In recent campaign speeches, the republican candidate for president, Senator John McCain, has emphasized his goal of protecting what he calls the “rights of the unborn.” It is in fact his goal to curtail and ultimately eliminate the reproductive rights of women in America. Senator McCain has repeatedly expressed support for a total ban on abortion and explicitly condemned any sort of exception for dangers to the health of the mother. He has also stated publicly that he is opposed to birth control being covered by medical insurance prescription drug plans, but is in favor of Viagra being covered. While this is no doubt a clear example of the influence of a powerful Washington lobby at work, the underlying motivations are undeniably sexist. The thunderous rounds of applause with which Senator McCain’s remarks were received are a clear indicator of the threat posed to women’s rights by Senator McCain and other conservatives in congress, but the underlying issue is not one of partisan politics, but of firmly entrenched, systemic sexism in America. The fact is, women’s reproductive rights are being threatened, and steadily eroded, by a legislative body overwhelmingly comprised of men. There’s something seriously wrong with that. I myself have very strong opinions on matters of female reproductive rights, but I firmly believe that I have no right to engage in the debate. I’m not qualified to weigh in on the subject. No man is. Simply put, as someone who does not possess a uterus, a man is utterly incapable of comprehending the physical and emotional complexities involved in decisions pertaining to such matters, and any man would be indescribably arrogant to assume otherwise. So until congress is comprised of a majority of female representatives, it should refrain from passing legislation that does anything but protect women’s rights to make their own decisions regarding their health.
-Numbereight
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4 comments:
Viagra is covered but not birth control...give me a break. I think that it would be beneficial for birth control to be covered because that may decrease unwanted preganancies.
It is refreshing to hear someone talk about reproductive rights--as an issue, it seems to have passed out of vogue, for both Republicans and Democrats. To be fair, Democrats too have been chipping away at Roe vs. Wade, but for different reasons: they see it as a distraction and a lost cause and thus worth giving over small portions. It is such a tricky subject, people generally want to avoid it, particularly during an election year. McCain needs to talk about it because he is viewed as too left for the culturally conservative--more of an old Republican than a neo-Con, McCain must convince his most conservative base--like the religious right, outspokenly opposed to reproductive rights--that he will continue to stand with the "Right to Life" group.
Apart from politics, though, the issue is fundamentally misogynist, number eight, and you are right to point that out. If men's bodies were in question, regardless of the life/death/murky consequences, this would not be on the table.
Thanks for wading in to the difficult topic.
I really liked your article, Numbereight. I liked your comment that "until congress is comprised of a majority of female representatives, it should refrain from passing legislation that does anything but protect women’s rights to make their own decisions regarding their health." That's a good point, and I see what you're saying, but I would hope that both sexes will one day be equally represented in Congress, though some decisions (especially regarding abortion) might have to be left a bit more up to the women to vote on. Men of course are entitled to an opinion on the issue, and I think they should deserve some say in what happens. We need to come to some sort of agreement! It's a little frustrating that for every issue, the nation as a whole is divided almost half and half (can't we agree on anything?). People don't seem to be very willing to compromise, and understandably some issues shouldn't reach a compromise. But I guess that's sort of the problem isn't it? There are too many "other factors" that need to be taken into account. It's hard to just make it black and white without any gray in between. There always are exceptions that can support both sides of an argument.
-Scrappy
I am outraged that Mccain has the balls to declare such a thing as the right to distribute viagra and denying women's rights of aborted pregnancy. The issue of abortion hits many soft spots because it is between who really deserves it and who is getting a quick fix to a one-night stand. Because people DO get raped and people DO make mistakes in their lives they don't need to be denied the CHOICE of aborting their child. The whole point of abortion, for me anyway, is to actually relieve not just the mother with the huge reponsibility of bringing a child into the world when they are not ready, but also relieves society because when in that situation when you can't support or take care of yourself how in the hell are you going to support a mini-me 24/7? Thats when the taxpayers have to step in and take care of unfit mothers and their children when they didn't want to be in that situation in the first place. What a dick. You can't deny woman the choice to have abortions and at the same time prep your men in the sand bags with viagra that will just increase pregnancies. I want to punch him where it hurts, hopefully right after he takes his viagra.
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