22 January 2007

Blog for Choice

Today's the anniversary of Roe V. Wade and we are all supposed to Blog for Choice. Yay. What do you think a raving feminist liberal like me is going to say?

Maybe not what you think.

I hate the abortion controversy. I am done with abortion. I know, it is our precious right, the thing that Must Not Be Taken Away, the thing that we must all fight for no matter what.

My cynical take on it is this: both sides need abortion. Feminism needs abortion as a rallying cry because it is quick and easy to get people riled up about. One simple issue - yes or no.

And the Right needs abortion, LOVES abortion, because it keeps strong women's energy focused on this one tiny issue and away from the important everyday stuff that would affect women in a bigger way - equal pay, health care, child care, the disappearance of the middle class.

Nobody is going to outlaw abortion. They aren't even going to restrict it very much. They're just going to keep talking about doing it. It will be like the Shiny Object the magician waves in front of us to keep our attention while he digs playing cards out of his sleeve.

Presto chango, girlies. Over here! Look at abortion! Meanwhile I will be cutting education funding, sending your job to India and taxing healthcare benefits! Ta-da!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

amen.

Anonymous said...

Uh, yup.

You hit the nail on the head, Suebob.

Anonymous said...

But I bought a new T-shirt and lapel pin... Is the parade cancelled too?

Anonymous said...

Suebob for President!

Major Bedhead said...

Excellent point, Suebob. I do think it's an important issue, but it's not THE important issue. It's not THE litmus test, it's just one of many.

LittlePea said...

Hmm-you're right about that. It's easy to get people screaming about an issue like that.

super des said...

This is why we have to be EXTRA aware!

Anonymous said...

Stop distracting everyone from the real issue, which is equal rights for rabbits. WON'T SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE RABBITS?

Mom101 said...

I agree with this entirely until you look at the actual measures that have been taken in the last 6 years or so that have totally restricted access to abortions. So maybe women with certain education and means in major metro areas don't feel it...but try living in South Dakota, or somewhere where your only pharmacist for 100 miles is a Walmart guy who's decided it's against his religion not to give you a morning after pill and the court has upheld that right.

I'm a bit fearful that taking it all for granted is exactly the wrong thing to do...but it is hopeful in a backhanded sort of way!

Meanwhile, if you haven't seen Citizen Ruth, you must. It's about this very thing. Dark, brilliant, and sickly wonderful.

meno said...

Well said!
And if this issue loses its punch, there are always gay people to rant about and distract voters.

QT said...

I agree with you 75%. I worry that the only reason I feel this way is because people have been vigilant up to this point.

Will it get taken away in one fell swoop? Doubt it. But the right sure does like to chip away at it.

Anonymous said...

I'm with mom101 and qt - it may not be overturned in full for the exact reasons you cite (people need it to rally their side), but it is not accessible for most women. 87% of counties in the US have no abortion provider, and federal Medicaid has not covered the procedure for 30 years, making it unaffordable for low income women in 33 states. Add in parent notifications, 24 hour waiting periods, travel time to get to a clinic, and other barricades, abortion is no more accessible today for many women than it was before Roe. And they keep chipping away at it.

The legal right to abortion is utterly meaningless if a woman can't obtain one when and where she needs it.

Anonymous said...

The next Supreme Court appointee may be your last ... I'd say Roe, the hodgepodge work of a deeply divided court, is one appointee away from being overturned, leaving it to the states to figure it out for themselves. And if you thought we were a polarized nation now, just wait until THAT happens ...

Anonymous said...

Brilliant and poignant.
Thank you for posting this.

Anonymous said...

amen sister. I couldn't (and didn't) have said it better myself.

Anonymous said...

Both sides do need to stay at the extremes for self-perpetuation, and most people fall somewhere in the middle. But the right IS threatened, by state lawmakers and federal judicial appointees, and Suzanne is right on that it is the poorest women who will suffer the most.

Skye @ Planet Jinxatron said...

"Nobody is going to outlaw abortion. They aren't even going to restrict it very much."

Unless you're under 18 and/or live in my home state of Texas, in which case even Democrats voted to restrict it just two years ago.

Skye @ Planet Jinxatron said...

I guess I didn't really mean and/or there. I meant "in Texas, and especially if you're in Texas and under 18."

Hey, it's late at night for me...

Anonymous said...

Brilliant.

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