I don't get into much detail about my political beliefs with anybody besides my close friends and family. I feel that no one should be ashamed to express themselves, but I just don't always enjoy heated conversations. I also feel like I don't follow current events thoroughly enough in order to hold a good debate. However, I have no problem speaking about women's rights.
Fox ‘Expert’ Blasts Expanding Access To Birth Control: ‘Are We Going To Do Pedicures And Manicures As Well?’
Reading this article enraged me to the point that I am just laying my beliefs out on the table.
I am a humanist. I believe that both genders should be equal and loved and that we should treat others the way we want to be treated.
I believe in peace. I don't care for war whatsoever, but I support those who are brave and selfless to go fight for us.
I don't believe in organized religion. I went through 3 sacraments before being pulled out of Catholic school. My family is comprised of Catholicism, Judaism, and Protestantism. I used to be agnostic, but I'm starting to realize there is something stronger out there beyond our comprehension. I believe in evolution and consider myself to be spiritual. I believe in love, balance, and karma.
I am a Democrat. While the majority of my beliefs are liberal, I do hold a few moderate beliefs. I strongly believe in civil rights for all and keeping religion separate. Believe whatever you choose, just don't hurt anyone or force others to follow those beliefs. Give people the opportunity to choose their paths in life.
I believe in gay marriage and adoption. Marriage is a beautiful contract that is not necessarily sacred. Are those quickie chapel Vegas weddings sacred? And who's to say that LGBT people aren't allowed to be recognized in the eyes of God? No Bible passages please, that is not the end-all be-all of religion.
I feel that America hasn't strayed far from its Puritan roots. Of course we can punish "promiscuous" women (but not men) and not show sex or nudity on TV (but graphic violence is just fine). And don't get me started on rape jokes or usage of the word as an everyday verb. It's not funny when applied to either gender.
I strongly hold a pro-choice position. Don't tell me how to manage my uterus in the first trimester or in a matter of saving my life, and I sure as hell won't tell you how to manage yours. That's all there is to it.
I fully believe in sex education. Anyone who thinks that teenagers aren't going to engage in fooling around is really blind. Anyone who thinks that women are "asking for it" need a sound smacking. Birth control is a way to ensure that unwanted pregnancies get cut down. Before you can say "adoption," think of all those kids who get shuttled between foster homes (sometimes abusive) because there aren't enough people able or willing to adopt. Some people may choose to blow off the education, but that is their choice.
I think birth control should be the responsibility of both sexual parties. It takes two to tango, as the cliche goes. Mistakes happen, and peoples' lives shouldn't have to be changed forever for that. I am not going to bring a child into this world on my current income. That's unnecessary and unfair to the child and our family. Therefore, consistent birth control is used so we know we did our best to prevent something we're not ready for. That's my choice.
In this link, the especially heinous points made by Fox "anti-birth control expert" Sandy Rios are conveniently highlighted. Let's take a look at what this "expert" has to say:
"We’re $14 trillion in debt and now we’re going to cover birth control, breast pumps, counseling for abuse? Are we going to do pedicures and manicures as well?”
Yeah, I equate getting my toes buffed and polished to BASIC WOMEN'S NEEDS. Is this lady for real? Is she just trying to be the next sound byte? Is she trying to join the ranks of Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin, and Michelle Bachmann? Making sure your newborn child is fed is totally on the level of cosmetics, amIright? Oh, and how dare battered and violated women be counseled! What a selfish thing for a women to even consider! Mental scarring is absolutely nothing! Women are just weak creatures who should just man the hell up and get through it, yes?
I swear, this woman has raised my blood pressure with just two questions.
“Why in the world would you encourage your daughters, and your granddaughters, and whoever else comes behind you to have unrestricted, unlimited sex anytime, anywhere and that, somehow if you prevent pregnancy, that somehow you’ve helped them. I would submit to you that uncontrolled sexual behavior is what is harming our girls, not our lack of birth control — which by the way they don’t seem interested in taking anyway. Having a baby is not the worst thing. I think having multiple sex partners without any kind of restraint or responsibility is much more damning, why would you support that?”
Name me one good parent who encourages their young daughters (and sons, hello!) to have unlimited sex. Teenagers need education. We're not throwing condoms and packs of pills at them while saying "Go crazy, you younguns!" We live in a sexually saturated society, and times have changed. Kids are having sex younger and younger, and I'm not an advocate of that. Enjoy your childhood! And as you start having more urges and desires, learn how to be protected and safe whenever that time comes! I sure as hell won't be "encouraging" my future child to have sex, but I will make sure they receive education. A lot of poorer areas either don't have the education or don't have the funds for consistent birth control. Reproductive health care should be an essential part of health care coverage for everyone.
