Glass Houses and Baby Killers

Today liberal women across the globe mourn the loss of Dr. George Tiller, a man of great integrity who stood up for his convictions and never faltered, even in the face of death. Dr. Tiller was gunned down by an anti-abortion extremist yesterday morning, May 31, 2009, while serving as an usher at the Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, KS. (Note the use of "anti-abortion" rather than "pro-life," as I do not believe in giving Tiller's killer the distinction of "pro-life).

This was not the first time Dr. Tiller had faced death in his profession. As a young flight surgeon for the U.S. Navy, George Tiller tragically lost his entire immediate family in a plane accident in 1970. Returning home to Wichita to take over his father's practice, Dr. Tiller continued his father's dedication to providing safe and legal abortions in order to prevent further loss of life from illegal abortions. Long the target of anti-abortion extremist groups, Dr. Tiller was first shot in both arms in 1993.

What I find incredible is that Dr. Tiller continued his services post-shooting. For a man to care so deeply for this cause is amazing. For those of you who don't know my family well, my mother is a first-generation N.O.W. member, the first woman in her family to not only go to college, but enter one of the nation's most prestigious architectural programs and become a certified CPA. She grew up in a time when the world was changing rapidly, not only for women, but for all of society. Mom has recounted many times for me the day when Roe vs. Wade was handed down. The leader of her N.O.W. chapter addressed the gathered women: "Alright ladies. We've made it legal. Now, let's make it unecessary."

That statement has followed me through my work with N.O.W., Planned Parenthood, the Denver Children's Coalition, and the Denver Women's Commission. Never in all of my experience with liberal women have I come across anyone who "hates babies". As a matter of fact, our coalition meetings with PP and NOW were frequented by newborns and toddlers. The pro-choice movement has never been about taking the life of a fetus. It is about giving women in this country room to spread their wings in a man's world. Let's face it, the glass ceiling might be a little higher, but it is still there. Pregnancy, planned or unplanned, is something that will forever affect a woman's life, career, and mental health. As a mother, I understand this well. I will believe until my dying day that the women in this country are equipped with the intelligence and integrity necessary to make that decision for themselves. As a Christian, I believe a woman who chooses to abort a pregnancy will answer to a much higher authority than the state or federal government.

And while I respect the beliefs of those who believe life begins at implantation, I must disagree. A woman gives life to a fetus, and without the full mental, physical, and emotional comittment of that woman, the fetus doesn't exist. To choose adoption is a noble and admirable thing. Should pregnant women be given all of the information possible regarding their options? Absolutely. Recently, I catered a lunch for a group called "Real Options for Women". I was excited to hear the speaker and support a group that devotes itself to provided alternative options for pregnant women. Sadly, I learned that this group's MO is not in fact to provide information and a safe haven for pregnant women. The speaker spent much time lamenting that "nothing good can come from the earthly flesh" and basically that the pro-choice camp will rot in hell. All of the young girls present were asked to stand up to represent their mothers' choice not to abort them. Okay, guess what? Choosing not to have an abortion doesn't make you a hero. Choosing to have an abortion doesn't damn you to hell. The Lockian in me resists this idea that human beings are inherently evil.

But, I digress from Dr. Tillman. I think reiterating the old adage about glass houses would be somewhat redundant and insulting here. However, I can't help but be struck with the image of anti-abortionists trapped behind a glass wall, angry fists raised and poised with stones. Need I remind my friends that Dr. Tillman survived Bill O'Reilly's recent crucifixion for allegedly providing late term abortions? Shortly before his death, Dr. Tillman was aqcuited on 19 charges of violating Kansas's viable fetus policy stemming from O'Reilly's on-air acusations. In actuality, Dr. Tillman has been cleared of any ethical wrongdoing several times during his lengthy career. His death signals the loss of an option for countless women across the nation. Here's to you, George Tillman, for providing real options for women.

Footnote: I'm sure many of my more emotional friends will respond to this posting with accounts of fetuses found in toilet bowls, etc. I ask only this: Please check your sources before posting crap on my blog. You Tube is not a viable source, pun intended.

Special Note to Mr. Brown: This blog was intended as an emotional and moral response to the abortion debate. I could go on for days about the constitutionality of abortion, Roe vs. Wade and the implied rights to privacy. Yes, I took con law too. Yes, I am aware you are a legal eagle.

The Lone Star Savior

Alright, I must admit, Texas is a pretty cool state. I mean, what other state has over 5 different climate systems, the Alamo, six flags, an oak tree so famous some loony tried to poison it, and is home to the great Chuck Norris?

