desertvixen (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
desertvixen) wrote2008-09-18 06:35 am
desertvixen) wrote2008-09-18 06:35 am
Entry tags:
Promised Politics Post
So, I was getting all calm about the political stuff and plotting what I was going to write.
Then I saw the newest go-round of "deny Democratic politicians Communion because they vote pro-choice" (directed at Biden and Pelosi) and I about lost it.
POLITICS DO NOT BELONG IN CHURCH.
And in my opinion, "voter's guides" assembled by any group, conservative or liberal, should also NOT BE IN CHURCH.
Especially when it comes to choice. Or, more narrowly, the abortion question.
Would I, Danielle, ever have an abortion? Probably not. I don't want to say "never" because I don't know what all life has in store for me, and I might face a situation where I feel that termination of a pregnancy is the best option.
But it's not my place to tell other women what to do with their bodies. It's not my place to make that decision for other women. Women need to have the right to make that decision for themselves - with the input of their doctor and male partner where appropriate.
It is not my place to judge a woman for deciding to have an abortion, or deciding on what ground it's okay to have an abortion. That starts us down a slippery slope that I have no intention of sliding down.
So I remain pro-choice.
There are more issues at play than just abortion. The Catholic Church is also anti-death penalty, which is a stance I don't see many of these "pro-life" people taking.
I acknowledge that there truly are people who are pro-life and not just anti-choice. I acknowledge that there are people who do more than simply pay lip service to the sanctity of the unborn life, and then ignore it once it's here on Earth and needs support from someone besides the mother.
I will do more than acknowledge them. I commend them for their service, for putting their belief into action.
But I still think women should have the right to choose. Pregnancy and childbirth (even if you are going the adoption route) are lifechanging events. Despite what some people would like to think, they can still kill you. They can cause lifelong health problems.
When I look at the Republican ticket, I don't see support for social justice. I definitely don't see support for choice. I see a mentality that doesn't support what I believe in. I see a party that claims to be all about "family values". I don't know about everyone else, but hatred is not one of my family values. And hatred is what I see. Hatred for those who want the right to marry their same-sex partner (just like us straights), hatred for those who are different, hatred for those women who don't want to be controlled.
I believe in choice.
I believe in same-sex marriage.
I believe in not discriminating against the LGBT people in our society.
I believe in the separation of church and state.
And I believe that four more years of Republican rule would be a very bad thing.
That is why I will be casting my vote for Barack Obama on November 4. Not for the sake of party unity, but because I believe he is a better choice than John McCain.
Excuse me, I have to go donate to Obama/Biden '08, Planned Parenthood, and NARAL.
DV
Then I saw the newest go-round of "deny Democratic politicians Communion because they vote pro-choice" (directed at Biden and Pelosi) and I about lost it.
POLITICS DO NOT BELONG IN CHURCH.
And in my opinion, "voter's guides" assembled by any group, conservative or liberal, should also NOT BE IN CHURCH.
Especially when it comes to choice. Or, more narrowly, the abortion question.
Would I, Danielle, ever have an abortion? Probably not. I don't want to say "never" because I don't know what all life has in store for me, and I might face a situation where I feel that termination of a pregnancy is the best option.
But it's not my place to tell other women what to do with their bodies. It's not my place to make that decision for other women. Women need to have the right to make that decision for themselves - with the input of their doctor and male partner where appropriate.
It is not my place to judge a woman for deciding to have an abortion, or deciding on what ground it's okay to have an abortion. That starts us down a slippery slope that I have no intention of sliding down.
So I remain pro-choice.
There are more issues at play than just abortion. The Catholic Church is also anti-death penalty, which is a stance I don't see many of these "pro-life" people taking.
I acknowledge that there truly are people who are pro-life and not just anti-choice. I acknowledge that there are people who do more than simply pay lip service to the sanctity of the unborn life, and then ignore it once it's here on Earth and needs support from someone besides the mother.
I will do more than acknowledge them. I commend them for their service, for putting their belief into action.
But I still think women should have the right to choose. Pregnancy and childbirth (even if you are going the adoption route) are lifechanging events. Despite what some people would like to think, they can still kill you. They can cause lifelong health problems.
When I look at the Republican ticket, I don't see support for social justice. I definitely don't see support for choice. I see a mentality that doesn't support what I believe in. I see a party that claims to be all about "family values". I don't know about everyone else, but hatred is not one of my family values. And hatred is what I see. Hatred for those who want the right to marry their same-sex partner (just like us straights), hatred for those who are different, hatred for those women who don't want to be controlled.
I believe in choice.
I believe in same-sex marriage.
I believe in not discriminating against the LGBT people in our society.
I believe in the separation of church and state.
And I believe that four more years of Republican rule would be a very bad thing.
That is why I will be casting my vote for Barack Obama on November 4. Not for the sake of party unity, but because I believe he is a better choice than John McCain.
Excuse me, I have to go donate to Obama/Biden '08, Planned Parenthood, and NARAL.
DV