The Family Research Councis at it again. With each new tactic they try, I am convinced that they have finally reached the depths of "low", but with the next gambit they seem to dig deeper and deeper. Frankly I'm waiting for them to dig through to China, or better yet burn their arses as the main course of a hell feasting barbacue at the earth's core. Though not a woman, I have seen often first hand the struggles women face with regards to reproductive health issues and their body, along with the incidious attempts by so called "pro-life" organizations who care nothing about the life of a woman or the infant. Most members of the pro life movement claim their stance is based in Christian faith, but as with all right wingnut groups it is manifested through extortion, control, intimidation, and personal attacks. None of which is condonned in the bible or in the teachings of Jesus.
Follow my story after the fold please.
First a little background about myself. Many who have read my comments
might recall I worked in corrections before becoming a nurse for many years. I worked as a counselor, psychologist and finally as a midlevel corrections administrator. When I left, my last day being 12/31/1991 I was determined to start a new life for myself after 14 years of internal power struggles that prevented anything meaningful from ever getting accomplished. For yen years I worked with incarcerated maximum security males, after a major medical operations I had (multi organ transplant surgery) I was transferred to the women’s side of the prison service and finished out my last 4 years as head of treatment for all of Virginia's incarcerated female felons.
It was there that I rediscovered the value of therapeutic intervention, and saw how it could beneficially change and assist the offender in returning to society. Most of the prison population (approx. 85%) consisted of single mothers who had substance abuse problems and found themselves involved in unhealthy relationships where they were often used, duped into taking the fall for or with their male counterpart, many times because of a promise made to help raise and care for the children. Needless to say those promises and the commitment to the children were as hollow as the drug induced altered realities these individuals experienced. Often children were given into foster care to strangers, while many of the one's who had family members willing to care for the child were already at the bottom of the economic rung.
In talking with the woman, many related they had no access to birth control, many were unaware of all the options available to them in birth control, while others didn't know how to use the contraceptive devices available to them (those most often being condoms). Condom use was especially important with the rapid increase in the spread of HIV/AIDS. A large proportion of the women regretted "accidentally" bringing a child into this world where the mother was unable to care or provide for the child, and that infant had no chance at adoption because of the mother's life style and the child's pedigree for lack of a better word. Then of course there were those women who child was the result of either rape or incest. That was a very high number.
What prompted this diary was a story today in the Wall Street Journal about pro life groups coordinated by this Family Research Council who once again realize with the election of Obama that Roe v. Wade will stand, and hopefully be strengthened, along with the abolition of abstinence only sex education, federal funding to centers that provide abortion, contraception and women’s reproductive health and education. Planned Parenthood being the largest of these service providers has once again become their target, but this time on the state and local level.
Their goal is to convince state and local politicians to cut state contributions to Planned Parenthood, which makes up about one third of the organization's annual operating budget. Their tactic lies and distortions of economic facts about Planned Parenthood's so called "wealth". Last year it appears was a good year for PP in contributions and they ended the year with a surplus (cool, that shows the American public is sick of the crap pulled by pro lifers). PP is using that money to rebuild and refurbish some of their clinics, and build a few modern clinics targeting middle class neighborhoods, which with the current economic mess will have many women who have lost their health insurance needing the services PP provides.
With a Democratic president soon to take office, "we're very limited as to what we can do" on a federal level, said Thomas McClusky, vice president for government affairs at the Family Research Council. "But on the local level, there are a lot of victories to be had." The group has been courting elected officials who they think would be receptive in states including Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and Kentucky.
Regional executives of Planned Parenthood say the campaign misleads legislators about the state of the nonprofit's finances. The chapter in Sarasota, for instance, is wrapping up a $12 million fund-raising drive to build a new flagship building and three clinics.
"Our audits look pretty fat and they've used that against us," said Barbara Zdravecky, chief executive of the chapter, which covers southwest and central Florida. But operating revenue is down, Ms. Zdravecky said, and the chapter is running at a deficit.
The bottom line is by cutting off the state and local funding, it will cost taxpayers more in the end, and of course deny women the right to choose and get needed healthcare. There is another thought about this too, that may on the surface sound cold and harsh, but if you look past the surface it is a real concern. First of all these organizations that try to prevent women from choosing their own future while claiming they will offer alternatives should the mother have the baby often turn certain moms away. They will claim they are unable to provide services to all, but then they leave both mother and infant abandoned. Mom often returns to her old ways leaving the baby unattended, or in the hands of someone who is abusive in every imaginable way. The child is left on it's own in poverty with little to no opportunities, and often end up dead either by their own hand or the violence of their environment.
To these groups that promote this life upon an innocent child I truly feel nothing but contempt, and I am being kind here. I fail to see how anyone promoting so called "Christian ideals" could sentence a child to life made up of deprivation, misery, abuse, pain and torture. Let's not the pain and anguish the mother must face as well. It is great and the only two suicides I saw in my four year tenure were due to the incarcerated mom finding out their child left in the care of someone else died, in one case after being horribly sexually abused for the two years mom was incarcerated. To me, such organizations do not know the meaning of being "pro", which by definition means to "advocate", or "life" which should be celebrated.
I ask all Kossacks to help Planned Parenthood in three ways, or even just one. Keep an eye out on your state and local politicians whom these so called "Christian" groups approach to cut off funding to PP. Let those officials know that the Family Research Council does not represent the views of main stream America and there will be consequences to supporting their lies. Donate, help secure funding to ensure women not only have an advocate for their health, but a place to go should they need these services. To donate go here.. Finally, if you have time volunteer, become educated on the issues and help someone make an informed decision. Guy's, believe it or not, woman truly do appreciate our support and having a chance to see a "responsible" male role figure. You can have a very big impact in someone's life that will be very rewarding.