Comments on: Politics 2008 – Gender, Abortion, and Justice

By: Links: at Trying to follow

Links: at Trying to follow — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:05:38 +0000

[...] Julie always on top of it regarding politics. [...]

By: Mike Clawson

Mike Clawson — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:57:17 +0000

"I would FIRST like to see the reasons women get abortions tended to by working toward poverty reduction, job security, fair wages, educational opportunities, community support, and adequate housing, childcare, and healthcare. All these things need to be part of the pro-life movement or we will only accomplish condemning abortion, instead of eradicating abortion."

Excellent point Tia! How cool would it be if pro-lifers actually did make these things part of their agenda? How much more effective would they be? It would be revolutionary!

By: Tia Lynn

Tia Lynn — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 04:04:24 +0000

Bravo Julie!

I feel almost exactly the same way about abortion. People seem to think abortion came about with Roe. V. Wade, having never been an issue. Abortions were out of control long before Roe V. Wade, and women were dying from botched underground abortions at an alarming rate. While I’d like to see abortion made illegal, I would FIRST like to see the reasons women get abortions tended to by working toward poverty reduction, job security, fair wages, educational opportunities, community support, and adequate housing, childcare, and healthcare. All these things need to be part of the pro-life movement or we will only accomplish condemning abortion, instead of eradicating abortion.

By: Joy

Joy — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:14:40 +0000

Great rant, Julie!

I homeschool and just got my buttons and t-shirt for Obama. I'm planning on starting to wear them, knowing that most everyone in the group is talking down about Obama and how he is Muslim… ignorance runs rampant in these parts!!

I'm brusing up on my Obama homework… and this post really helped!!

By: Chic Chauffeur

Chic Chauffeur — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:14:10 +0000

Julie, I wanted to add my own comment to yours, in regards to being 'pro-life', and voting for a candidate who is 'pro-choice' (please pardon the political labels). I am in complete agreement. I also am vehemently opposed to abortion, but would like to see candidates first help the women who feel that they have no other options. Why do they feel like that? Why aren't the father's of the babies held more accountable for their children's futures? Why don't women feel like they have a choice? Let's get these questions answered, and get assistance and support for the women and babies who are out there, and I think you will find the abortion problem will begin to resolve itself. I think abortion may be a way women try to escape a trap, and we need to address the trap, not the escape route.

By: Julie Clawson

Julie Clawson — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:34:35 +0000

dave – I try to avoid using the names of those I don't want to promote. People who get so much attention that I don't want their google/technorati rank to increase. Anyone who cared or wants to keep putting money in his pockets would already know.

By: dave

dave — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:16:14 +0000

You know… it would be okay to use the evil super-rich dairy guy's name.

People should know to now buy Oberweis dairy products.

By: Julie Clawson

Julie Clawson — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:18:17 +0000

Bah – so the evil super-rich dairy guy took the nomination. I just hope that is as close as he gets to Congress…

By: Ed G

Ed G — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:57:45 +0000

When I voted for GWB in 2004, it was a vote for the unborn. When I voted for Obama today, it was a vote for the born.

Obama '08!

By: Julie Clawson

Julie Clawson — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:19:24 +0000

Karl – good question. No it doesn't have to be an either/or. But that is how it is generally conceived and presented. Most pro-lifers support a ban, and not only do they not work for systems to reduce abortions they often actively oppose those systems. Similarly when a ban is the first or only thing pro-choicers hear, that generally signals the end of conversation. Little progress can be made in working for mutual understanding or systems to actually help the women when the options presented are of the all or nothing variety. Generally just talking about a ban shuts down conversation and prevents any progress toward the goal of actually reducing abortions leaving us at an impasse. Like I said, I'd rather work for progress.

And from the people I know, they do talk about ways to "reduce war" and prevent further conflicts. Peace isn't just an ideology divorced from reality, but something that takes planning and action steps.