Too bad you are a girl....

As a female, part of the growing up process was going the "lady doctor", as my grandfather called it, and being checked out yearly.  During one of these visits, I disclosed to my doctor how painful my cramps had become each month.  The solution was to start taking birth control to help regulate my hormones and to put my cycle on a predictable schedule.  I am not sure how it worked, but my cramps eased considerably.  I don't remember there ever being an issue.  No one was outraged.  My grandfather was a little alarmed at first, but after explanation, shrugged and said he would pick them up.  I was not a slut.  The actual pills had nothing at all to do with sexual activity for another 8 years!! It is amazing to me how men in this country take it upon themselves to insert their "expertise" of women's issues and make it worthy of national debate.  Don't we have soldiers dying in Afghanistan and Iraq?  Don't we have hundreds of thousands of homeless Americans?  Aren't the school systems circling the drain?  Why is it that these men in power, the ones that can affect the system, worried so much about what women do with our bodies?  Do they not trust us to think for ourselves?  What can happen when a woman thinks too much?  Maybe a woman could affect the change that is needed on this planet because, obviously, a man ain't getting it done!

It has gone so far that there is now legislation regarding what employers offer in way of insurance coverage for contraception.  Are you kidding me?  So, if I work for a company that has religious affiliation, they can refuse to allow me access through the insurance provided by them?   Then, I make a phone call to the actual insurance company and then they have to provide me with the contraception coverage at no additional cost?  What did we just do here?  What purpose does this actually serve?  It is wasteful of time and resources, and just plain stupid.

In reading an article about Georgia passing HB 437, I actually laughed out loud!  This bill makes it illegal for a doctor to perform an abortion after 20 weeks gestation except in "medically futile" cases;  profound and "irremediable" anomalies that would be "incompatible with sustaining life after birth."  If a doctor does, he/she could be charged with a felony and given a 10 year prison sentence.  There is no stipulation for rape or incest.  But, what made me laugh is this sentence, ”Senate Bill 469, which began as a bill to prevent union-connected picketing in front of the homes of executives involved in union disputes, had the picketing provisions stripped out of it the last night over fears of writing unconstitutional laws."   The guys were more worried about trampling on the civil liberties of people picketing in front of union officials than they are of doctors helping rape or incest victims or even a woman carrying a baby with no chance at having a life other than breathing.

It is crazy to me the priorities of this country.  Maybe we should stop worrying about what "she” is doing and start worrying more about what I am doing to make this world a better place.  Maybe start making decisions to help the greater good than worry about what is going in the house next door.  To each his own, and to you, freedom to find your own.

Who needs Biology??

     Sara DeHart has written an article describing how the Republicans against women's reproductive rights have obviously missed Biology class on the day that they went over reproductive organs and processes in class.  Ms.DeHart is an associate professor at Emeritus University of Minnesota School of Nursing, as well as a visiting scholar at the University of Washington.  She frequently writes articles about public health and is considered an expert in her field.
     She is writing to inform people of the misnomers the Republicans would like for you to believe.  She also feels that they are ignorant of the way women's bodies work, as well as men's bodies, for that matter!  She feels that knowledge will help people to know that reproductive rights are not just for people to go out and have rampant orgies or to become sluts or whatever Rush Limbaugh is calling women this week, but that birth control and women's health is something that insurance should help cover.  There are many issues that birth control helps with including regulating cycles and balancing hormone production.     She mentions that it is sad that this bill was defeated by only four votes.  She feels that the entire House needs a Biology 101 class to understand how a female body works.  Then, maybe they would understand that it is not about sex or reproduction.  It is about a woman's health.  Dr.DeHart mentions that if the bill had passed, the future of a company's employee health coverage would be decided by the sitting CEO.  So, if the CEO is a Jehova's Witness, this CEO could stipulate that the company insurance coverage would not cover blood transfusions or even blood donation since it is against Jehova faith to do these things.  Or, if the CEO is of the Catholic faith, as an Archbishop, he could stipulate provisions that prohibit any type of hormonal therapy or other device to prevent pregnancy, even if it was prescribed to prevent another health problem.
     Dr.DeHart goes on to explain other issues that birth control pills help to control as well as a little of the history of the pill and its inclusion in the Catholic community. I think the doctor is absolutely right and it is ridiculous to think that men are trying to regulate what a woman does with her body sexually or otherwise.  It seems to me that more research should have been done before this bill went to vote.  At least this has nothing to do with party affiliation.  They are equal opportunity offenders and it is sickening in this day and age, after so many women have fought for equal rights and the right to choose how they take care of their bodies, that these ignorant, arrogant men stroll in and try to make laws regarding my healthcare.  It is almost laughable if it weren't so offensive.