Palin: One Woman Forward, All Women Back

It's heart wrenching to me that in this day and age, the human rights eloquence of a woman's right to choose still isn't fully embraced by the very gender it serves.

The right to choose is so fundamentally simple in its respect of each person's ability to protect and live within their personal and religious beliefs, that I cannot get my mind around how anyone could argue against it as a solution that gives evenly to both sides.

Women only stand to gain with a Pro-Choice platform. But with the likelihood of two or three seats on the Supreme Court becoming available during this next administration, the Roe v Wade ruling we take for granted might become even more at risk of the incremental legal erosion that's worn it down over the last eight years.

In my 20 years as a therapist, I haven't seen one woman who used abortion as birth control. But I have seen many, many lives crippled by dreadful parenting, on all socioeconomic levels.

From the foster care child routinely stripped naked, beaten and hung upside down in a closet for not performing oral sex well enough on his foster-father, to the independently wealthy child left to be sexually abused by others and physically and emotionally abused by her parents at home, the ability to parent isn't something that's inherent in parenting.

In the most dire situations, becoming a parent doesn't magically create functioning, mental health, or love where there was no capacity for those qualities to begin with. And even in situations when this crossroad is reached by women and men who are far healthier, every child still deserves to come into the world to parents who are ready to assume a life long responsibility to nurture.

When our orphanages are empty; when there's no need for foster care; when women earn one full dollar on the male dollar; when there is no incest, rape, physical or emotional abuse; when an order of protection leads directly to appropriate arrest and sentencing; when there is no such thing as a dead beat dad,; when quality healthcare is available to all; when maternity and paternity leaves are guaranteed; when excellent childcare for working parents is easily procured; when all of our public schools are strong and safe; and when female sexuality is embraced as a component of humanity ...even then women should have the right to choose. Our country could take far better care of the children it already has.

Ultimately, these aren't only the concerns of women. These are the problems of our society because they're issues of human and civil rights.

I can't understand a politician who doesn't safeguard the quality of life. It makes no difference if it's a man or a woman. It doesn't make sense for one woman to win if all of us lose.

Comments

[simsteel]

I'm always amazed at politics. republicans say "you need less government in your life,you need to control your own life without government interference " Except when it comes to a woman's right to choose. Or a gay persons choice of marriage.Or what religion you choose to follow. But if you want a gun no one should question you on any level ,strange . Democrats are not perfect either. but they are certainly less hypocritical . And the real truth is most of it is for show . None of them really care. they just pander to who donates the most money. And that"s reality

[GeoRun]

White women appreciate a "mother bear who protects her cubs," as Sarah Palin described herself after being elected governor. She held her baby boy with Downs on the national stage last Wednesday, and encourages her daughter to be a good mother in spite of difficult social circumstances. If only Obama would show such concern for little babies--"I don't want [my daughters] to be punished with a baby"--so he would punish his grandchild with termination by abortion, instead? And he would not require hospitals to care for babies born after a failed abortion attempt, because it would "burden" the mother?

See the facts on FactCheck.org: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/obama_and_infanticide.html
Who is the sheep and who is the wolf?

[GOP4MoreTears]

What exactly don't you understand about *CHOICE*? Who do you think you are to force your Religious ideology onto others?

[GOP4MoreTears]

This is mostly due to (Masochistic (Self-defeating) Personality Disorder) a personality disorder that allows for women to rationalize being abused and dominated in a patriarchal culture.

Gov. Palin has been chosen by Republicans as a mascot,, not for being a strong independent woman, BIG difference.

[MM216]

White women are now flocking to McCain/Palin, according to the latest polls. As a white woman, I am ashamed and shocked how these women can even contemplate rejecting the Democratic platform just because Palin shares certain body parts or a chromosome!

If she wins, I may change my sex! LOL

[Joyce McFadden - Huffpost Blogger]

M4rko: I know. I saw the typo after it was too late! It was my fault, not HuffPost's. I stand before you an embarrassed speller, and hope that readers will forgive me. I'm trying to fix it.

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

The religious who believe the principle of life beginning at conception will always oppose the right to choose, and Gov. Palin vocally claims that position. That women who have suffered the indignities involved in legislation based on religious political consideration would enthusiastically support a woman who is a staunch advocate against their control over their bodies is akin to blacks who support Clarence Thomas.

While it is in my interests to have a black on the Supreme Court, a black who would vote against my interests is never going to have my support. Women who are hungry for a woman to have Executive Branch Power need to look long and hard at Palin's religious and legislative views.

[m4rk0]

all of us "loose"?

[MsCanadian]

I'm with you Joyce. I cannot believe that a woman can be so backward that she doesn't support pro-choice. And it is not simply pro-choice regarding pregnancy, but all aspects of life. I sincerely hope all American women will look at what Palin is really saying and realize that she should stay in Alaska. She certainly is not tolerant or competent enough for the White House and Washington.