It is a Sad Day in America: Roe V. Wade is No More

A few months ago, we celebrated the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. When I wrote that post, I still had hope that the right of anyone with a uterus had the right to decide their own fate. That hope died this morning.

By lunchtime, the federal government had washed its hands of the issue. It is now illegal to have an abortion in America. Each state can now decide if the procedure will be allowed and to what degree. In many states, this means that will be either completely against the law or limited to saving the life of the pregnant person.

American women are officially back in the dark ages, depending on where they live. Thankfully, both my home state of New York and New Jersey are among the handful of states that put the life of the pregnant person over politics. But not everyone is so lucky.

How many women will die from back-alley abortions or putting foreign objects in their bodies? How many females of any age will be forced to give birth to their rapist’s child or carry a dead fetus to term? How many women of color who are already living under hard conditions will have another proverbial plate spinning in the air?

The overturning of Roe is the beginning of a slippery slope. According to Judge Clarence Thomas (who I loathe with a passion), this decision opens the door to taking a second look at other rulings.

Justice Clarence Thomas argued in a concurring opinion released on Friday that the Supreme Court “should reconsider” its past rulings codifying rights to contraception access, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage.

In a similar vein, Loving v. Virginia could also be overturned. That means that his marriage to the equally loathsome Ginni Thomas could be viewed as illegal.

If they thought we would go quietly into the night, they have another thing coming.

Courtesy of Facebook

We can donate to pro-choice organizations (Planned Parenthood, NARAL, etc). We can march and let our voices be heard. We can vote in November and more importantly, vote blue. Though it is dark, the sun will rise again. We just need to fight for that sunrise.

P.S. Congress finally passed a gun control bill. It speaks volumes about this country that we confer more rights on a weapon than a living, breathing human being.

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Throwback Thursday-Cheaper by the Dozen (1950)

Our families are at the core of our societies. It is not a stretch to say that stories about families continue to appeal to us generation after generation.

Cheaper by the Dozen premiered in 1950. Based on the book of the same name, the film starred Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy, the film told the story of the Gilbreth family and their brood of 12 children. Living in Montclair, New Jersey in the early 20th century, parents Frank Sr. and Lillian both work as engineers. Their professional training extends to their home life, as everything is done to maximum efficiency. But this is starting not to sit well with their older daughters, who are eager to stretch their wings outside of the family nest.

There are certain movies from this period that modern audiences go back to again and again because they have a timeless quality to them. In a sense, this movie is timeless, but there are scenes that are definitely showing the film’s age.

Do I recommend it? Maybe. As much as I adore some movies from the ’50s, this film is not one of my favorites.

By the way, the movie was remade in 2003 starring Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt. It is as bad as one might expect it to be.

Thoughts On the Potential Defunding of Planned Parenthood

Among 1st world countries, the United States ranks 50th in terms of healthcare coverage.

Last week, the US Department of Health and Human Service released its final draft to revise the final Title X rule Family Planning program. This change is designed to hurt, not help millions of Americans who rely on Planned Parenthood.

While Conservatives and those on the right obsess over abortion and Planned Parenthood’s family planning services, they overlook the fact that the organization does much more than family planning. The organization provides much-needed healthcare to those who are unable to afford to visit their local doctor.

You know who claims that he is there for the voters. But the reality is that he is there only for his base and his supporters. If he actually backed up his promises with actions and research, he and those in power who would happily defund Planned Parenthood would realize that they are hurting the voters they promised to help.

The job of a politician, regardless of whether they are representing voters on the local level or the national level, is to be responsible to all voters. This includes the voters whom they disagree with and more importantly, the voters of limited income who rely on the government when they are unable to support themselves.

Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead–My Life Story Book Review

Cecile Richards has been known as a troublemaker since she was young.

The daughter of the late Ann Richards, the former Governor of Texas, Ms. Richards has been an advocate for the downtrodden for many years.

The soon to be former President of Planned Parenthood has written her autobiography, Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead–My Life Story, with the help of Lauren Peterson. Taught to speak out against injustice at an early age, Ms. Richards started her career as a labor activist and gradually worked her way into politics until she was named as Planned Parenthood President in 2006. While she was active in politics and combating prejudice against women, she also married and raised three children who have followed in their parent’s footsteps.

I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it because it illustrates just how hard it is to right a wrong, especially when powerful forces are not willing change the status quo. The book is also well written and shows that changing the world for the better is possible, if we are willing to do what has to be done.

I recommend it.

Why We March: Signs of Protest and Hope–Voices from the Women’s March Book Review

The Women’s March early this year was nothing short of life changing and world-changing. Millions of citizens, from various countries around the world, came together to protest sexism and to send a middle finger to Donald Trump, who had then only recently taken the Oath Of Office.

Why We March: Signs of Protest and Hope–Voices from the Women’s March, by Artisan, is a short picture book containing pictures and quotes from those who marched and made their opinions known.

What I loved about this book is that it is short and the point. We are here to stay and will not quietly return to the 1950’s. We will fight for our rights.

