I'm not one to get political on my blog. In general I let people have their opinions and I have mine. But lately I'm having a hard time keeping my mouth shut. This mess about birth control coverage, planned parenthood, and the pro-choice/pro-life debate is really getting to me. To be clear, I am pro-choice, pro-birth control, and pro-planned parenthood. Let me explain why I'm having a harder time accepting the view points of those who feel differently than me.
Being pro-choice is NOT being pro-abortion. I would never tell someone they have to get an abortion, it is even unlikely that I would recommend an abortion to someone. I do not like the idea of people using abortion instead of practicing safe sex. BUT it is a woman's choice to do what she wants with her body and there are times when abortions are the best option- albeit an uncomfortable choice for many.
I have a problem with people who say that instead of aborting unwanted babies we can just put them in foster care/ up for adoption or the moms can just take care of them. This is namely because almost none of the people who I have heard said this are planning to adopt (I on the other hand am). And, my conservative friends, are less likely to want to support public assistance programs to help these mothers take care of their children. I've also worked first hand with tons of children in the system and it's a horrible place to be that should be avoided by many.
I've heard the argument that if they can't afford the children they shouldn't have them. So you'd think this means that these pro-lifers would be in support of lowering the number of unwanted pregnancies. Yet these are the people saying birth control should not be covered by insurance. Then I hear the argument that if you can't pay for birth control you either should not have any sex life or you should go to Planned Parenthood. Again, these same people want to cut funding for Planned Parenthood. And let's not get started on the fact that Viagra, Cealis, and other ED drugs are covered- and are essentially ONLY about sex not other medical conditions.
As we look at lowering the rate of unwanted pregnancies I think we should turn to the schools. But AGAIN many of these conservatives refuse to let us teach our students about safe sex. We can't show them how to use a condom, we can't tell them about birth control. All we can do is tell them that they shouldn't have sex till their married- and let's face it not only is that naive, but teens don't respond well to strict rules that seem to impede on their ability to make choices for themselves.
In my perfect world there would be comprehensive sex education that encourages teens to wait for a long term exclusive relationship but ALSO teaches them how to use condoms, what their birth control options are, and the dangers of STDs. This program would help future generations avoid unwanted pregnancies. Insurance would cover a portion of birth control making it accessible to all women. Planned Parenthood will continue to provide important health services to women and will cover the women who aren't insured. Birth control use will rise and unwanted pregnancies will decrease. The overall number of abortions will go down and be used primarily for extreme health situations, cases of rape, and in instances of incest.
What do you think? I appreciate all viewpoints as long as they are not personal attacks. If you're pro-choice do you have anything to add? If you're pro-life what do you think we should do about unwanted pregnancies? Do you plan on adopting the unwanted kids? Why or Why not?
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