Lisa E's new ad
Feb. 15th, 2011 02:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
flippetLisa Edelstein has just worked with MoveOn to create this ad, opposing the Republicans' attack on a woman's right to choose.
For this ad to be put on television nationally, so the maximum number of people can see it, MoveOn needs to raise $160,000.
You can donate here.
This is more important than ever with news like this coming out: South Dakota Moves to Legalize Killing Abortion Providers.
This is an all-out war on women, and those who would dare to care for and protect them.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-15 08:13 pm (UTC)Also, if this kind of oppression of women happened in a, say, Muslim country, wouldn't there be a lot of jumping up and down and complaining about lack of human rights and equality and such like?
It's the hypocrisy that gets me most.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-15 09:10 pm (UTC)I don't know how much good it would do? Because what good is the 'counseling' if you still can't get the abortion that you want? It's all nice and good to say 'an abortion will not cause breast cancer, will not affect your future fertility, etc, etc' - but you're walking out the door with the same problem you walked in with, and no real assistance in taking care of it.
Also, if this kind of oppression of women happened in a, say, Muslim country, wouldn't there be a lot of jumping up and down and complaining about lack of human rights and equality and such like?
Well, but we've lost control of the framing of the argument.
When you see articles like the one I linked to above, it becomes plainer and plainer that what it's really about is oppressing women. They want to take away contraceptives, and some even want to make in-vitro fertilization illegal. *In-vitro fertilization*. Apparently babies should only be made by sticking Tab A into Slot B. (I really think men are incensed that their dicks can be taken out of the equation.)
But anyway - they started with abortion, and framed it as 'saving babies'. Because who wouldn't want to 'save' a cute, cuddly baby? Then you gloss over human biology, and the harsh, cold reality of many situations, and you've got people voting against their own interests.
I'm terrified that too many people won't see this for what it is, until it's too late.
And *where* are the teachers? The people who could explain that when you give women control over their own reproductive health and fertility, the standard of living goes up for EVERYONE? This is being shown over and over in the rest of the world. But over here, it's a race to the bottom, for sure.
Reproduction is *power*, and it scares the living shit out of men. So their aim is to take control of that away.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-15 09:26 pm (UTC)Because if it's a half decent counseling centre, the "mandatory" counseling will be something along the lines of "we know you're having a tough time and this isn't easy, but we are here to help you now and later". The counseling doesn't have to be "you're gonna burn in hell for all eternity".
The 72 hour thing is the worst part, because, as they say, some women have to take long journeys to get to these places. If the rules say you have to see a doctor and get counseling, they could at least have the supportive doctor and supportive counseling in adjoining rooms and then schedule the procedure.
The whole pro-life v pro-choice black & white view of the world annoys me somewhat. I'm in favour of a woman's right to choose, but I also think that taking control of her own reproductive health is something all women MUST do. Having an abortion shouldn't be just another method of contraception, it should be the absolute last resort in cases of rape, injury, illness or - if absolutely necessary - failure of another form of correctly used contraception.
You're right about the men wanting to be in charge. Let's try a few castrations to counter act the need for so many abortions!
no subject
Date: 2011-02-15 09:46 pm (UTC)Certainly. But the cards are stacked against us, here.
We don't get good (or any) sex/reproductive education.
Some lawmakers are trying to eliminate access to contraception, period.
Even when you, in theory, can get contraception - many insurance companies won't cover it, or will only cover specific kinds (that may or may not work for you). And the stuff is expensive.
Sure, condoms are relatively cheap. But how many women want to consistently use a condom when having sex with their husband? And how many husbands are down with that idea as well? (The majority of abortions sought are by married women who already have at least one child.)
Lawmakers are currently trying to redefine 'rape' to mean 'forcible rape' - so, if you said no, but you didn't get the shit beat out of you? Not rape, no abortion for you.
Lawmakers are also trying to allow hospitals to refuse to perform abortions, even when the life of the mother is at stake. Oh, you'll die? Too bad, shouldn't have opened your legs, dearie - even if they were forced open, even this was a wanted pregnancy that went horribly wrong.
But that goes right along with allowing pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for contraception, because it goes against their 'beliefs'.
Women are in the firing line, here, and it's not at all black and white.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-15 10:18 pm (UTC)I have no idea what sex ed is like here these days, but we got bugger all. I think it's improved, but the kids still take no notice of it.