Having a baby is not the worst thing? How many children does she have, and when did she lose her virginity? I'm serious! I would like to know what her background is and what makes her so justified in making a blanket statement like that. Babies, while glorious for those who want them and are ready, are a lifelong commitment. Her saying that sounds like she supports teenage pregnancy! So you'd rather say boo to free birth control but yay to more young parents on welfare? Should we be telling teenagers from poor families that it's fine to have babies? I think the birth control will be just a tad cheaper. We should have the choice to be prescribed free birth control or to keep an unexpected pregnancy.
Here's my favorite statement!
“In Red China, they have this down to a science. The local health care centers make women come in every month to be examined to see if they’ve had their cycle to make sure they are taking their medication and if they have a baby they are roundly punished, if they have an extra baby that baby is aborted. That is the control we’re moving toward.”
What century are we in again? We're moving towards "Red" China medical practices? No one informed me! I didn't realize there was going to be a dictatorship ruling my period and forcing medication down my throat. And hold up, so they now support abortion? I'm so confused! First she says that we have to avoid birth control but now we should work towards tyrannically implementing it and then aborting any "extra" babies? Charming. Don't you just love the consistency in her ideology?
Look, we're not all going to have the same beliefs. But having such hateful ideas for how women's bodies should be treated really upsets me, especially when so many women are coming out of the woodwork with these beliefs. Why are our bodies still being treated as irrelevant when it comes to health coverage?
Here's one of the many jaw dropping quotes from Ann Coulter:
"If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat president. It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women. It also makes the point, it is kind of embarrassing, the Democratic Party ought to be hanging its head in shame, that it has so much difficulty getting men to vote for it. I mean, you do see it's the party of women and 'We'll pay for health care and tuition and day care -- and here, what else can we give you, soccer moms?'"
If you want a starting point to find out more about birth control and ways to get involved, please visit the wonderful Planned Parenthood website. Make sure Coulter never gets that pipe dream of hers.
You rock. That is all.
ReplyDeleteYES. To everything you said!
ReplyDeleteOh my...I am speechless, and that is not a regular occurence for me.
ReplyDeleteI can speak intelligently on two parts; I had a baby young (well, 24 isn't too young but it is when you are practically single)and now I have a daughter. Someday, sooner than later, I am going to have to worry about the options that are available to her.
People can be so naive. It isn't always poor parenting that leads to promiscuity or sexual activity in teens. It is KIDS BEING KIDS. As parents, we can explain all of the repercussions of having sex to our children, but I equate its' effectiveness to that of warning people of the dangers of smoking. We hear over and over again all of the dangers involved with cigarettes yet about one third of the adult population and 1 in 5 teens still smoke.
It is HUMAN NATURE. When we want to do something, we will do it no matter the danger involved. Maybe it is our "that won't happen to me" mentality, I don't know. All I do know is that if there were a magic pill I could take that would dramatically reduce the chances of me getting cancer from smoking, I would sure take it because it is easier than not smoking.
It is the same for sex. The only power we have is educating our children, making them aware of the potential outcomes and giving them the necessary tools to avoid those outcomes. Our guidance as parents can only get us so far. The rest is on our children. Should they choose to take the wrong path (and which of us has NEVER taken the wrong path?) we need to have the tools available to keep them as safe as possible.
And as for the "having a baby isn't such a bad thing" I absolutely agree that our country will see a significant increase in our debt, having to take care of all these babies with our tax dollars because we encourage ill-equipped people to "just have the baby." If I am not mistaken, we have spent over 495 billion dollars in 2011 on welfare. Although I can not find the numbers, I assume we have spent a lot less on birth control and other preventative methods.
It is insane to me that in 2011 this is still an argument. Insinuating that women should no longer have their vote is downright crazy. And that was me being speechless.
Thank you for sharing this...my views are right in line with yours and I am CONTINUALLY disgusted, appalled, and shocked by these women who hate themselves, their bodies and their gender.
ReplyDeleteI think at the end of the day, these people are simply trying to oppress another way of thinking that contradicts theirs. The difference is that our way of thinking is inclusive, providing CHOICE, instead of restrictive and dictatorial.
I am not sure I will ever get over the "Red China" comment...sickening.