Today, January 22, is the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and NARAL Pro-Choice America's official "Blog for Choice Day." It's a day to remember how far women's health has come from back alley ways and unskilled charlatans claiming to "help" women with unplanned pregnancy. Remember--these women didn't have many options aside from getting pregnant. The Supreme Court finally weighed in on the issue of legal birth control in 1965! That's a mere eight years before Roe and a scant forty five years after the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. Nearly every significant piece of legislation concerning women's rights is less than 100 years old.
After eight years of constant assault on reproductive choice, we finally seem to have an administration willing to address the multi-faceted face of reproductive health. Abortion is not the only choice; it's one of may different choices a woman must be free to discuss with her doctor, trusted friends and/or family, and (if she wishes) a trusted clergy person. The White House website has this to say about Reproductive Choice:
Supports a Woman's Right to Choose: President Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority in his Adminstration. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case.
Preventing Unintended Pregnancy: President Obama was an original co-sponsor of legislation to expand access to contraception, health information, and preventive services to help reduce unintended pregnancies. Introduced in January 2007, the Prevention First Act will increase funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and safe sex methods. The Act will also end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims.
The profile picture to the left is from Free Will Power, a program by NARAL Pro-Choice America. The t-shirt is available over at Zazzle and was chosen from several entries from around the US.
I'll leave you with George Carlin. I don't necessarily agree with everything he says, but I get shivers down my spine when he says "Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers." It would be funnier if we weren't trapped in a futile war against a country that didn't even attack us. Here's the spiel:
Ironically you have a "Vote Pro-Life Items" add appearing on your page.
I keep wondering if "right to choose" is the best wording. It kind of sounds like women are interested in having abortions. There has to be a concise way of saying "right to not carry an unwanted pregnancy to term" that sounds less flippant. Or maybe not since in 30 odd years no one has thought of it.
Great Carlin quote.
@beli_grrl - Uggghhh. Yeah, it's like when I would do a "Just Say No to Sarah Palin" post and immediately the McCain/Palin for America ads would pop up. I really should consider premium.
I'm thinking about it and choice is the only real way I can see to present the issue. But good point and interesting thought experiment. I'll have to consider that more.
haha. i like seeing the ads to come up based on the content.
Carlin was a funny man. i read a lot about him in a law text book. weird, right?
Today, January 22, is the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and NARAL Pro-Choice America's official "Blog for Choice Day." It's a day to remember how far women's health has come from back alley ways and unskilled charlatans claiming to "help" women with unplanned pregnancy. Remember--these women didn't have many options aside from getting pregnant. The Supreme Court finally weighed in on the issue of legal birth control in 1965! That's a mere eight years before Roe and a scant forty five years after the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. Nearly every significant piece of legislation concerning women's rights is less than 100 years old.
Comments (3)
@beli_grrl - Uggghhh. Yeah, it's like when I would do a "Just Say No to Sarah Palin" post and immediately the McCain/Palin for America ads would pop up. I really should consider premium.
I'm thinking about it and choice is the only real way I can see to present the issue. But good point and interesting thought experiment. I'll have to consider that more.
haha. i like seeing the ads to come up based on the content.
Carlin was a funny man. i read a lot about him in a law text book. weird, right?
i want that sort of fame.