So why, then, does it seem so ludicrous that we should be our own nation? The World's Greatest Man thinks this is a phenomenal idea:

"If not me, someone someday may again be running for president of the Lone Star State. If the state of the Union continues to be the enemy of the state," (Chuck Norris, Worldnewsmedia.com)

First of all, as a stickler for correct grammar, someone needs to inform Mr. Norris that, when speaking in public, one should use complete sentences. This is especially important when making a statement as dramatic as that last part. Apparently, the state of the Union has become the Enemy of the State. I believe Mr. Norris has been studying Will Smith movies a bit too much on his quest to become a reasonably believable actor. Keep working on that, Chuck.

Second, Mr. Norris has long been a champion of the democratic process. While promoting Prop 8 last November, Mr. Norris criticized the gay community for subverting the democratic process in its plea for human rights. Well, the people did decide....and Prop 8 passed, leaving millions of American citizens without certain unalienable rights. The People also voted to elect Barack Obama into the world's most prestigious post, a move Mr. Norris disagrees with. So, to sum up Mr. Norris's view on the democratic process, it is a fantastic thing (so long as the people agree with his personal views). That dosn't sound like ANY fascist dictators I know. Really, it doesn't.

Texans have at all times the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think expedient.” Texas Constitution - Article 1- Section 2

Ok, so I have a crying baby that needs some food and a dry diaper, so I will finish this later. My friend Wikipedia and I have lots more information to share with you on this topic. I have been thinking about this blog allllllll weekend. So save your comments for when it is finished. More later......LM

Obama Mama's Literary Review:

Every child needs this book.  Not only is it age-appropriate, but Mama Voted for Obama by Jeremy Zilber manages to tell a compelling story in concise, elegant prose.  For example "Some Mamas voted for a man named John/ Some Mamas voted for a Mastadon!/ But not your Mama/ Mama Voted for Obama! 

Someday, fifteen years from now when American voters have recovered enough from the last eight years to elect another archaic Republican to the nation's highest office....I will be able to tell my child that Mama was smart enough to vote for Obama.  When Trevor wants to stay out past his curfew and questions my judgement, I can tell him "Mama voted for Obama".  

On a side note, if you would like to purchase my handmade Obama Mama paraphenalia, please shoot me an e-mail.  I have onesies with various sayings such as "Mama Loves Obama," "Barack A-My Cradle," "Baa + Rock" with graphics, and "I Cry When Republicans Hold Me".  All in good fun, my friends.  For the record, I don't let Trevor wear his Democratic onesies in public, much to his dismay, for fear of Republicans egging my baby.  Let's be honest, this is Texas after all.

I do have to comment on the uproar from yesterday.  Barack, speaking to an independent plumber who owns a small business, answered his question on tax hikes by indicating his administration will redistribute wealth in America.  Ooops. Could he sound more Socialist?  Now, anyone who knows me well knows I am CU-Boulder's resident undergraduate expert on socialist and communist economies.  I hold Marx's Communist Manifesto in a place of honor on my bookshelf; not because I think we need to nationalize the American economy, but because Marx's theory exudes an idealism we have lost in this tough economic period.  Most people don't understand that Communism is NOT a system of government.  In fact, it is the lack thereof, because in a Communist society everyone works for the good of society as a whole and government is therefore not needed.  That's where Lenin went wrong.  The Communist Revolution was never meant for early 20th century Russia.  Ok, I digress.  The point I was trying to make is that when we redistribute wealth from those who have too much to those who are barely surviving, everyone benefits.  When that plumber pays higher taxes on his business and we redistribute that revenue to people who can't pay their mortgage, those homeowners get to keep their house instead of being forced into a rental property.  Renter's don't call the plumber and spend thousands of dollars to fix a leak.  People who can't afford to buy groceries don't remodel their homes or add on bathrooms.  Barack did miss the opportunity to explain this yesterday, and while his supporters clearly interpret his words as above, I pray that those undecideds don't take Fox news too seriously .  That's another kettle of fish, though.  Come on, who is honestly "undecided" two weeks before the election?  Either those people aren't going to vote anyway or they just don't want to tell the poll-taker who they are voting for.

On a more encouraging note, our street is up to 8 Obama/Biden signs!  That is a testament to Obama's capturing of the young adult demographic.  Our street is composed mostly of 20-30 something couples, some with small children.  Even better, the baby boomers on our street have turned out to support Obama!  Just about every day, someone knocks on my door to ask where they can get an Obama sign.  I've become the official Paloma Creek distributor.  While standing in the middle of our street, neighbors talk to neighbors about hope for the future.  We stare down our lone Republican neighbors, the ones with two Ford F-350's parked out front and a cow skull on their front lawn. 

The Lipstick Jungle

Let me tell, you the lipstick jungle is a dark and dangerous place.  That's right, I'm talking about sexism.  This "ism," like all other "isms," is one of those concepts that appears by virtue of it's existence.  By crying "racism" or "sexism," we perpetuate the mythical stereotype of the underdog.  What's more, if a campaign is going to sound the alarm on an "ism," it must be prepared to back up it's whine with some cheese.  Equal pay for equal work comes to mind?

