It never fails. Every election cycle, people start talking about women's health and suddenly the Only Important Topic in the Whole World is my uterus, my vagina, and how I choose to use or not use them. Good times. And, like many women, this gets me all bent out of shape. I can't WAIT for this election cycle to be over with because I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! Can we just go back to complaining about other things, like WORLD HUNGER or EVIL DICTATORS?
The first time Bush Jr. got elected, I was seriously afraid that something might crazy might happen and Roe v. Wade would get overturned. Lord knows enough people TALKED about doing it. And since then, a whole slew of wackadoo anti-abortion laws have been popping up all over the country. For example, in Nebraska, it's a STATE LAW that the woman must have an ultrasound that is pointed at her so she can "easily view it." Nice. Never mind that what she's going through must be a horrible decision/procedure/whatever, let's make her LOOK AT IT and RUB IT IN HER FACE. Even if she tries not to look, how can she possibly miss it when it's POINTED AT HER? She'll no doubt carry that sad, painful image with her for the rest of her life. Way to go, Nebraska.
But Nebraska isn't alone. I'm just too lazy to look up the other state laws right now because I don't want to get myself all worked up. And you know why I'm choosing to NOT get worked up? Because if something happens to Roe v. Wade -- or if something extreme starts happening in the individual states -- women will revolt. You bet your sweet a$$ we will.
Take, for example, what recently happened with the whole Komen Explosion. After a few days of getting totally beaten in the media, Komen caved (rightfully so methinks) about providing funding to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings. Women came out in droves on Twitter, blogs, in the news -- it was amazing. My Twitter stream LIT UP with angry women. YouTube filled up with video messages. It was all over the national news for quite some time. And it made me proud.
Look at what we can do. We have power.
Since my father is not on Twitter and doesn't follow blogs and such, he was quite surprised when I told him, in all seriousness one night: "I'm not afraid of anyone trying to overturn Roe v. Wade now. If they did, there would be a 10 million woman march on Washington. Bigger than anything anyone has ever seen. I would actually buy a plane ticket and go." Knowing my anxiety with crowds, my father raised an eyebrow. But I really would go. I would make my voice heard just by standing there. It would be a sight to see. We think we don't have power anymore, but we do.
Listen, I totally understand that some people are pro-life -- perhaps even some of my readers. And I get you and respect your opinion. I really do. What I'm really trying to get at here is that we can make amazing things happen if we want to. We no longer have to be at the whim of ancient, old, out-of-touch lawmakers who try to sneakily pass laws that make no sense while we aren't looking. We don't have to Don't Ask and Don't Tell. We don't have accept Prop 8. We can make changes if we want to -- we have, and we will.
I often worry about what life will be like for my young niece when she is my age. But the more social movements I see going on online, the more excited I get for her future. And I will do my best to set a good example for her as a strong, independent, smart, young woman. (Yes, I am!) It turns out you don't have to be a bystander. You can make a difference. So don't get any funny ideas, Washington.
We're watching you.
4 comments:
I am pro-life, but not in the way that I want the government mandating laws about it (I think we could do a MUCH better job at helping out/supporting mothers) .... and yes we do have power. Its a beautiful thing to see it in action :)
I hate the term pro-life, as though the people who are pro-CHOICE are anti-life. That is absurd.
I'd keep typing but it's late and I don't want to get all worked up.
*sigh*
I like the idea of a 10 million woman march on Washington. :o)
Here's the thing...I am a Pro-Life-Choice kind of gal. As in "I choose life for my reproductive self, but want choice for the collective whole of the country so we don't have dangerous back ally clinics murdering women." And I want women to have the right to reproductive control-birth control in any form. Covered by insurance. If they don't want to take advantage of said birth control, they don't have to. That is our right! If men birthed babies, this would be in place like gangbusters! When I see my students who have limited access to services, have so many hoops to jump through to get health care if they do get pregnant, and their babies have so many roadblocks to healthy choices it makes me crazy. Yes, we preach "pro-life" but once the life is here we wag our fingers at the mothers/children. You can't have it both ways. How about taking care of our families, our children, our women AND men? (okay, I will get off my soapbox now!!)
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