Upfront warning. If you're celebrating yesterday's Supreme Court decision to over turn Roe vs. Wade, you should probably stop reading now. The country officially went backwards yesterday. I feel gutted for all us women, but young women in particular, that had a right taken away. Nope, can't shore up gun laws "cuz, my freedumbs", but a woman can't make a decision for herself that impacts her health for the rest of her life.
So of course...
What’s top of my mind: The Supreme Court decision. Either Gorsuch or Coney Barrett are a sham on the bench. The Republicans played both sides of their own argument by not holding hearings for Garland or not waiting until after the election to seat Barrett. I also fully believe Barret's decision wasn't impacted by law but personal bias. (Let's get more babies for rich Christian women to adopt. Oh, but not those children. They can live in poverty or the foster care system.) She, Gorsuch, and Kavenaugh lied in their inquiries when they acknowledged Roe V Wade was law when asked specifically if they would act to overturn.
Red party leadership. Despicable every last one. You all can have any opinion you want on this one, but this decision is beyond horrible and who knows how far the right wing nut jobs will go using the basis of this to overturn other basic rights.
Where I've been:
A successful but stressful roundtrip to Chicago. Her Visa paperwork is all in, and should be back within four weeks, though of course could be longer. The girl ahead of my daughter mentioned she's leaving August 8th. I sure hope she has no delays. My girl leaves in September 8th.
Where I’m going:
I have a friend's son grad party tomorrow. Depending how I feel when DH gets home, I may head to the lake too. I'm still one beat lady. Emotionally and physically.
What I’m watching:
We'll, besides being sucked into the news, nothing really but an episode of Call the Midwife. I'm going to start season 3 of The Umbrella Academy.
What I’m reading:
I have no book going, unless you count A Theater for Dreamers. Maybe I'll finish this weekend. I forget exactly the next book for book club. Pharacees? Perhaps?
What I’m listening to:
We had loads of different music on route. But, we heard the same annoying commercial about father and son liking different music, but both can get a Covid booster. It's not a very compelling message if you hadn't decided- just annoying.
What I’m eating:
We didn't eat anything special while gone. I made a huge pan of roasted veg Wednesday night and will do more. We devour them! My daughter bought some fabulous medium size mushrooms and there's still more. I need more tomatoes, carrots, and zucchini.
Who needs a good slap:
The women that call themselves prolife, but don't say word one about child poverty, health care for all, equitable wages, and access to quality child care. Admit you're pro-birth, not pro life. Slap those same asses harder that are clapping and putting their uptight prick mugs on camera saying " our prayers were answered." I'm pretty certain many members of the powers that be that got us to this point have pressured, paid for, or threatened many women to have abortions to benefit themselves or a member of their circle. Too many of those men are too stupid to understand or care about contraception and too entitled to keep it in their pants. Oh so Christian. I'm done now on this blog about the subject, but you can guess how I'll be spending time leading up to November.
What I’m planning:
It's time DH picks a vacation week so I too can ask off. I assume we'll spend it at the lake, but maybe throw a day trip or too into it. We haven't been to Duluth in ages, but to me, that's at least an overnighter and likely everything's booked.
What’s making me smile:
I'm not sure I shared that my daughter thought she might have made an error in confirming her appointment. They were very formal saying if appointment was not confirmed, it would be cancelled. She hit the button sent via email, but then didn't get a confirmation. She couldn't figure out how to get back in the system so sent a follow-up email too. We got to the Consulate early, just in case she had to beg for a solution. Before she could even go to ask if they had her meeting time, her name was called. I visibly could see her nerves stabilize. It only took about 10-15 minutes for her appointment, and she had everything she needed. Her relief made me smile.
The W's we're really something this week. This is not a political blog, but I felt I couldn't be just a bystander and not speak my mind. I understand there may be strong feelings about this. I hope you stay a reader, but I'll not get into a debate on this in the comments. If you'd like to share your W's, I'd love to read them.
