Our Bodies, Our Selves

I know that some people will think I’m like a dog with a bone, but I’m a little disgusted with the fact that women are still arguing for control of our bodies and our health choices. Seriously annoyed and, quite frankly, more than a little done with the whole load of crap.

I’m a smart, capable woman. My sisters are smart, capable women. As are my nieces and most of my friends are smart, capable women. I know that my daughter will be a smart, capable woman. All of us have the ability and brainpower to chart the course of our lives, including reproductive freedom up to and including the decision of how many children, if any, that we want to nurture in our bodies for nine months, deliver, and then spend the next 18 years devoted to their care and upbringing. Becoming a mother is the most personal of all choices and, at least in my case, was not undertaken without thought and planning.

Why do we tolerate someone with a national platform that gets up and states that he and his religion know what’s best for our bodies? Why don’t we laugh him off stage? Why is it that we allow a person to claim the title of libertarian because they believe in unfettered capitalism but would deny me control over my own body? How is it that a serial philanderer believes he can make decisions regarding my body when he clearly has no respect for women?

You know what I see and hear when I listen to these clowns? Fear. That’s fight, fear. They fear women because they are weak. Afraid of their masculinity and sexuality. All those mommy issues. If you believe that sex should only be for procreation then you’re doing it wrong. Where’s Dr. Ruth when you need her? Newt too! How is it that anyone believes that he can be trusted to run this country when he walked away from not one wife in her hour of greatest need but two! What kind of person does that? A giant... well you can fill in that blank yourself. This is a family paper.

I respect religion. I respect everyone's right to practice his or her religion but that door swings both ways. You picked your religion that means you adhere to the requirements of your religion and I will leave you alone. That means that you need to leave my body, my personal choices, and me alone. I believe that politicians and public figures can and should have their faith inform their lives should they so chose; however, having your faith inform your views does not give you carte blanche to impose those views on any legislation. Politicians represent everyone, saint and sinner, man and woman.

Using your political office to further your religious beliefs and force it on people is what happens in other countries. Countries that aren’t America. Theocracies. You know, where the state forces a religion and religious beliefs on citizens.

Pretty sure I don’t want to live in a country like that.

How about you?