Fighting for the Right to Choose

If it's wanted, it's a child. If not, it's just tissue.

Personally, I think society would be better served by "fighting" for widespread education on prevention and responsibility rather than fighting for more widespread abortion. They're already legal and routinely available. But isn't it better to teach our kids to avoid problems and be responsible for themselves rather than simply flushing whatever "minor annoyances" come their way?


I'm not talking about abstinence only education. Our kids needs every tool available to protect themselves from a host of dangers, complications and life changing situations. While abstinence is the only sure way, it's unrealistic to expect that of everyone. They need a wide range approach. To be prepared, they need to understand all the risks, all the ways to protect themselves and be instilled with a sense of responsibility for their actions.

Simply fighting for greater acceptance of abortion isn't a solution. It's a cheap excuse to relieve us all of responsibility. There's a tendency in our culture to dispose of our problems rather than manage them. We throw away marriage, family, children, friendships, financial and legal obligations, jobs, anything that might take extra effort. Trouble is, we don't learn anything and we end up losing out on the things that can bring the most joy into our lives, all for the sake of convenience.

Nowadays, with all we understand about HIV/AIDS, std's, etc, it's more important than ever to think before we act. If you don't want to be at risk for pregnancy or other things, it's very easy to prevent them. We're not mindless animals who must have unprotected sex at every opportunity.

Yes, there are situations where abortion should be considered. But it must never be touted as the normal form of birth control when there are so many things we could have done to prevent it. Whether you consider a fetus tissue or a child, wouldn't it make sense to prevent it from forming rather than having to rip it out afterwards?


This is in response to an article on Huffington Post by Frances Kissling, "The Best Candidate For Choice." She describes her many years of fighting for the right to choose, and how it applies to the current presidential candidates.

The Best Candidate For Choice

Celebrating Our Differences Into The Toilet

Clarence B. Jones wrote an article for Huffington Post. Clinton vs. Obama: Lest We Forget
He discussed the racial overtones that have been needlessly injected into the battle for the nomination for president, as well as a perceived struggle between race and sex discrimination. He talked about the life's message of Martin Luther King, Jr, his impact on us all and how we should be continuing in the path of tolerance and understanding.

Here are a few of my own thoughts...

It's too bad we even have to have this discussion. Many have devoted and even sacrificed their lives to make this a better country. We stand in their shadow and reap the rewards, yet we wear their suffering on our sleeves as if it were our own. Some are quick to offend and others take offense easily. The rest of us range from simple voyeurs to tag team slugging partners. Whether racist, sexist, religious or any other form, bias is ugly.

It shows up in many ways, too. Outright discrimination and abuse, crude jokes, slanderous speech, insensitivity, indifference. But also crying race as a tactic, harboring resentment for things that didn't happen to us personally, overgeneralizing and even celebrating one's race or working to advance one against another.

As long as we tolerate bias, we'll always be "us vs them." Instead of focusing on color, ethnicity, sex, lifestyle or other differences we should be working together to be better neighbors, citizens, Americans.

Beautiful walls are made by blending hues, not by throwing on colors that compete for attention. Our country is a grand melting pot. We can come together in a fine way, or continue to promote our differences as uneasy tenants and enemies. In which case the sacrifices of our forebearers will have been for nothing.

Cults, Religion and Politics

Many are quick to blame all religion for the abuses and crimes of some kooks. Jesus never taught the things they do. They distort the gospel to serve their own perverted interests.

But then, we do the same thing politically. Our party system makes enemies of us all. The Constitution was designed to ensure our rights, freedoms and help us work together as citizens. Yet politicians abuse it for their own gain and we end up hating each other along party lines.
Parties are a lot like cults. We pay homage to flawed leaders, follow and defend policies that serve special interests and benifit mainly the elite. And we mistrust and spew venom at anyone who marches to a different drummer.

The problems aren't caused by faith in either the Constitution or the Savior. But rather in "radical clerics" of whatever flavor. And in our tendency to be an us vs. them society. People who are quick to criticize but apathetic about extending a hand. Sad!



This was submitted to Huffington Post as a response to anti-religious comments after an article about cults.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mona-ackerman/when-a-loved-one-joins-a-_b_78302.html

Beauty

Recently a study showed a higher rate of suicide among women who had breast augmentation surgery. Some of the responses to the article at Huffington Post talked a lot about insecurities and depression, but little about why.

We've created a society where women would rather be cut open and mutilated than learn to be comfortable with themselves. Where self esteem comes from a knife and a bottle instead of from within. Where we tell them they must look anorexic, but with disproportionate breasts and plaster faces. Where if they look natural and age normally they're ugly and somehow less valuable. And if they commit suicide they must be flawed.

