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nashville_brook

(20,958 posts)
32. this is what happened in my life this week, in abortion politics -->
Sun Apr 19, 2015, 02:23 PM
Apr 2015
KILLING US SOFTLY On abortion we’re one compromise away from third world status
The Florida Squeeze
by nashville_brook

http://thefloridasqueeze.com/2015/04/19/killing-us-softly-on-abortion-were-one-compromise-away-from-third-world-status/

This week I traveled to Tallahassee to “tell my abortion story” to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Along with two other women, we went to make women’s voices heard as the fate of the Mandatory Wait Bill (SB 724) was “considered.” 

I put “considered” in scare quotes because we all know that there’s no “consideration” in these matters. And, the fact that I was the only one of the three of us who was able to tell my story proves they never intended to deliberate. They hid behind a procedural rule to cut off testimony, because what could women possibly add to a debate that’s already been decided? The suppressed testimony of the two other women can be found below. They had a lot to add, as you’ll learn when you watch these videos, and it’s outrageous that they weren’t permitted to be heard. 

Diane's unheard story:


Barbara's unheard story:



My own testimony focused on the fact that while our stories are different, we share the opinion that we don’t need Tallahassee politicians inserting themselves into our lives to remind us of the seriousness of our decisions. Everyone knows that mandatory wait laws are impediments made in bad faith by snickering opponents of reproductive rights. 

It’s clear to me that the only way to fight back is to step out of the shadows, so let the headlines read “Local Woman Has Abortion 25 Years ago: Still Doesn’t Regret It.”

In the 40-plus years since Roe v. Wade, we’ve lost so much ground that reproductive freedom barely exists anymore, and this threatens our basic human rights as women. I believe that if we don’t put a human face on it we’re ceding another victory to our opposition.

It was a mistake we made in the 90s. We thought that finally having a Democratic president after 12 years of Reagan/Bush meant we could rest easy on this issue of women’s rights. The rising tide would float all boats. We were wrong. 

This is precisely when things went haywire. Political thinkers and Democrats in Congress began asking, “Where can women compromise?” And the answer was ‘late term abortion,’ which is a procedure that’s used only under the most extreme circumstances when the life of mother or child is at stake. People needing this procedure aren’t seeking birth control. They’re fighting for their lives. And yet this seemed a “reasonable” place to cede ground — and it was the camel’s nose under the tent.

Once you abandon the foundational premise that we’re equal members of society with full agency over our healthcare decisions, the forces that desire to “keep us in our place” are empowered on all levels. Forget equal pay, or the right to seek healthcare without discrimination. We’re all “daddy’s little girls” now.

