Abortion Rights are not about Your Feelings

Don't tread on me

They’re about autonomy.

Autonomy for a living, breathing woman to decide–for whatever reason or in whatever circumstances–that she does not want to carry a baby to term.

It doesn’t matter that abortions make you uncomfortable. No one likes abortions. Nor does it matter that it’s against your religion, your personal moral code, or your sense of decency.

If you argue that a woman does not have autonomy over her own body, you are arguing for the oppression of all women by the government–and worse, by your self-righteous moral code. It’s that simple.

And before you start, here are some preemptive reasons why you’re wrong:

  • Life does not begin at conception. An embryo is a collection of cells that is utterly dependent on the mother for its existence.
  • There is no clear line at which life “begins” in the womb. If the fetus is not viable outside the womb, then it is not an individual.
  • If you want to claim that a fetus has the full rights of an individual human, then you must also believe that fetuses should have social security numbers, health insurance, and be included in the tax code as dependents. Let’s go ahead and register them for selective service while we’re at it.
  • If all life is sacred, even in the womb, you would want to support services such as childcare, education, healthcare, and foster care for all of these children you are forcing women to carry to term.
  • A woman is not a vessel for pumping out babies. That is not her duty, responsibility, or privilege in society. Claiming such is misogynistic and oppressive, and the fact that anyone has to explain that to you idiots in 2019 is unconscionable.
  • Your religion does not dictate how others should live their lives. Move to Iran or Saudi Arabia if you believe otherwise.
  • If you honestly want to limit abortions, try providing birth control and female reproductive healthcare for ALL women. You could also stop with the abstinence-only sex ed bullshit.

In conclusion, you’re wrong.

Steve D

Religion, Belief, and Parenting according to a Non-Practicing Parent

Today is my second consecutive day of stay-at-home parenting with Nugget. He’s been amazing. I have no idea what I’ve been doing for the last 36 hours. It feels like I’ve mostly been soothing him and then rushing to throw laundry in the dryer before he flips out.

Currently, we’re listening to the World of Warcraft soundtrack as he lays on his play mat and babbles at toys he clearly doesn’t quite know are there yet. He seems to like the music, though.

Continue reading “Religion, Belief, and Parenting according to a Non-Practicing Parent”

Is Arkangel a Replacement God for the Next Generation of Parents?

S 4:E02 Synopsis: ‘Worried about her daughter’s safety, single mom Marie signs up for a cutting-edge device that monitors the girl’s whereabouts – and much more.

Ostensibly, this is a story about an overprotective parent suffering the natural consequences of that parenting style taken to its logical extreme. The triggers are twofold; first comes the difficult birth and stillborn scare, second is single mom Marie losing young Sara, her shiny new munchkin, whilst at the playground. The kid is found fast, but it’s too late: the fear has taken hold and Marie believes, ardently, that she needs help. Continue reading “Is Arkangel a Replacement God for the Next Generation of Parents?”

Saturday of Book Reviewing – Campbell’s The Power of Myth

Disclaimer:This book is far closer to Stevie’s wheelhouse than mine!

                Review: Seems a safe wager, that when people hear ‘The Power of Myth’, the PBS special between Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell pops up before thoughts of the book that followed it does. Which is cool, only I never saw that special, soooo we’re exclusively discussing the written today. With the exception of right now, when I mention the serendipitous timing of my completion of this book falling mere days before I watched an episode of Gilmore Girls where Yale attendees Rory and Paris spend a night watching the special, instead of enjoying spring break in Florida. My, oh, my do I wish the book inspired that kind of avid attention. It did not. Continue reading “Saturday of Book Reviewing – Campbell’s The Power of Myth”