Crimes

Should it be a crime ... Poster
Originally uploaded by Angela Hayden ART GODDESS

Awesome.


Just wanted to post this.

Happy Birthday, Roe!

It's the 35th Anniversary of making abortion safe and legal. Thanks, Roe v. Wade, and happy birthday.

Mothers and Daughters

Since we can comment on other topics, I would like to share my feelings about being away from my daughter at Thanksgiving. Originally, I didn't think I would mind not seeing my daughter on this holiday. After all, Christmas is coming soon and she will be home for a whole week! I look forward to that week and am enjoying thinking and planning things that we can do together. But I still missed my daughter on Thanksgiving.

Moving to Boston was a good move for her. She has a decent job and it enjoying her life there. Most of the time I feel good about the choice she made. But every so often, I get selfish and I want to have my Katie at home with me. I love to take her shopping and buy her things. I cannot do that when we are so far apart. I wanted to go out for dinner tonight, thought of Katie and felt the loneliness of a mother so distant in space from her daughter. Thank goodness we are close in spirit!

Yes my daughter, I would like to continue this blog and post more often.

Whoa

Remember this blog? Mom and I haven't posted here for a LONG time, but I'd like to start doing so again, so here I am!

Lately I've been overwhelmed by the feminist blogosphere. There's just SO much to read. Mom and I are predominately pro-choice bloggers, at least in this space, but there's no reason we can't incorporate some of that other stuff, too. I know it is at least near and dear to my own heart. Anyway, look for more of us!

Who's on First

LEONARD PITTS JR.: Can't handle the truth? Just find a version to your liking
February 14, 2006

This article really made me think. I am a liberal. While writing this statement, I wondered what does the word liberal mean according to the dictionary. What does conservative mean?

Liberal
2 a: marked by generosity: openhanded
b: given or provided in a generous and openhanded way
c: ample; full
3 obsolete: lacking moral restraint: licentious
4: not literal or strict: loose
5: broad-minded; especially: not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms

synonyms: broad-minded, nonconventional, nonorthodox, nontraditional, open-minded, progressive, radical, unconventional, unorthodox
related words: advanced, contemporary, modern; forbearing, indulgent, lenient, permissive, tolerant; extreme; impartial, objective, unbiased
near antonyms: hard, rigid, strict; doctrinal, dogmatic; bigoted, intolerant, narrow-minded; reactionary
antonyms: conservative, conventional, nonprogressive, old-fashioned, orthodox, traditional

Reflection on my interpretation of the word liberal: Open-minded (but only to what I consider like minded liberal ideas); accepting the fact that human beings have the right to determine their own values; people who live in this world will respect other human beings; there are enough resources for all people (if others have resources, it does not mean there is less for me); people have the right to make their own choices; (to be continues as I continue to reflect on this thought).

Conservative:
1: preservative
2 a: of or relating to a philosophy of conservatism
(2): progressive conservative
3 a: tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions: traditional b: marked by moderation or caution

synonyms: old-fashioned, orthodox, reactionary, traditional, unprogressive
related words: conventional; faithful, loyal, steadfast, true-blue
near antonyms: extremist, radical, revolutionary; nonconformist
antonyms: liberal, nonorthodox, nontraditional, progressive, unorthodox

Reflection on my interpretation of the word conservative: Like to keep things static; believe that their way is the only way; closed to new ideas; desire to conserve wealth for themselves; feel comfortable with the status quo.


I realize I am prejudiced against conservatives. When I read the article, Can't handle the truth? Just find a version to your liking, my prejudice became more apparent to me. I have some conservative friends. When they quote Rush Limbaugh to me, I immediately dismiss what they have to say as being biased even though some truth may be weaved into their statements. Yet I listen to Air America Radio, Real Time with Bill Maher, or anyone who has an opinion similar to mine, although I know they favor a "liberal view", I basically give most of what they say extreme credibility.

As Leonard Pitts Jr. states, "Where have you gone, Walter Cronkite?"

"Wherever he went, he apparently took with him the concept that decent people could interpret the same objective, verifiable facts differently and have -- that phrase again -- an honest disagreement about them. Now we have facts created for us according to our politics. Now we have "truth" that belongs in quotation marks.

And the result is predictable, isn't it? We still have plenty of disagreement, but there's nothing honest about it."

This scares me! I realize I am guilty of this too and I don't think that fits in with my definition of a liberal.

Naomi

Bait and Switch

It's been hard for me to post politically charged stuff since the last election. I'm tired of fighting. It's hard to be a liberal -- maybe not in the Blue State I live in, but in America, we get blamed for a lot of thing, and people call us wusses and flip-floppers and all that stuff. I'm tired of people yelling at me because I believe in choice or because I support gay marriage or even because I believe in social programs like welfare or universal health care or something.

But do you get the feeling that we got the bait (Miers) and switch ("Scalito") on the Supreme Court thing, or is that just me?

Finally, a Voice of Reason!

Please check out this post by Bill Shein. It is so right on the money that I can't believe it.

Abortions, behind the scenes.

There is a very moving piece in the NYTimes from Sunday.

More than 25 million Americans have had abortions since the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton in 1973. Often kept secret, even from close friends or family members, the experience cuts across all income levels, religions, races, lifestyles, political parties and marital circumstances. Though abortion rates have been falling since 1990, to their lowest level since the mid-1970's, abortion remains one of the most common surgical procedures for women in America. More than one in five pregnancies end in abortion.

Wow. One in five. I didn't know that.

I don't understand how people can spew vitriol at women who are getting abortions. Of course there will always be irresponsible women who use it as birth control, but reading an article like this, do you really think that the stereotype of the "loose" woman who doesn't give a shit about anything is the norm? Young and scared, old and scared, guilt is everywhere. Guilt and wondering if it was right and so much shame goes around. I don't understand how putting more stigma on it and making it more difficult will do anything but force it back underground.

I wish abortion wasn't necessary -- I wish no woman ever felt she had to get one. I wish that birth control was all 100% effetive. I wish that our society was more supportive of single moms and pregnant kids didn't have a stigma from their friends. But these things are all problems. Abortion doesn't change reality, but it gives women other options. And we need those options.