more at link --> http://thefloridasqueeze.com/2015/04/19/killing-us-softly-on-abortion-were-one-compromise-away-from-third-world-status/
Amen and THANK YOU! PeaceNikki Apr 2015 #1
yep, it's rare now in many states and nominally legal, but we have lost cali Apr 2015 #2
i think that people believe we have full rights on this b/c Roe still exists nashville_brook Apr 2015 #6
They have picked the carcass of that decision clean. DirkGently Apr 2015 #9
and when we empower them to do so by hiding behind "message testing" nashville_brook Apr 2015 #12
yes. drives me nuts re duers. cali Apr 2015 #11
we're let down all too often on matters concerning women's rights by fellow DUers nashville_brook Apr 2015 #14
A DUer just called women with kids who have abortions "ignorant". PeaceNikki Apr 2015 #26
wow -- that's what 20+ years of backsliding on this issue has begotten nashville_brook Apr 2015 #33
To the Greatest! merrily Apr 2015 #3
Too many people wrongly assume it is accessible and that freaks me out.... bettyellen Apr 2015 #4
there's conflicting messages. on the 40th anniversary of Roe... nashville_brook Apr 2015 #7
I missed that, interesting. But people tend to think Roe= settled.... bettyellen Apr 2015 #36
lip service = passing laws with no enforcement mechanism + claim victory nashville_brook Apr 2015 #38
It was supposed to be settled, wasn't it? DirkGently Apr 2015 #48
+1 Rollback in too many areas, and most people are oblivious. appalachiablue Apr 2015 #81
Thank you! REP Apr 2015 #5
Amen. "Rare" was a misbegotten concession DirkGently Apr 2015 #8
^^THIS -- it invited the public to obstruct medical care! nashville_brook Apr 2015 #10
The whole third way triangulation needs to GO. haikugal Apr 2015 #44
triangulation... nashville_brook Apr 2015 #79
Beemans! LOL haikugal Apr 2015 #80
Let's not forget the demographics. LeftyMom Apr 2015 #13
so spot on! nashville_brook Apr 2015 #15
THIS ^ x 1,000 DirkGently Apr 2015 #17
equal pay and abortion are two sides of the same coin nashville_brook Apr 2015 #19
Two aspects of CONTEMPT DirkGently Apr 2015 #22
YES TO THIS --> "invented contempt for women's health to keep us from ruling the world" nashville_brook Apr 2015 #34
Good points. I think it might be the rank dishonesty that bothers me the most. MH1 Apr 2015 #20
it's a classic "don't think of an elephant" situation nashville_brook Apr 2015 #74
Thank you for this post. JTFrog Apr 2015 #16
i've been an activist on this issue since high school, and it wasn't until that thread nashville_brook Apr 2015 #18
I like the cut off your jib. PeaceNikki Apr 2015 #23
this is what happened in my life this week, in abortion politics --> nashville_brook Apr 2015 #32
wow, thanks for the link and your fierce advocacy. PeaceNikki Apr 2015 #35
+++ Starry Messenger Apr 2015 #70
true this. we have to deal with individual states and the supreme crt. that is a MUST. seabeyond Apr 2015 #21
+1 nashville_brook Apr 2015 #72
The gop War on Women rolls on like a tidal wave bulldozing everything in its path. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2015 #24
Women are their go-to target. DirkGently Apr 2015 #46
We have got to recognize their millennia-old games and refuse to play. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2015 #83
Did you Vote? dem in texas Apr 2015 #25
are f'n kidding me? did i vote? nashville_brook Apr 2015 #28
We all vote here. Thanks anyway? DirkGently Apr 2015 #29
mobilize and persuade -- get ppl to the polls by actually standing up for us nashville_brook Apr 2015 #73
You can't deal with people who want you dead. Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2015 #27
We seem to keep forgetting that's what they really want. DirkGently Apr 2015 #37
They have a "death to all who oppose us" mindset.... Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2015 #63
Great post. K&R. Luminous Animal Apr 2015 #30
Kick! Heidi Apr 2015 #31
What the hell are you aiming. If you are talking about Hillary calling abortions "rare" and you Thinkingabout Apr 2015 #39
the language of the "rare" abortion is counter-productive per the reasons i set out. nashville_brook Apr 2015 #40
I addressed this in Post #39. RARE as in less unwanted pregnancies. Thinkingabout Apr 2015 #51
"pregnancy after conception" is the only pregnancy i'm familiar with. nashville_brook Apr 2015 #54
Some of us taking issue with this phrase are Hillary supporters. PeaceNikki Apr 2015 #41
+100000 nashville_brook Apr 2015 #49
I am glad to hear there are Hillary supporters. Hillary is not advocating for RW states to make Thinkingabout Apr 2015 #53
this isn't an anti-Hillary sentiment or thread...there's PLENTY of those. nashville_brook Apr 2015 #55
RE Hillary -- here's what i published earlier today. does this sound anti-HRC? nashville_brook Apr 2015 #69
Well, no. Calling for abortion to be "rare" is wrong, whoever says it. DirkGently Apr 2015 #42
i'd also like back surgery to be rare...but that doesn't imply moral hazard nashville_brook Apr 2015 #50
There isn't any comparsion of back surgery and pregnancy. Can a woman who isn't pregnant get an Thinkingabout Apr 2015 #58
so you just refuse to accept there's a value judgement in the "rare" abortion. nashville_brook Apr 2015 #61
You have this turned around and upside down. I accept making abortions rare, a no pregnancy does Thinkingabout Apr 2015 #62
do you accept that women get pregnant even with birth control? nashville_brook Apr 2015 #64
And abortions are in order for these cases. Look I sorta understand ther are "accidents" ergo Thinkingabout Apr 2015 #65
then we "sorta" agree? nashville_brook Apr 2015 #67
What about when a man and woman just get swept away in a moment of passion? PeaceNikki Apr 2015 #68
Precisely! n/t DirkGently Apr 2015 #66
bonerpills for old dudes - those should e rare and go against my religion elehhhhna Apr 2015 #71
Then you just may be wrong headed if you think Hillary was not talking about birth Thinkingabout Apr 2015 #56
so, if women just stopped getting knocked up we wouldn't be having this discussion. nashville_brook Apr 2015 #57
You are slipping off in a ditch. Thinkingabout Apr 2015 #59
well, that's what's implied in the moral hazard of the "rare" abortion. own it. nashville_brook Apr 2015 #60
just this week Oregon DEMOCRATS (super-majority, btw) killed a bill to expand abortion rights. nashville_brook Apr 2015 #52
"Difficult to go public on?" DirkGently Apr 2015 #76
this is exactly what i'm talking about -- it's our job to provide political cover. nashville_brook Apr 2015 #78
Yes, yes, yes....Kudos!! haikugal Apr 2015 #43
and you as well! nashville_brook Apr 2015 #75
K & R!! jen63 Apr 2015 #45
Kick! jen63 Apr 2015 #47
+1000 smirkymonkey Apr 2015 #77
It already IS rare. Just ask a woman in Texas.... Novara Apr 2015 #82
^^this a thousand times! nashville_brook Apr 2015 #84
I think it totally sucks that not very many self-identified males HERE AT DU bullwinkle428 Apr 2015 #85
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