So glad your daughter was able to get everything settled, and I hope she has a wonderful semester abroad.
ReplyDeleteI hope that those who call themselves Christians are going to step up and help all those unwanted, addicted babies and mothers. I thought it was interesting that Thomas said that the court needed to revisit contraception and gay marriage , but he didn't mention interracial marriage.
Thomas is an example of the outcome of a plague- and so is his criminal wife.
DeleteAs someone who would not be here without Roe v. Wade due to an ectopic pregnancy in 1989, I Wholeheartedly (my W) agree with everything you said. Not to mention that Kavanaugh and Thomas should not even be on the Court because of their disgusting histories towards women...
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you experienced that. I had a horrible miscarriage and then had to go through a painful, physically and emotionally, after math. I can't imagine not being supported to make decisions that would be in my best health interest.
DeleteYes, what a bunch of hypocrites those pro-lifer are. I am absolutely sure if their teenage girls got pregnant they will get them an abortion.
ReplyDeleteI want to be clear- I wish there was better and more reliable birth control. I wish young women didn't have to make the difficult choice. I'm just very pro choice- the woman or the young girls choice.
DeleteOh, make no mistake: If I, or anyone else in my circle needed or wanted an abortion, we would get one. Why? Because I know where to go, and can afford to get there. This ruling will see its enforcement in the southern states, which are red, which are among the poorest/most poorly educated/highest maternal mortality rate. This mostly effects the poor. The wealthy will always be fine. This goes for Plessy, and Brown V. Board of Education, and even Griswold too...all of which are now at risk. (Loving too, funny how Thomas didn't mention that.) What the Republicans don't understand is that if they burn this all down they will really be at a loss. This isn't the 1800's. They will find that the effects are not as isolated as to the "others" as they think they are.
DeleteAs a Canadian I am appalled by this decision. Check out this video.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAvFfrYA2LM
What must be the thoughts around the world of this decision.
Delete" I also fully believe Barret's decision wasn't impacted by law but personal bias. (Let's get more babies for rich Christian women to adopt. Oh, but not those children. They can live in poverty or the foster care system.)" Awwwww, it's SO CUTE you think this was actually about babies. Read the following:
ReplyDeletehttps://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/05/the-truth-about-the-religious-right-now-celebrating-the-end-of-roe.html?fbclid=IwAR3dC4JiIiGgWGMI9-9eSKyFN1bv7GgutLfT-aJKDA0aeF09UPwUaoZKx2c
Wow, Meg. That's really condescending towards me. A simple statement and link would have been adequate.
DeleteNot meant to be condescending to you, because I meant "they" in the "awww, that's so cute," but I see I did type "you." I'm furious over this decision, and if people think it's about babies, they have another thought coming. I'm also on PDT, so typed before coffee. In any case, this has been in the works since the early 1970's. As the article says, it's not like they could rally around "hey, let's keep things segregated," so Roe V. Wade was the straw man...but somehow, I am thinking preacher/choir? Vote. Vote. VOTE.
DeleteSeriously, just re-read my comment, and all I could think was "HOLY SHIT, YOU BITCH" (about myself.) It only gets worse each time I read it. Again, it was directed at those who think this is "about the babies," those who have their heads in the sand, NOT YOU!. Don't bother posting this comment, go ahead and let people see how snarky I was--I own it. I'm pissed, and, worse, scared. But, again, please understand my comment was NOT intended to insult YOU. Meanwhile, flies/honey v. vinegar is something I need to bear in mind, particularly as November looms.
ReplyDeleteWe're good. I get the pre-coffee typing! I try and keep comments and discussion, for the whole story. Believe me, I've had some rude comments in the past without any acknowledgement that it was a mistype/ didn't realize tone. Yep, I'm pretty sure we're on the same page.
DeleteI actually have been wondering what the true motive is behind overturning RvW. I was wondering if they just wanted more babies born to ensure there would be more taxpayers in the future.
