Saturday, September 8, 2012

War on Women, Birth Control, Abortion and the VaJJ Costumes

I love the news.  I love watching all kinds of news.  I shamelessly love Fox BUT listen to the others to be able to get an idea of what is being said by the obvious liberal media.  I know people who won't watch Fox because allegedly Fox is  too conservative. They say they have watched but if they had they could not make that accusation.   They don't watch.  Period.  I get both sides from Fox.  This has to be the reason that they have been #1 for years.  I was TV bound during the conventions.  I really love this stuff but this time, this election is probably the most important of my life.  Fox was the only station that covered nearly the whole conventions.  All the major speakers were covered completely on both sides.  No one else can say that.  I love the pageantry, the speakers, the delegates and the whole process on both sides.  You have to watch if you really want to be informed.  At the Republican convention they had a group of aging hippies dressed as vaginas.  I was enthralled  and disgusted at the same time.  It was like a train wreck: to awful to see but you just couldn't turn away.      They sang a song and the whole thing was to point out that the Republicans have declared war on women.    I know my sister reads my posts and my daughter other than that I don't know for sure who else takes the time to read what I have to say.   But if another woman reads this please know that THIS woman is much more than her vagina.  Believe it or not, I have a brain.  I read, I think, and I have my own ideas not fed to me by my choice of a political party.  Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown University law student spoke.  She is the Democratic poster child for birth control. She just graduated from Georgetown Law( it costs approximately 50 thousand a year) and graduates from this prestigious school usually start out at 150 thousand a year.  Maybe now she can afford her birth control pills.  During her education period she could have gone to any planned parenthood office and received her pills free or at a discount.  Instead she wants insurance companies to pay. The problem comes in when employers who are fundamentally against birth control are forced to provide insurance that will provide the pill for their employees. Who is more right.  We have a right to choose. You don't have to work for a company that does not want to provide your pills.   Better yet,  pay for your own pills if you are living your life in such a way that  unplanned pregnancy is a concern.  Or even better have your partner pay for the privilege of sharing your bed.  My daughter and I differ on this I am sure because she had commented in the past about the cost of the pill.  Before I get comments from people who have known me in the past I offer this disclaimer:  I have changed.  About many many things.  I have spent years conflicted about choices that I made when I was young and stupid. I have come to terms with my choices and know that who I am now is because of the good and bad choices that I made in the past.  Been there done that, and I have the tee-shirt.  I just don't trot it out all the time. I also rest in the assurance that I have been forgiven.  

In abortion news Representative Todd Akin  made a really stupid statement.  He said that  and I quote “It seems to be, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, it’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down.

Okay well he is stupid.  But I would still rather have dinner with him than with Sandra Fluke.  He is at least educable.  I posted on face book how I felt about this and will repeat for this blog.  Years ago that was the common view.  That in cases of violent rape the chances of getting pregnant were nil.  We know that is not the case. From what I have read the term "legitimate rape" is the most insulting to women everywhere.  Get over it.  I am sure it will come as a shock to you that women actually lie about rape.  I have been in the ER venue for nearly 37 years and I have seen my share of LEGITIMATE rapes and those that were bald faced liars who needed an out to face the parents or the husband.  Or in a worse case scenario to get even with a guy who dumped you.   In any case in most ERs you are offered a morning after pill.  Keep in mind that if you state that you just KNOW that this rape caused you to get pregnant and demand a test we then know that you really are pregnant already.  Yes this has happened... it was years and years ago and I can still see the surprise that we didn't believe her. The morning after pill does not work if you are already pregnant.  

I am a borderline right-to-lifer.  If that upsets some pro-life people then I am sorry.  Strict pro-lifers would not offer a morning after pill.  I would.  I have changed drastically  in my abortion-for-birth-control  opinion.  I had a defining moment  years ago when I participated in an abortion in an ER that I worked.  I can still hear the girl say " Doc I got pregnant again, shit"  The female doctor that was our ER physician escorted her into the first room and I set up the suction machine.  It was over and done with in a few minutes and I was changed.  I watched a mass of blood and tissue sucked out of her and realized that this was a baby.  It was really a life.  I refused to assist in any more abortions and made up my mind that if it meant my job then so be it.  It didn't come to that but I changed.  All women who want birth control abortions should be made to take part in one.  If you are pregnant and don't want the child you can offer that gift to a childless couple who desperately want a child.   Recently a couple had a baby named Braxton Bergeron.  His story is on Caringbridge.com.  They are local people known by friends of mine and I was encouraged to read Braxton's story.  I encourage you to read it as well.  But get a tissue...or a box of tissues.  They were informed early on that Braxton had "broken bone disease" and would not live long after birth.  They elected, after being given the choice of an abortion, to carry Braxton to term.  Their story is poignant and bittersweet.  Braxton's story is a story of life and victory.  Braxton died hours after birth in the arms of his parents.   The parent's choice of opting for the more difficult path has changed countless people within this community and that is Braxton's victory and legacy.  

I believe in the sanctity of life.  I believe that the Republican party does not hate woman but is remaining true to the majority of their constituents of both sexes.  Yes Romney has changed his mind about the pro-choice issue.  But then so have I.   The issue of rape is still a hot topic and one that I will take an active part.  I will write to my congressmen and expect them to take a harsh view as to the punishment of a rapist.  I just hope that the accused is not a victim of a liar. 

2 comments:

Carrie White said...

Wow, my emotions are all over the place after reading your post. Thanks for posting.

I have a friend who is the PRODUCT of a rape. Many people, including her husband, natural children and adopted children (one who is "special needs"), are grateful that her mother chose not to abort her after she was raped. She is one of many reasons that I am pro-life.

Deborah Shurtz Higginbotham said...

Thank you for posting your comment. It is important that that side be heard. Love you.