The age old question

No, I'm not talking about the "meaning of life" however we do come to the answer in the same way, through self reflection. I'm talking about the question of when life begins.

Some folks in Colorado think that this is a question that the state should answer for everyone, I disagree. Considering that philosophers, scientists, clergy, and religions throughout time have never been able to come up with a definitive agreement, it's appalling to me that the anti-choice folks of Colorado think that they should.

Colorado is facing a ballot initiative this year that if passed, would establish that life begins the moment a sperm meets an egg, resulting in a zygote with the full legal rights (independent of the woman) that all (well most) Americans hold. In my opinion, if you believe that a zygote is a full citizen, then that is your right, but it is not your right to push this belief on everyone else in your state. Simple.

But if this ballot initiative were to pass (fingers are crossed for the negative) the consequences are outrageous. This is some of what would be a stake:

• Access to emergency contraception and IUD's for birth control could be illegal.
• Women who have illegal abortions could be charged with murder, and in pro-death penalty states, face the prospect of execution.
• Women wishing to become pregnant using in vitro fertilization could face major barriers, since the process of storing a fertilized egg would be in jeopardy.
• Enactment in Colorado could open flood gates for other states to follow suit.

I'm hoping that this initiative in Colorado is a long shot. Even if it isn't, I would hope that if adopted it wouldn't pass as constitutional in the Supreme Court. But I think we need to be aware of what the anti-choice groups are doing and what they are capable of - and fight back! Because in the face of increasing anti-choice attacks everywhere, your reproductive freedom is at stake.

Friday Blog Highlight

I wanted to highlight a great blog that should be required reading for anyone who spends time thinking and talking about reproductive rights.

abortionclinicdays is a blog that is shares the experiences of two doctors who perform abortions. It gives insight on what these doctors go through day to day and I think it is helpful in dispelling certain myths about abortion providers. These doctors should be applauded for sharing their experiences.

Check out the blog!

I can't imagine seeing anything like THIS in OK!

Manhattan Mini Storage is getting some flack for their billboards, which I just love to death!

A few particular Catholic groups are complaining about them. A lot. In fact, here is what they have to say. One particularly ridiculous quote reads:

"It's trashy and its vulgar and it's in your face with its crudity," Kiera
McCaffrey, of the Catholic League said on Thursday about the Manhattan Mini
Storage billboard.
The Roman Catholic group, a vocal opponent of abortion rights, has been urging
people to complain to the company.

Jessica from Feministing has the best response to this I have seen yet. She says, "You know what's really vulgar? Women dying from illegal abortions."

So the mini storage company is getting a lot of flack, why don't you give them some kudos? You can email or call them - here is their info.

Anti-Woman Quote of the Day

It's Friday, which always makes me happy. But then I see things like this, a quote from anti-choice fundamentalist Richard Land.

"It's not demeaning to assume that any person who is a mother who could make the
decision to do this [have an abortion] must be suffering from some form of psychological impairment because of the crisis of the pregnancy or because of societal demeaning of human life," Land said.

UHG! Yes, yes...woman who exercise their right to chose an abortion MUST be mentally impaired. *shakes head* This quote was contained in an article and post over at Pam's House Blend. Go there to read it in it's entirety. Even though it might be hard to stomach!

Dr. Tiller faces more anti-choice attacks

Dr. George Tiller has pleaded not guilty to 19 misdemeanor charges brought up on him from the state of Kansas. These charges against Dr. Tiller revolve around a (ridiculous) Kansas law which requires that two legally and financially uninvolved physicians sign off on any late-term abortion procedure. The charges against Dr. Tiller allege that he has an improper financial relationship with one of the doctors from whom he regularly receives authorization. As a result, he faces up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine for each charge.

In my opinion (which has no legal background to it) it seems like the legal/financial relationship he is being alleged with having with another doctor could probably be construed by anyone to mean anything. Okay, maybe that is overreaching, but I'm sure it only takes a small stretch of the imagination for anti-choicers to find some way to charge him with this law that almost appears to be on the books specifically for him.

Most people know that Dr. Tiller has been harassed, assaulted, shot at, threatened, and his clinic vandalized many times. He is a frequent target of anti-choice fanatics, but also of anti-choice legislators as well as from Kansas Attorney Generals.

I admire Dr. Tiller, his bravery, and his strength in the face of adversity. He is one of the only late-term abortion providers in the country. He helps women who want their babies make painful decisions and he understands the importance of his work to the women who travel across the country to see him, as well as to their families.

Do you admire him as well? Then let him know. Feministing posted about this today and also gave an address to use for sending your thoughts to him via snail mail. It cost .41 cents to drop a thank you note in the mail. May I suggest that you please do? I am.

WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE SERVICES

5107 East Kellogg

Wichita, Kansas USA 67218

Father Rights for Fetuses - Uhg!

Oh Ohio - have you gone and lost your mind? Feministing blogged about this today and well, it makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.

From Feministing:

Oh this is rich. A group of legislators in Ohio are pushing a bill that would give men a say in whether or not a woman can have an abortion.

"This is important because there are always two parents
and fathers should have a say in the birth or the destruction of that child,"
said [Rep. John] Adams, a Republican from Sidney. "I didn't bring it up to draw
attention to myself or to be controversial. In most cases, when a child is born
the father has financial responsibility for that child, so he should have a
say."

As written, the bill would ban women from seeking an abortion without written consent from the father of the fetus. In cases where the identity of the father is unknown, women would be required to submit a list of possible fathers. The physician would be forced to conduct a paternity test from the provided list and then seek paternal permission to abort.

Written notes? Submitting a list of potential fathers? Sometimes I think that anti-choice folks forget that women are, you know, adults.

But seriously here's the best part of the bill: Claiming to not know the father's identity is not a viable excuse, according to the proposed legislation. Simply put: no father means no abortion.

But wait, it gets even better. Women would be required to present a police report if they want to "prove" that the pregnancy was a result of rape of incest. Because women can't be trusted, obviously.

NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio executive director Kellie Copeland says, "This extreme bill shows just how far some of our state legislators are willing to go to rally a far-right base that is frustrated with the pro-choice gains made in the last election...It is completely out of touch with Ohio's mainstream values. This measure is a clear attack on a woman's freedom and privacy." Not to mention our intelligence.

The text of the bill is here. And if you want to contact Rep. Adams, who is sponsoring the bill, all of his info is here.