DeleteSome really think they have the moral high road, yet have no problem denying basic health care, housing, food to children and mothers. But yeah, I think the money people see this as a twisted calculation related to money.
DeleteAs someone who is old enough to remember the days before 59 years ago and stood up for women's rights, I am shocked by the turn this country has taken. I also am so disheartened by many of the younger women who seem to take their rights lightly , they don't have a clue. By the time they wake up, they'll be stripped of most of what they took for granted. The fight will start all over again.
ReplyDeleteI thank you for your past, and now I will do what I can for my daughter's and granddaughters. But, I truly fear this is the beginning of whackadoodle, right wing agendas pushed my states who gerrymandered themselves to ensure Republican run legislatures.
DeleteOops, I mistyped, that should be 50 years ago, not 59! I'm not that old!
DeleteI'm in the UK as you know, and admit I haven't read all the reports about this so don't know the full story. But if it means that women are now barred from having abortions, this seems like going back to the Dark Ages - do women in the States have no say in what happens to their bodies anymore? What if they become pregnant as a result of a rape? Or scans show the baby will be horribly disabled?
ReplyDeleteWhat it did was push the decision making state by stated. We have 50% of states with some form of criminality around abortions. Women lost their federally protected right. Now the pro-birthers ( I will no longer say prolife) are mobilizing to take this state by state.
DeleteYesterday I was in shock. Today I am furious. This is an attack on women. The tampon shortage, formula shortage, I bet you $100 there will be a diaper shortage next. They are going to try to take away contraceptives. They are going to try to ban gay marriage. What’s next? You can’t get chemo back your tumor is a living thing? I will obviously be voting for Josh Shapiro this fall for governor of PA. I liked him before but it’s critical. My DD is angry as hell too and just turned 18. I just messaged a coworker to remind her to request an absentee ballot since she will be going away for college. My thoughts are all over the place right now but f*ck the patriarchy. This country is an embarrassment. JoAnn
ReplyDeleteVote like mad. Vote the men out. Vote the self oppressed women out.
DeleteIt's very scary what has happened since Covid. This is all about control and divide. We're living in very scary times. I honestly believe democrats and republicans are just there to keep us divided. There are others controlling the narrative.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad everything went smoothly for your daughter and you in Chicago.
Morally people may differ, but this picking and choosing when and what the government should protect. State governments are good old boy Networks so to put anything in their hands that guarantees life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is ridiculous. They can't figure out how to allocate resources to fill out holes half the time.
DeleteI'm as distraught as you are about the decision. It will take decades to undo the damage the conservatives have been doing to our country. It's disgusting and I thank you for having the courage to address it. Lynn Ewing
ReplyDeleteI feel upset and scared. I don't feel brave. I feel afraid for the scared teenager worried about abuse. I worry about the family having to go through a full pregnancy knowing the child will be born with such significant health issues, they won't survive, but the family will be charged hundreds of thousands in medical bills. I'm sick, even if no one I know or love ever needs to make this decision.
DeleteI feel so sad for American women (and those who identify as women) and women all over the world. These MEN make me sick. UGH!
ReplyDeleteElections matter! We need people that can see normal.
DeleteI have a family member that had a wire clothes hanger abortion , she had several miscarriages after and then when she did carry to 7 months the child was disabled. I hate that we have went back... we need to VOTE to get the ones in to change it
ReplyDeleteThat's tragic.im so sorry.
DeleteI was horrified and angry when I heard this appalling news here is Aus, can't believe what is happening there and really feel for US women. I thought once Trump was gone we might wake up from that nightmare but it seems not. Its a terrifying first step down a slippery slope for human rights.
ReplyDeleteHe's the nightmare that left right-wing extremist excrement.
DeleteI agree 100% with you. I was horrified at the decision. Don't worry about posts about this in the future. Alabama, where I live, will be further oppressed. Abortion providers in early nineties reported ministers who brought their daughters to clinics for an abortion yet preached on Sunday about the sin of abortion. If you saw a guy named Pinto on news, I have had dealings with him. He is in the news for his own benefit.
