Thoughts on issues
http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2011/01/republican-plan-redefine-rape-abortion
That link is to an article talking about the House Republican majorities attempt to change the definition of rape, in order to mandate what type of abortion care federally funded agencies would then be able to pay for. The Republican majority and Speaker of the House John Boehner are trying to make it so that the definition of rape is severely restricted, in other words only rape done by force is to be considered Rape. No matter the woman who was drugged and raped, or the woman who had drunk too much and been taken home by someone she didn't know. Nevermind the young girl convinced by a predator that it was something she had to do, or those who are incapable of making responsible decisions being preyed upon.
This is an unspeakable act occurring in our country, that we can sit by and let this happen. How long did it take for rape to be recognized legally? How many decades did it take from women attaining the right to vote to the courts recognizing that a woman is not chattel of her husband and has the right to say "No" to her husband if she does not wish to have sex?
In my mind, few things can be as scarring, mentally or emotionally, as being forced to carry a child of rape. A horrific act of force, whether physical or not, has happened to you, and if you realize you are pregnant, are you then expected to meekly sit by and let this thing continue to grow inside of you? Pregnancy can be, and should be, a beautiful joyous thing when wanted. Too many women have to make the choice daily about whether to continue an unwanted pregnancy that was not the result of rape. Being pregnant because of rape can be a horrendous nightmare, something many women feel they could not cope with if it happened to them. And those are grown women, capable of weighing choices and consequences! What of a girl, 17, 15, 13, or younger? Are we to assume that if her body is mature physically, she should be forced to continue the pregnancy? I have seen pregnant 12 year old girls, forced into a situation not of their choosing. Not mature enough to even take care of themselves, and they are expected to make the choice of carrying and keeping a baby, or carrying and giving up the baby.
If these types of laws pass, we can surely expect other medical rights to be revoked. No way to pay for birth control. Possibly no way of paying for basic exams, such as PAP smears or STD testing. Where does the line get drawn? Would it be limited to federally funded insurances only, or would those families who rely on insurance from their employment be affected next? Soon no insurances would be able to pay for those medical procedures. Soon, birth control as a whole may be illegal. No condoms, no spermicides. The government may decide that reproduction is to occur naturally as it will, or won't. What then of infertility treatments? The Catholic Church already frowns upon IVF. Would access to that be taken away?
If a woman is barren, she must stay barren. If a woman is fertile, she must bear children. Will that become our future?
That link is to an article talking about the House Republican majorities attempt to change the definition of rape, in order to mandate what type of abortion care federally funded agencies would then be able to pay for. The Republican majority and Speaker of the House John Boehner are trying to make it so that the definition of rape is severely restricted, in other words only rape done by force is to be considered Rape. No matter the woman who was drugged and raped, or the woman who had drunk too much and been taken home by someone she didn't know. Nevermind the young girl convinced by a predator that it was something she had to do, or those who are incapable of making responsible decisions being preyed upon.
This is an unspeakable act occurring in our country, that we can sit by and let this happen. How long did it take for rape to be recognized legally? How many decades did it take from women attaining the right to vote to the courts recognizing that a woman is not chattel of her husband and has the right to say "No" to her husband if she does not wish to have sex?
In my mind, few things can be as scarring, mentally or emotionally, as being forced to carry a child of rape. A horrific act of force, whether physical or not, has happened to you, and if you realize you are pregnant, are you then expected to meekly sit by and let this thing continue to grow inside of you? Pregnancy can be, and should be, a beautiful joyous thing when wanted. Too many women have to make the choice daily about whether to continue an unwanted pregnancy that was not the result of rape. Being pregnant because of rape can be a horrendous nightmare, something many women feel they could not cope with if it happened to them. And those are grown women, capable of weighing choices and consequences! What of a girl, 17, 15, 13, or younger? Are we to assume that if her body is mature physically, she should be forced to continue the pregnancy? I have seen pregnant 12 year old girls, forced into a situation not of their choosing. Not mature enough to even take care of themselves, and they are expected to make the choice of carrying and keeping a baby, or carrying and giving up the baby.
If these types of laws pass, we can surely expect other medical rights to be revoked. No way to pay for birth control. Possibly no way of paying for basic exams, such as PAP smears or STD testing. Where does the line get drawn? Would it be limited to federally funded insurances only, or would those families who rely on insurance from their employment be affected next? Soon no insurances would be able to pay for those medical procedures. Soon, birth control as a whole may be illegal. No condoms, no spermicides. The government may decide that reproduction is to occur naturally as it will, or won't. What then of infertility treatments? The Catholic Church already frowns upon IVF. Would access to that be taken away?
If a woman is barren, she must stay barren. If a woman is fertile, she must bear children. Will that become our future?