SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THIS FACTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

I live in a house divided. My husband is an old school Republican and I am a liberal. Yep I own that title. There was an article that was recently released in Mother Jones. I enjoy that magazine thoroughly. I still have older copies of that magazine still floating around. One article is about how domestic violence is still living large in our country. With President Bush being in charge, the financing to stop and prevent domestic violence has gradually diminished.

Governor Palin recently went to Colorado, home of the Focus on the Family with Rev. Dobson. As I read the article, I was just horrified at how these folks view a woman's body. These folks want to legislate morality and sex. They want to do through a woman's body. They honestly believe that women can not be trusted to make sound decisions about their own body and reproductive health. You can't legislate morality period. You can't legislate values either. Every religion is different as well as every individual.

I came across this letter that stuck out for me. Women's reproductive rights just don't include abortion and adoption. This part of her letter really scared me as a mother.

"When Laura Pemberton chose to give birth at home in Florida, a Sheriff came to her house. Doctors believed that she was posing a risk to the life of her unborn child by having a vaginal birth after having had a previous c-section and were in the process of getting a court order to force her to have a c-section. The sheriff took her into custody during active labor, strapped her legs together and forced her to go to a hospital where an emergency hearing was taking place to determine the rights of her fetus. She was "allowed" to represent herself. A lawyer was appointed for the fetus. This woman, who vehemently opposes abortion, nevertheless believed in her right to evaluate medical risks and benefits to herself and her unborn child. She was forced to have the unnecessary surgery and when she later sued for violations of her civil rights, was told fetal rights outweighed hers."

This personhood ballot initiative brings the horrible realities to the forefront. What about doctors and patients making the best decisions for the children and their babies? Medical decisions should be left to the woman.

I am not adamantly pro life or pro choice. You really can't regulate even sex. Some say we should bring back shame. No we need to introduce responsibility instead of shame. With responsibility comes knowledge.