I've heard Wangari Maathi speak, too - she's amazing. Awesome that you got to hear her
I think it's really important to move away from the abortion=freedom model that it seems like some of your coworkers might be using. A lot of mine feel the same way. Abortion and sterilization are coercive and genocidal practices in places like China and in countries where a dominant group is trying to destroy a minority, so being against abortion might even be a progressive stance! Goodness- Giovanna DiChiro would be so proud of me right now!
I am well! About to move from Seattle to LA and it's quite crazy.
I have also begun to delve into learning more about folks who would be inclined to use abortion as a coercive measure. Some of the rhetoric from the zero population folks makes me feel very uncomfortable. So does knowing that the bulk of the zero population crowd is made up of middle/upper class white men.
I'm so glad you posted this...I struggle with the whole debate of "pro-life" vs. "pro-choice". I think it narrows the conversation down to just rhetoric, really
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Which is why I am working for Planned Parenthood. The work I do directly relates to giving people choices and options for planning their family before they become pregnant, not ever. I don't know that we'll ever be able to eliminate the need for abortion, but we can absolutely drastically reduce it. By making healthcare and education affordable and a real option to low-income communities and really funnelling our resources into education, birth control, and STI testing, I believe we are making a huge step towards reducing the number of unintended prengnancies, which in turn reduces the abortion rate.
I wasn't implying that this work isn't already happening...just that there are too many people out there too absorbed in the rhetorical debates to step back and actually do the work.
But not, you, of course. :)
I'm also not holding my breath for the day when there are no abortions, but I think that it *is* a realistic goal to reduce the need for abortion, and to make the alternatives to abortion more viable.
Oh, I didn't think you were implying that at all! But I am, as ever, stubborn. ;-)
It also looks like we will, if everything goes smoothly, be in Portland/Beaverton on the night of October 25. I think we'll be staying with my aunt, but I'd love love love to see you. Let's see if we can't work something out.
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I think it's really important to move away from the abortion=freedom model that it seems like some of your coworkers might be using. A lot of mine feel the same way. Abortion and sterilization are coercive and genocidal practices in places like China and in countries where a dominant group is trying to destroy a minority, so being against abortion might even be a progressive stance! Goodness- Giovanna DiChiro would be so proud of me right now!
I hope you're well!
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I have also begun to delve into learning more about folks who would be inclined to use abortion as a coercive measure. Some of the rhetoric from the zero population folks makes me feel very uncomfortable. So does knowing that the bulk of the zero population crowd is made up of middle/upper class white men.
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I wasn't implying that this work isn't already happening...just that there are too many people out there too absorbed in the rhetorical debates to step back and actually do the work.
But not, you, of course. :)
I'm also not holding my breath for the day when there are no abortions, but I think that it *is* a realistic goal to reduce the need for abortion, and to make the alternatives to abortion more viable.
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It also looks like we will, if everything goes smoothly, be in Portland/Beaverton on the night of October 25. I think we'll be staying with my aunt, but I'd love love love to see you. Let's see if we can't work something out.
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