The flaw isn't so much in the tortured soul as it is the sick machine that causes the pain in the first place. The fashion industry. Hollywood. Advertising. Television. Cosmetic medicine. And a gullible public that has come to believe their propaganda.

We were outraged when the truth came out about the tobacco industry and how they lied. We tried to make them responsible for the deaths they caused. Yet we are silent when our daughters suffer and die from eating disorders. When women jeopardize their health with fad diets and pills. When we spend many millions every year so doctors can inject poison in our faces and other, more brutal procedures so we can look the way we're told we must look.

Real beauty can't be painted on or carved into the skin. It doesn't come from a syringe. No amount of cutting or stretching can create it. It comes from within. It shines from a smile. It twinkles in the eyes. It radiates from a woman who knows & likes herself, and as a result can love others. It comes from the joy of serving others. From loving and being loved. From appreciating happiness after enduring sorrow. It's a reflection of the eyes of her children.

I've seen plenty of real beauty in women who society would consider plain or even disfigured. I rarely, if ever, see it in those who are obsessed with their looks. If you think about it seriously, I bet you'll agree.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/08/08/study-women-with-breast-_n_59719.html

"Do-Something Democrats"

Senator Kennedy recently wrote an article at Huffington Post. First he decried the Republicans for being the do-nothing congress. Then he applauded the Dems, calling them the "Do_Something Democrats." As proof, he touted himself for "dramatically reforming our education financing system" by introducing legislation to reduce student loan interest rates.

Making a decent education more affordable is a good thing. And I'm glad at least someone thinks members of congress can accomplish anything!

But I think it's a little early for that moniker, Mr. Kennedy. Your party took control of congress with grandios promises to make sweeping changes in the first 100 hours. Paramount on that list was ending the war in Iraq and raising the ethics bar in Washington. After all the negative screeching about Pres. Bush and his "lies and illegal war", all you could come up with was a SYMBOLIC statement against escalating the battle. How pathetic is that? Where is the bitter resolve we've been listening to for years?

And the ethics reform? A couple of small hoops for lobbyists to tiptoe through as they do their influence peddling dance around the halls of congress. What about ending the lobby entirely? What about making members of congress responsible for their actions?

How do you and the others in the new-improved legislature sleep at night? You make non-binding statements and minor changes to make yourself look good, and all the while you continue to pad your wallets with corporate money and turn your backs on your constituents and the young people dying overseas. Each time you pat yourselves on the back it makes a distictly hollow sound!

Do you really want to accomplish something? Get everybody together and put a stop to the war. Then permanently end the lobby and make profound ethical changes. Then put a stranglehold on corporate oil, drugs and tobacco. Do that, and you'll have the whole country behind you to accomplish all the other things we desperately need.

Ethics and Lobby Reform in Washington

Today there's talk of a new ethics reform package in Congress. Democrats want to make some changes so they'll look better than Republicans, but they argue about just how far to take it. Seems no one in Washington is very eager to empty the vast lake of money, influence and perks available to them. They want to put a little damper on the lobbies. That's like saying "Influence peddling is a big deal to us, but we want to make it less obvious for appearance sake."

Here's what I think must be included in an ethics reform bill.....

1. Outlaw the lobby. Period!
2. Mandatory term limits
3. No retirement package
4. Standard health care
5. Salary subject to activity. No vote, no check. 50% there, 1/2 check.
6. Liability for ALL criminal activity
7. Pay raises according to min wage and budget deficits.
8. Even, public funded campaigns.

THAT... would be a good start!

Then we can address the many other problems that comprise the sloth machine in our overblown bureaucracy.

Democrats Win The House And Senate

I can't wait until the change is in place with congress. The country will be safe again, the war will end, there will be a full pot on every table, fuel prices will drop, the economy will soar and the whole world will be a beautiful garden. Did you know that a democrat's feces doesn't stink? They all have honesty flowing in their veins. They think only of their neighbors and constituents. They all do an honest days work and they never, ever break the law.

There will be no use for lobbyists because Dems are immune to influence peddling. They refuse to pander to corporations. And they're all staunch environmentalists. The lives of fish and caribou will never again be tainted by the demon crude oil. There will be no unwanted or handicapped children. There will soon be a complete cure for every disease. Pedophelia and spouse abuse will be things of a forgotten past.

And there won't be any need to further reform Congress. Dems are self sufficient. They don't rely on perks, grand salaries, retirement packages or deluxe heath care. They limit their terms of office voluntarily, never vote for their own pay raises, and are totally, fiscally responsible.

Did I mention that a Democrat's crap doesn't stink?