One More Rant

Skip this post if you don't want to hear me go on and on about why Sarah Palin is bad and Pro-Choice is good. But do please visit www.personalpac.org

On Monday I went to the Personal PAC luncheon at the Hilton to see Cynthia Nixon speak about pro-choice issues. Here was my favorite quote:

"Sarah Palin is a wolf in sheep's clothing...but we are not sheep."

She was a pretty great speaker. Personal PAC is a great organization that works fiercely to keep abortion safe and legal in Illinois. I have attended two of their luncheons and hope to support them as much as I can in the future. I think the work they do is important for women of Illinois. I thought I was pretty well educated on the matter since I've learned in the last few years that these issues seem to unexpectedly be where all of my political fire burns but I was surprised to learn there is a man running for office in Illinois somewhere (Sorry, I will track down his name ASAP) who wants not only for abortion to be illegal, but for women who have abortions to be put in jail. JAIL. I also learned that if Roe v. Wade is overturned Illinois will immediately make abortion illegal. (Remember, this doesn't mean it will stop, it means it will just become more dangerous.) I also learned that there are some conservatives who not only oppose abortion but also birth control in general. I also learned (and when I did I turned to my friend bewildered and whispered, "Is that really true?" while choking on my chicken) that in some places a woman can't get an abortion without consent from the man. Wha...wha...what? Consent? Like...permission? I'm all for open dialogue and good communication, but the day I can't do what I feel is best for myself because I'm unable to get my man's PERMISSION is the day my man finds himself asking something of me as well...sweet mercy. So now the government and our partners have more control over the inside of a woman's body than the woman does? That is a mess. 

JAIL, you guys. There is actually a person who wants to send women to JAIL. It's so unimaginable. What would be a jail sentence is being told what I MUST do with my own body, by law. And Cynthia Nixon brought up the point, "Who is telling MEN what to do with their bodies? Who is making and amending laws over a MAN'S organs?" I want you to think for a moment, what if the government said you had to be a certain weight. What if the government said you couldn't use condoms because they are "murder". What if the government said you HAD to have an abortion even if you didn't want one? Wouldn't you then say "But it should be my choice!" The government is not supposed to manage my mind or my body. They are supposed to manage my country. 

Cynthia Nixon also said, "Sarah Palin teaches a completely abstinent lifestyle without birth control or basic education on contraceptives...and look how well those teachings have worked out for her." 

Luckily I learned that there are enough pro-choice women of all different age, race and background in Illinois to fill a huge ballroom at the Hilton and all of these women cheered vigorously and are all going to work as hard as they can to make sure that everything stays safe, clean and legal. 

Luckily I overheard a bunch of young women on a bench the other day eating ice cream and discussing Sarah Palin's stance on abortion and legitimately saying, "I don't really understand why it's even a political issue..." 

I don't understand either, girls. 

And neither does my friend Cynthia Nixon. 

If you are interested in learning more about Personal PAC please please please check out their website www.personalpac.org 

I promise I will stop writing bristley blogs once the election is over! No I don't!