Was Barack Obama's comment regarding "lipstick on a pig" aimed at Sarah Palin? Quite Possibly.  Listening to the comment in context, Mr. Obama is explicitly referring to Mr. McCain's attempt to portray his campaign as a proponent of change.  In this light, Mr. Obama's remark is clearly appropriate.  Frankly, I think the analogy hits the nail on it's head.  But when we take the comment out of context and portray it as "sexist," we not only demean the feminist cause, but we distract voters from the real point of Obama's message.  In that regard, Obama's point has been negated, which is a shame because it should have been quite effective.  I find it insulting, as a woman, that so much attention is being paid to the "scandal".  In the year 2008 we are still associating women's issues with lipstick? Can we please get back to the candidates and their plans to put this country back together? Frankly, I don't care who said what and when.  I don't want to hear another laundry list of all the Republicans who have ever used this phrase. Somewhere between all the "isms" in this campaign season, we need to find out what truly IS.  

Just for fun:  http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lipstick%20on%20a%20pig

Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead....Enough Already!

As I sat in a room full of female Democrats last week, all of us trading Sarah Palin insults in between voter calls, I couldn't help but wonder:  What is it about this woman that pisses us off so much?  While Sarah Palin seems to ignite the adoration of her conservative Republican fan base, something about her leaves us old school feminists with a bad taste in our mouths.  I could probably write three or four entries on the subject of Sarah Palin and how she makes me want to burn my bras, but that is not the subject of today's blog.  What I want to say is this:  ENOUGH with the Wicked Witch of the West.  Us Dem's are falling for this dirty game called "Let's Distract the Voters from the Issue at Hand" the Republican party has proven so adept at in recent years.  First, it was Terrorist Fist Jabs and Barack's (gasp!) flagless lapel.  Now, the GOP has decided to distract voters from their lackluster candidate by nominating a shockingly inappropriate woman for vice president.  Three words:  GET OVER IT.  Sarah Palin doesn't deserve the ridiculous amount of press she has been afforded in recent months.  In a brilliant stroke of campaign genius, the McCain camp has just picked up priceless free press in a campaign restricted by public finance law.  If we devote any more attention to Sarah Palin, the GOP has already won.  We all know Barack Obama and his campaign will not attack Palin in the way that she and her antics so deserve.  So why, then, are his biggest fans devoting all of their waking energy to this woman?  We get it, she's the anti-thesis of our beliefs.  But ultimately, she is not running for president of the free world.  Sure, there is a good chance John McCain could die during his hypothetical tenure.  But what if he doesn't?  The Republican Party has been re-energized in a lethargic campaign by the thought of Palin's possible ascendency.  Let's seize this golden opportunity to grab independents with the obvious:  Are you voting for John McCain or are you voting for Sarah Palin?  One thing is certain:  A vote for the McCain/Palin ticket is wrought with uncertainty about how the next four years will play out.  The Dems need to focus on attacking the candidate at hand rather than his next-in-line.  C'mon, Democrats- If we can be this mean about Sarah Palin, surely we can find it in our hearts to attack John McCain?  

They Poked My Baby!!!!!

The more doctor's appointments I go to, the more convinced I become that the health care industry is the right hand of the Devil.  And this doesn't have anything to do with politics today!  My poor baby boy, already battling a cold, was stuck with not one, not two, but FOUR gigantic needles yesterday.  He screeched and yelled for an hour straight, and I don't blame him.  His face killed me:  He looked at me as if to say "MoOOOM! How could you let them?". What's more, these evil pinpricks caused him to have a fever and feel like poo-poo (a word I am finding myself using a lot these days).  Yes, they will protect him against the evils of diseases like Pertussis and Diptheria.  But for now, my baby is sick.  He is sitting in his swing (which holds him upright so he doesn't choke on his drippage), laughing at me with a deep, throaty, hoarse voice, that is breaking my heart.  What they say is right:  the pokes are a LOT harder on Mom then they are on the baby. 

Addendum

To All Pregnant Teens Out There:  If you want to get married and have the baby, go ahead.  But make sure it's YOUR decision to spend the rest of your life with these two people.  If you want to have the baby and go to college, go ahead.  You can do it.  If you want to have the baby and give it up for adoption because you know you are not the best person for the job, go ahead.  Your baby will be loved and cared for.  If you want to have an abortion, look into it.  Think about it.  You will live with your decision, whatever it is, for the rest of your life.  Remember that your decision is bigger than yourself.

To All Teenage Girls Who Are Thinking About Having Sex:  Don't do it.  And if you do, don't be stupid.  Be ready to deal with the consequences of your actions.