But it's wisdom born of pain...

Today's blog is different and about an important issue that surrounds us today. The "us" in this are women. When a follower and friend let their fellow bloggers know about this day, in early February, it was daunting almost. How to convey the right message, what to write about?

The basic truth is this post could get ugly. We were taught as children in polite conversation, not to discuss religion or politics. There is no way to keep those discussions out

of this. Maybe some of our blog sisters found a way around that. Also, to be frank, this topic is best left to women alone. Men should not or ever be part of

the discussion, except by invitation directly by the woman affected. All women of who can become pregnant have the right to procure birth control, in all its many forms without the expressed permission or consent of any man in her life. (quite a bold statement coming from a consensual slave -- don't you think?) This cannot and NEVER should be considered a privilege -- it is a right for us all.

Reproductive health and sovernty is as improtant as a country protecting their borders. There is a group of people that wish to push women back in time. They believe it's their right to decide how everyone should live their most personal of lives. They wish to insinuate themselves into our doctor's offices and keenly look over the doctor's shoulders into our intermost private parts. They try to argue semantics. But it comes down directly to ONE issue only...it's what their religious morals dictate therefore they are instantly correct and should NEVER be argued with.

Who do we want in control of our reproductive rights? A competent doctor or health care professional or a chuch? Which doctrine do we want followed?

Do we want to go back into time, when the pill was still new and doctors could impose their own moral judgments on their patients? Or the pharmacist who decides based solely on his/her religious belief, a patient should not be allowed to have their prescription filled? What happens when it comes from a pulpit? It does...Daily and they try to impose their views on all of us. They try to cap funding or cut it all together -- we bare witness to the battles in congress.

If you, personally as a woman, make a moral based decscion to leave your reproductive options to your husband, parent, god or your imaginary friend that is your CHOICE. You are choosing to do that. You have no right to force your sisters to do the same, as they are free to decide for themselves as well. You also should not use polital influence to force the issues based solely on a narrow view of what is moral.

We cannot allow our daughters to be forced back to a time where they are subjugated by short sighted laws, based largely on rhetoric. Our daughters instead should be empowered through honesty, given all their options and allowed to decide for themselves which option best serves their needs NOW. Not base the decision on the next 10, 20, or the rest of their lives -- let alone their 'immortal soul!' Yes, the live-for-today attitude is unpopular, but really when we break it down, all we really amount to is a lifetime of todays.

Organizations like Planned Parenthood provide a needed service to our daughters, and to us when we can't afford a proper doctor. Many of us had our first cancer screening at a planned parenthood clinic. The goal might have been to acquire birth control pills or embarrassment for an STD (which ironically, those two services combined make up more than two thirds of the women who enter the doors, while hot topic abortion is responsible for less than three percent)...but for lots of us it was our first experience in the stirrups...

We are lucky they are there...ready to answer questions, educate and most of all to help.

Many of us remained amazed that the very people who are against any type of organized healthcare are also staunchly against Planned Parenthood.

We cannot afford to remain silent and simply acquiesce to their wishes or mandates. We must stand and be counted!

We stand untied for our mothers, our daughters, our sisters...We must stand untied for ourselves.

Song selection: I am woman; Helen Reddy, Ray Burton

I am woman

I am woman, hear me roar

In numbers too big to ignore

And I know too much to go back an' pretend

'cause I've heard it all before

And I've been down there on the floor

No one's ever gonna keep me down again

CHORUS

Oh yes I am wise

But it's wisdom born of pain

Yes, I've paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to, I can do anything

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am woman

You can bend but never break me

'cause it only serves to make me

More determined to achieve my final goal

And I come back even stronger

Not a novice any longer

'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

CHORUS

I am woman watch me grow

See me standing toe to toe

As I spread my lovin' arms across the land

But I'm still an embryo

With a long long way to go

Until I make my brother understand

Oh yes I am wise

But it's wisdom born of pain

Yes, I've paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to I can face anything

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am woman