I didn't realize yesterday was blog for choice day, but apparently that's what it was. Who knew? Clearly not me.

Anyway, in addition to my post below, here's a great piece by Matt Stoller at MyDD:

As part of blog for choice day, we're supposed to talk about why we're pro-choice. For me, choice is non-negotiable, and though I don't like some of the single issue groups that work in this issue area, it's a core Democratic and progressive value that we must protect at all costs. The right to an abortion is about the right for women to control their own lives, and I won't accept any arguments that suggest that women shouldn't have the right to make very personal decisions or should have to make them in some sort of legal jeopardy. That's just immoral. I'm all for legislation reducing the number of abortions through legal assistance, economic help, and sex education, though I would point out that these tend to decrease all social ills and so I would support them for other reasons as well. But anything that makes the state sanction abortion as anything but an intensely private choice by women (and men to a lesser extent) in a vulnerable and difficult position in their lives is wrong, wrong, wrong.

I don't think I could have said it better myself.

And just to bring the level of the room down a bit, let me just say that pro-choice men are sexy.

Labels: choice, human rights, reproductive freedom, social justice, women's rights

Today marks the 34th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Roe vs. Wade decision that affirmed the basic human right of reproductive freedom in the United States. That's 34 years of fewer health consequences, happier families and women having control over their own bodies. Reason indeed for celebration.

Today also marks the sixth anniversary of the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule, which bans international reproductive health providers from receiving U.S. dollars if they even so much as think about abortion. How many lives have been lost because of this archaic and draconian Reagan-era rule? Too many to count.

I strongly recommend you read MissLaura's post on DailyKos about today's anniversary. It's long and full of linky goodness.

I'm too young to remember a time pre-Roe, but I know as well as anyone who does remember those times that we're only a slippery slope away from having that most essential of human rights - the right to choose when and how often to procreate - torn from our society.

I should note that neither of Tucson's dailies ran any stories today about the Roe anniversary (or the gag rule anniversary, for that matter). You can write letters to the Star and the Citizen and remind them why the right to reproductive freedom is an essential part of our democracy. Here are some excellent talking points to help you get started.

Labels: choice, human rights, reproductive freedom, Roe, women's rights