ReplyDeleteYou've confirmed my point about those yelling the loudest and in charge likely have utilized abortion in some part of their circles.
DeleteGood God. Why are women so excited to murder babies? Look at the stats….the percentage of minority babies being aborted is appalling. “beCaUse PoVeRtY? “ The percent of rape victims is less than 1% of all abortions. God help us all, especially mothers who think the volume of abortions is totally normal.
ReplyDeleteI won't debate, but will say no one is excited to murder babies. Having autonomy over your body prior to the fertilized clump of cells having viability is the issue. I'd prefer a world where no woman had to make the choice, but none the less, it is an individual's right to choose. But please, comment anonymously with extremist interpretation of what pro choice means. You're so brave and profound.
DeleteFrom one anonymous to the other: since you seem to believe women should be forced to maintain that life - let me ask you - if your kidney was required to keep someone alive- or your blood type was needed right now to keep someone else alive…. Since preserving life is the objective, are you ok to be legally required to donate that kidney to maintain life? No? Don’t think so. All that autonomy over your own body and what not. Oh, wait.
DeleteNot one commenter said anything about being happy abortions could happen. They expressed profound anger, disbelief, and shock that state by state, legislators and governor's get to decide what's in their personal medical and mental health best interest when it comes to an unplanned or risky pregnancy. That's what pissed me off about anonymous. It's sickening to hear and read people run around changing the narrative to fit some complex of righteous superiority. And actually, abortions are lower than before Roe v Wade, so facts are not there either. "As of 2017, the rate of legal abortions sits at 13.5 per 1,000 women, the lowest rate ever recorded, according to the Guttmacher Institute."
DeleteThe first anon mentioned women being “excited” to “murder” babies. My point was how is ok to force women to sustain that life. Especially when no one (likely including that anon) would be ok with being forced to sustain life other ways (eg forcing her to give up a kidney). I agree with abortion being necessary when we are talking about womens lives as some Times abortion would be medically necessary. But I go back to the root for me - that any one telling anyone else what they can do with their body is wrong in 2022. Abortion should be a choice (for any reason) and the root for me is that has been taken away by a group of morons. For me yes, the health risk a risky pregnancy creates should allow for abortion choice - but truly any reason the woman deems fit is just as valid for access to abortion. I’m true horrified like many commenters.
DeleteVery good points.
DeleteOverturning Roe v Wade is one step back to the dark ages, back alleys and a knitting needle. Before I'd even finished reading your post I thought about a back street abortion episode in Call The Midwife - it was gruelling to watch!
ReplyDeleteThose screaming that this will drop the rate of abortions are delusional. There will be as you say, back ally horrific things happening. Now, the same folks want plan B and IUDs banned too. This is the beginning.
Delete:-(
ReplyDeleteThank you, Spo.
DeleteI too was not happy. OF course my rightwing relations are all ecstatic. I do not believe in abortion as a form of birth control, and I don't think anyone goes into an abortion without some serious thought put into it. But men do not have to carry a child, they just do their thing and then it is up to the woman and that is not fair. We bear the burden. Rape, incest, life of the mother or fetus that is not viable. As my daughters are all educated and left comment on face book of course their Aunts ( hub's family) started to call them satanic and I stepped in and said quit picking on my daughters. I do not insult your children when they post right wing propaganda, I just love them. That stopped the hate for a while.
ReplyDeleteI'd go no contact in a hurry if anyone in my family attached my girls. I'm so sorry.
DeleteI'm at a crossroads, where the more I educate myself & want to get involved, the angrier I get with where we're heading as a society. It's unhelpful & I seriously need to figure out how to channel my frustration into productive ways.
ReplyDeleteMine will be to put effort in getting extremist right wing and MAGA people out of office.
Delete