I AM WOMAN...HEAR ME ROAR!

You know I don't take to my soapbox too often.  Not often enough, actually.  Yet here I am.  And for starters, you are "listening" to a woman who is Pro Life AND Pro Choice.

I have been appalled at efforts of male-dominated legislative bodies to formulate laws that would return women's rights to the dark ages:  barefoot, pregnant and tied to the bedstead; to formulate draconian laws that intrude on female reproductive rights, to limit access to birth control, to defund Planned Parenthood, and the craziest of crazy, to establish personhood rights for a fertilized egg.   2011 was an exciting year indeed!  And it's not over yet.

For me, the most galling, deceptive piece of fiction in today's media is the campaign by uber-right wing activists to deny Planned Parenthood any federal money because performing abortions is one of the many services it offers.  They have attempted to paint  Planned Parenthood as an abortion factory and, therefore, none of your tax dollars should be available to that organization.

HELLOOOOO...NO federal money has been used by Planned Parenthood for abortions.  EVER.  NONE.  ZILCH.  NADA!  Use of federal funds in the performance of abortions by ANY person or organization has been illegal since the establishment of the Hyde Amendment in 19SEVENTY-SIX for dog's sake!

Whew!  I'm getting really steamed.  A rational summary of these issues can be found in Salon.com's article "Susan G. Komen's Priceless Gift," "a radical decision woke the country up ... and gave new life to women's health advocacy."

Spread the word.  Please.

http://www.salon.com/2012/02/04/susan_g_komen’s_priceless_gift/

Thanks for listening.