I recommend it. I also love that all of the profits from the sale of the book go to Planned Parenthood.

Terrible Virtue: A Novel Book Review

When we put those we admire on a pedestal, we sometimes forget that the person on the pedestal is a human being with the same faults as any other human being.

Margaret Sanger did not intentionally start out life as a first wave feminist and the originator of Planned Parenthood. Her life and the causes that dominated her life is chronicled in the novel Terrible Virtue: A Novel. Written by Ellen Feldman, the novel starts during Margaret’s early years. She is one of 13 children. Her mother dies young, after years of living through the endless cycle of having a children, working tirelessly to care for her family before having another child.

As an adult, Margaret marries and has three children of her own. She is drawn to the cause of abortion and women’s reproductive health. In spite of the laws at the time, Margaret (who is living in New York City) reaches out to the lower class and immigrant women who desperately need her services. While she is doing this, there are many who are fighting to see her jailed and her ability to help the women in need stopped indefinitely. Adding to the drama, Margaret is feeling the heat at home. Her marriage is falling apart and her children are starting to feel like they are second best.

 

I really enjoyed reading this book. I really enjoyed it because not only did the writer perfectly show Margaret Sanger as human being (not just a heroine on a pedestal), but also because the same issues that existed in her time sadly still exist in ours.

I absolutely recommend it.

 

Why We Need Planned Parenthood

For many women, Planned Parenthood is a lifeline that is vital to their health and their future. But at the same time, there are many who would savor the day when Planned Parenthood ceases to exist.

Film and movie director Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Avengers) presents a world without Planned Parenthood. Frankly, it is scary and a little too real for me. But it is a dose of reality that we would be facing if some people had their way.

I could go on and on about the reasons that Planned Parenthood is vital and necessary, but I think the video does a pretty good job of doing that for me.

#IstandwithPP

Dear Donald Trump: An Open Letter From A Democrat To The Republican Presidential Elect

Dear Donald Trump

You won the election. As much as I would have loved to say the words, Madam President, it was not in the cards, at least not for this election.

We have to talk.

But before I get into the things that I disagree with you about, I need to thank you for some things:

• Supporting Israel. Israel is one of our greatest allies and the only true democracy in the Middle East.
• Not repealing the gay marriage act. It is the most important civil rights legislation of this generation.
• For keeping the parts of Obamacare that work. While I can certainly attest that Obamacare has its problems, when it works, it works.

Now I need to get to the reason for this online conversation.

• Steve Bannon. This man is dangerous and scary and represents what we need to fix in this country.
• Mike Pence. His extreme discriminatory law against the LGBTQ community and the scary and antiquated anti-abortion law have honestly sent shivers down my spine. As much as I disliked George Bush Jr when he was in the White House, I don’t recall that he went as far as Mr. Pence did.
• The Hamilton incident last week. It was not a personal attack on your potential policies or your Vice President, it was simply a group of citizens speaking their mind.

 

 

• Your twitter rants. Being Presidential means having a thick skin and not attacking everyone who disagrees with you. If every President since George Washington responded with the same fervor to every citizen who publicly disagreed with them, they would have barely lasted a day, much less  4 or 8 years as President.
• Your anti abortion stance. Frankly, sir, it is quite scary. You have a wife, daughters and granddaughters. While they are lucky to have the financial support should any potential future pregnancies turn for the worst, there are millions of American women do not have that financial backing. Defunding Planned Parenthood would be disastrous for these women, who use Planned Parenthood for more than abortion.
• Your attacks on the press. Freedom of Press is one of the cornerstones of our country and our democracy. We have the right to use the press to openly disagree with our leaders.
• Your anti-immigration policy. Unless you are Native American, you are an immigrant. Someone in your family at some point in history made the decision to leave the land of their birth and take their chances in America. America is made of immigrants. Your statements, frankly scared many people, myself included.

That sir, is the end of this online conversation. You will be President, I wish you luck.

This Has To Stop

It’s a sad day in America when mass shooting by private citizens are every day news.

Last week it was the shooting at the Planned Parenthood location in Colorado.

Today, it was the shooting in San Bernardino.

This has to stop, here and now.

I completely understand that the right to bear arms is part and parcel of the Constitution. However, that was another era.

We need to regulate guns in this country. We need to make sure that every person who wishes to purchase a gun does it legally and has the mental capacity to utilize it properly.

We also need to make sure that those who suffer from mental illness receive the treatment that they need.

I am tired of writing and hearing about the loss of innocent lives to unnecessary gun violence in this country.

This has to stop.

 

Planned Parenthood

In the latest news, in case you have not heard, the Republicans are looking to defund Planned Parenthood.

In their misguided attempt to stop abortion (which is legal and none of their business,) they are hurting millions of citizens who rely on Planned Parenthood for valuable medical assistance.

I could go on, but I will let Elizabeth Warren take over.

We have more important issues to deal with in this country. Fighting over something so personal as a woman’s right (which it is, at the end of the day) to make her own decisions about her life and her body is a waste of energy and time.