General Discussion

redqueen

(115,103 posts) Mon Oct 15, 2012, 01:12 PM Oct 2012

The Reality of the GOP Platform on Abortion

Trigger warning.

http://www.womensmediacenter.com/feature/entry/the-reality-of-the-gop-platform-on-abortion

The official 2012 GOP platform calls for a federal ban on abortion with no exception for rape or incest victims. Although some Americans support this platform in theory, they may not realize what limiting a woman’s right to a safe abortion looks like in practice. The GOP platform promotes the idea that a ban on abortion will decrease abortions, but it does nothing to address the situations that create the need for abortion. Those situations – rape, incest, socio-economic factors, and abandonment by a spouse or partner – continue to exist and to cause women to seek abortions. When abortion becomes illegal, desperate circumstances force women to seek unsafe abortions that often endanger their lives. To understand how a ban on abortion could affect U.S. women, look no father than our southern neighbor, Mexico.

In Mexico, abortion is against the law in 18 out of 31 Mexican states. In addition, even states that haven’t made it illegal offer no abortion services and also don’t allow women to prosecute doctors who offer unsafe abortions. Some states permit abortions in cases of rape, while others allow abortion only if the mother’s life is endangered. In the Yucatán, a woman is allowed an abortion if she already has three children and can prove limited economic means. Although abortion carries a three-year prison sentence in Mexico, often women are charged with homicide rather than abortion, and they are sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison. During my work with a human rights organization in Mexico City, I participated in a project interviewing women in prison about human rights abuses. A great number of those young women, 18, 19 and 20-years-old, had been sentenced to 20 or more years in prison for abortion. The stories of the circumstances of those abortions were heartbreaking.

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9 replies

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The Reality of the GOP Platform on Abortion (Original Post) redqueen Oct 2012 OP

Are we sure we're living in 2012? dmr Oct 2012 #1

I'm so sorry... redqueen Oct 2012 #2

We do stand up against the Republican barbarism. RC Oct 2012 #3

Where is the medical community, indeed Freddie Oct 2012 #4

But the thing is, it does affect men, too. dmr Oct 2012 #5

Oh bullshit, liberal women have begged for stronger support from men bettyellen Oct 2012 #6

You just make my point. RC Oct 2012 #7

What was your point exactly? Is it because as a man you don't get choice bettyellen Oct 2012 #8

K&R! smirkymonkey Oct 2012 #9

dmr

(28,347 posts)

1. Are we sure we're living in 2012?

Reply to redqueen (Original post)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 02:13 PM

Oct 2012

This article is heartbreaking.

Ironically, the Republican platform would increase women’s unwanted pregnancies by limiting their access to affordable family planning. The Republican platform states that the government would “not fund or subsidize health care which includes abortion coverage” (think Planned Parenthood, which provides one in five women in the U.S. with affordable birth control, pap smears, breast exams, and early cancer detection). Rather than spending time and money to criminalize a woman’s right to choice and limit her access to contraception, the Republican party should engage in a serious discussion about how to truly decrease abortion: prevent rape through educational initiatives, provide affordable birth control, and support family planning health service providers like Planned Parenthood in their mission to keep women healthy.

I remember the pre-legal days. They were traumatic, so traumatic that I'm shaking and my stomach is sick.

I found my high school friend dead, in a bed of blood. She had gone to Detroit with her boyfriend earlier that day for an abortion. Her parents were out of town and she called me for help. I rode my bike to her house and found her. We were both young teenagers. It still haunts me 40-some years later.

I don't get why Americans are not more up in arms about what the Republican men are doing.

This isn't even a total woman's issue. It affects men as well. Why aren't the good men of this nation standing against these barbaric Republican men? Where is the medical community?

My friend deserved to grow up and fulfill her lives dreams. I can't type anymore.

redqueen

(115,103 posts)

2. I'm so sorry...

Reply to dmr (Reply #1)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 02:28 PM

Oct 2012

There really are no words. And I have no answers.

RC

(25,592 posts)

3. We do stand up against the Republican barbarism.

Reply to dmr (Reply #1)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 02:45 PM

Oct 2012

This isn't even a total woman's issue. It affects men as well. Why aren't the good men of this nation standing against these barbaric Republican men? Where is the medical community?

But because we are men, we are told that since we cannot get pregnant, we cannot know what it is like and sometimes not so kindly, told to go away.

Freddie

(9,266 posts)

4. Where is the medical community, indeed

Reply to RC (Reply #3)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 02:52 PM

Oct 2012

I know a few doctors and each one feels the same way--these draconian laws will have one result--dead women. Why aren't they speaking up??

dmr

(28,347 posts)

5. But the thing is, it does affect men, too.

Reply to RC (Reply #3)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 04:25 PM

Oct 2012

While of course men don't get pregnant, many women are married, and the woman's decision also may include input from her husband or significant other. Many times the woman gains strength through that partnership because it is such a an awful place to be in. Having someone who cares and respects you is important.

Like my friend's boyfriend, a decent guy, would have preferred she have had a safe and legal abortion. He was never the same. So many, her family, and other kids at school blamed him. The guilt rattled him profoundly. He died in Nam just two years later.

It all makes me incredibly sad and very angry.

I would never tell a pro-choice man to go away.

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)

6. Oh bullshit, liberal women have begged for stronger support from men

Reply to RC (Reply #3)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 04:43 PM

Oct 2012

It sounds like you're confusing the individual cases when we say men cannot make these decisions for women- no matter how well you know the woman- and force the woman to carry to term or abort- with the cery different idea of helping all women secure their reproductive freedom.

A lot of men use this as an excuse to sit back and do nothing to help us. I have to question why they actually think they support us in this issue.

RC

(25,592 posts)

7. You just make my point.

Reply to bettyellen (Reply #6)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 07:33 PM

Oct 2012

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)

8. What was your point exactly? Is it because as a man you don't get choice

Reply to RC (Reply #7)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 07:42 PM

Oct 2012

In any individual case - then you take that as an excuse not to fully support legislation for choice?
Perhaps I'm reading it wrong, but that's a spiteful, and not at all supportive or progressive. It's not a shock, trust me - I've heard this excuse before.
It's not just conservative men who'd like to control their women in this way. Not by a long shot!

And lest you get confused- we welcome your full fledged support - always have and always will. But if you got an idea that ANY pro choice woman told you to "but out" it was not asking you to not help win our rights. That's complete nonsense. Doesn't happen. Men are told to but out when they weigh in and start trying to limit our rights.
If the issue really meant anything to you- you'd see that. Instead you wipe your hands clean and make excuses because it's for the ladies.

But we couldn't be any clearer about the rights we are fighting for and that we welcome everyone's support. You're taking the easy way out - and blaming women for it. Ive heard a lot of men say we aren't asking for help in a nice enough tone! Seriously- that's BS Sorry- that's not supportive at all. Don't kid yourself that it is.

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)

9. K&R!

Reply to redqueen (Original post)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 08:21 PM

Oct 2012

:kick:

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