
Cheryl Would

WTF is going on with her?

So

I know that people who've known me for years are a bit shocked

shocked that I'm interested in anything
other than painting

or being a wise ass in general

where did all this come from?

It's been building up for some time

I have found myself getting frustrated
no

angry
about how things are going in my country

at the same time

I've had some new experiences
that have made me realize

that even though I am one woman alone

that

every person who ever made a difference

was just one woman
or one man

and this is what I think gets in our way
makes us complacent

is the idea that we're not important
that what we believe isn't important

that no one is listening
that what we can do is so small
that no one will care.

but you know what?

it's not true

because here you are

listening.

are you buying into it?

maybe
maybe not

but you're listening.

and that's why I'm doing it

someone has to say

stop
enough
no more

someone has to say that protecting
our liberty is important

that men and women who
fought for rights

didn't fight in vain

sometimes you have to protect what you value

so

think you don't have anything to say
that you can't make a difference?

well -- I'll tell you -- you don't have to change the world

you just have to reach out
and change one mind

Come blog with us about reproductive rights on 2/15 -- 

Go Forth and be Lobbyists?

And then Jesus said, "Go Forth and become lobbyists..."

no?

that's not what he said?

where's my bible.

oh yes

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men


I am a christian
I am a lost christian -- without a community


because here I am 
smack dab in the buckle of the bible belt

surrounded by churches too extreme for my taste

I am alienated

I often feel alone

Jesus wanted us to follow Him

emulate Him

reach out to others and lift them up

He wanted us to heal the sick

feed the hungry

comfort the grieving

I don't recall a passage where He encouraged us

to march on Rome

and demand changes to legislation

He wanted us to love each other

and 

all of this makes me sad.

I feel like He is lost

Where are Jesus' words?

not Paul

you can keep Paul -- Paul was a man

trapped in his own time

Paul's writings are filled with sexism that's been used

to control women for generations

but Where are Jesus' words?

where's the love?

I think it's time that we started to ask

ourselves

WWJD?

would He pressure foundations to remove funding that supports the poor?

would He bend to political pressure and be moved from his mission?

would He yell hateful messages to wounded girls seeking medical care -- even if he didn't agree with it?

Not my Jesus.

It's about Control

No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her body. No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother.
Margaret Sanger

it's interesting  -- this whole battle - isn't it?

for me? -- it's not about abortion

never has been

it's about control

control of my body

control of my sexuality

control of my own speech

I've noticed over the past few years -- that being pro-choice -- is something that's

what's the word I'm looking for

indelicate.

it's become a political statement that's too sensitive to mention

sure -- with your friends

but being pro-choice publicly

let's say

at work

GASP

it's subtly become a taboo subject

which is insane.

my right to choose is legal

what other legal right is a delicate subject about which we must not speak?

you'll hear me say this many times over the next few weeks while we focus on this project

I feel that my rights are being endangered by religion.

no

not true

I feel that my rights are being endangered by religious zealots

how is this different from religious zealots in other parts of the world who murder women for violating their rules

lol

well -- it's a bit different

but it's dipping a toe into it.

and that's how it all begins -- this diminishing of rights

the regulating of them

I have the right to protect my body

to own my body

I have the right to control what goes into it

and what comes out of it

I have the right to talk about my rights

we have it wrong

it's not freedom OF religion that we need

it's freedom FROM religion

Margaret Sanger was right

we are not free

if we do not even control our own bodies.

Join us and blog about Reproductive Rights on 2/15

Margaret would if she could

Barry Goldwater even hated the Religious Right

On religious issues there can be little or no compromise. There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both.
I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in "A," "B," "C" and "D." Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?
And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of "conservatism."

• Speech in the US Senate (16 September 1981)

Blog with us on February 15th about Women's Reproductive Rights -- Even Barry would do it.

Bloggers United for Human Rights -- Feb 15 event

It's been an interesting few weeks -- We've seen the Girl Scouts singled out for supporting Planned Parenthood and Pro-Life groups encouraging people to stop supporting the scouts in response

And most recently -- we see that the Susan G Komen Foundation pulling funding from Planned Parenthood endangering programs that provide free and low cost mammograms to women in need....all due to political pressure.

I ask myself -- why is this happening?

Is it because the majority of American society is following the religious right agenda?

no.

I don't believe it.

I believe that most Americans are somewhere in the middle -- like me.

but here's the problem with us.

We're not organized.
We're not vocal.

We're not passionate about defending rights
about being heard
about saying to the Susan G. Komen foundation -- "we will pull OUR support of your organization if you bend to the will of fundamentalists just because they are noisy"

so -- what can I do?

I'm one voice.

ah

I can reach out to all of you.

my fellow bloggers

and say -- Let's focus our efforts.

Let's not talk about recipes
or news about our kids
or our craft projects

or whatever else we normally blog about

let's talk about women's reproductive rights

all at the same time

February 15th

meet me here -- to share your views on your blog

it's Susan B Anthony's birthday -- let's show her we know how it's done -- let's join our voices

and show them how loud we can be.

Facebook event page