News

I am not a huge fan of politics. I can have really strong views on things and find it sometimes hard to have an amicable conversation with someone that is adamantly on the other side of a debate. So, often I keep my mouth shut. However, I have to speak up on this topic. There have been so many “women’s” issue in the news and up for debate lately. My recent blog post is another women’s related issue currently in the news.

I believe in a woman’s right to choice. Especially in a situation where she has been raped. I agree with Cassie in her blog on this topic: “Your body, your decision.” Imagine if women got to decide what happened to men’s bodies? Wow, what a revolution that would bring! I am not sure how many of you are following what has been in the news about the Virginia debates on transvaginal ultrasound. I have found many things pop up online on news sites, blogs, and all over Facebook. I am grateful that the law was passed in Virginia with an amendment that women have to undergo an ultrasound before having an abortion, but it can be an external one.

I wanted to share Cassie’s blog that I think was well written about this topic, a video a friend shared on Facebook, and a Jon Stewart excerpt from The Daily Show.

I urge you to read the above blog link, watch the two videos, and do your own research. Talk about this debate with others. Even if this conversation is not happening in your state, the issue needs to be discussed, as it could move to your state. This Mother Jones article shares more about what is happening on this topic in other states.

A woman should not be required to have a transvaginal ultrasound without a choice.

The recent news regarding the debate about birth control, over whether the government can require Catholic institutions to provide contraceptive services to their employees, has me frustrated and angry. The Obama administration imposed a rule that would have required large Catholic institutions to offer free contraception services as part of insurance coverage for their employees. The panel for this debate was made up solely of men. Regardless of where you stand on this debate on birth control, the biggest question is: “Where are the women?” I keep asking myself this, and continue to read different articles online about this debate. This article from the Baltimore Sun really hits home for me, as well as this article and this article.

Why are there no women on the panel? How can any man, regardless of skin color, social class, etc have more expertise on this subject? Are not women the most knowledgeable about the impacts of birth control on their lives? How is it 2012, and I am even writing this blog? What I cannot get over, and just enrages me are the mentions of Foster Friess (a top financial backer of former Sen. Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign) said: “You know, back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn’t that costly.” He later said it was a joke. SERIOUSLY? Just as the above link starts with: WOW and WTF…that is how I feel. So is Friess an exact replica of all the other men on the panel?

I encourage you to read further on this debate, and speak up. Women should be on that panel, regardless of the side they are on.

Enraged in Portland.