Friday, January 27, 2012

Contraceptives are starving the baby!!!

Wow the anti choicers have really done it this time. I mean who comes up with such ridiculous conclusions. The definition of contraceptive is to deliberately prevent conception or impregnation. So first of all you can't starve something that hasn't even been conceived. Secondly you can't starve a fetus. Like i said before I was having wishful thinking that people would stop being air heads, but I see that's all I can do for now and keep fighting the fight of choice.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Missed Connection

Last week the mayor of the third largest U.S. city closed branch libraries on Mondays and laid off 176 of its library staff! Literacy is a huge problem in Chicago (and nationally) and cutting off access to the possibility to be or become more literate is going to make this city worse.

People are already limited on resources and limited to increase their resources.  The job market is kaput and those looking for jobs don't have the skills set that the "good" jobs are looking for.  Also, the majority of job applying is done via the Internet. 

The library provides Internet.

The reduction in libraries in a city like Chicago is dangerous.  Shut down the libraries, and we will be left with a Red Eye, with bold letters on the front stating: HOMICIDE REPORT.

The family-oriented branch I live near is now closed on Mondays. 

What a way to start out the week? Wouldn't you rather have your child going to the neighborhood library after school, than returning the first day of the school week after school to sit on the couch watching TV? 
TV has limited options, despite the increase in cable channels. Libraries offer you an array of choices at no charge to the patron.  Including CDs and DVDs.

Many youth these days could probably give you a break down of the major text lingo out there: OMG, BRB, or LOL.  But we should not be laughing if they never used a dictionary book to look up a word or checked out a book at the library. The youth are our future and we seem to forget that.
 
There is no truer statement than: "Knowledge is Power." Disenfranchised groups, such as girls and women are already at a disadvantage when it comes to access of knowledge.  For the most part females are not encouraged to "be smart." Many are in limited situations: confined to their homes, their neighborhoods or no graduation from high school.

Pregnancy rates of high schoolers and in some cases middle schoolers in Chicago are alarming!  Because education is lacking, especially sexual health education.  Hearsay and misinformation is taking many girls down the wrong path.  And unfortuantely this path can be generational.

I remember in my Sociology class my professer saying that education is a great way to get out of poverty.  As a recent college grad, I would say student  loans can lead you to poverty.  But, I do believe that higher education can open the door to more opportunities.

In order to get to complete a higher education, you must know how to read and have access to reading.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Chanting for Roe V. Wade!!!!

So excited to be kicking off the chants for this years rally. Even though it's like 9 degrees I still feel just as excited as if it were a breezy 72 degrees. It is so important that we remember the women that opened the doors and made choice possible. Now its up to us to carry the torch and make sure those doors stay open and new ones open up. I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!!! Peace, Love and Choice!!!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Roe V Wade Rally

Today the women in the leadership group and myself will be participating in the annual Roe v. Wade rally at the Thompson Center. I am quite excited about this event because it will be the first Roe v. Wade rally that I have attended. I am happy to be a part of this. However, I am quite nervous also because I will be speaking. I have always been one to shy away from public speaking because it has never been one of my strong points. If I am to continue to do this work and to be a leader this one aspect that I will always have to face. So today I will be facing my fears and standing up for what is right. There's nothing like killing two birds with one stone.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Vote NO! on single issue voting

"There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives."
-Audre Lorde

A 2008 cover of Ms. Magazine featured President Barack Obama bursting out of his jacket, shirt and tie like Superman, but instead of a S, a fitted t-shirt hailing: “This is what a feminist looks like."

The feminist magazine is an obvious supporter of abortion access and Obama said out loud that he supports abortion access as well

But that is not the only platform he ran on for increasing rights for girls and women. He also addressed, "women's rights, opportunities, [and] advancement," according to Eleanor Smeal article in The Huffington Post Web Site. Smeal is the president of the Feminist Majority Foundation and publisher of Ms. magazine.

Now it's four years later and instead of focusing on all of the United States ills, such as war, poverty, unemployment, philandering elected officials, and police's abuse of power (to name a few). The focus once again will be given to a polarizing issue: gay marriage or abortion. Take your pick!

This is foolishness on all parties involved, those running for a political office and the voters who put them in office. As the Election Day gets closer and closer, the single issue mud slinging has begun!

As Mitt Romney has been the forerunner as the presidential Republican candidate, former Speaker of the U.S. House and Republican presidential nominee hopeful Newt Gingrich has sent postcards to South Carolina residents stating that Romney was a pro-abortion as former governor of Massachusetts.

"The Record is Clear: Massachusetts Moderate Mitt Romney Can't Be Trusted to Protect Life," the mailing stated. It also stated that he allowed abortion pill access and appointed a pro-abortion judge as governor. The South Carolina Primary is January 21.

Hopefully the politicians running on a single issue platform and the voters who side with them, will get the hint that the abortion issue, like another issue is and has never been single or by itself. With lack of education running amok, sexism still a deadly disease of society and girls receiving mixed and influential media messages, and unequal pay among males and females, abortion and access to it will always be an issue of other issues.

Let's see the bigger picture, instead of seeing only part of the picture.

The links in this article are in no affiliation with the Chicago Abortion Fund.


Roe v. Wade Rally

This Friday is CAF's annual rally in support of the historic Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion! Thank you in advance for your support! Come on down to the Thompson Center from noon to 1 pm to show your support of women choosing to control their bodies (as we should be). Cannnot wait to see you guys and give the opposition some food for thought:)

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

OMG Finally!!!!!

So as you can see from my blogs I have been catching up on TV. So tonight was the premier of The Game which was already one of my favorite shows and has definitely won a place in my heart now. So as you would know if you were watching last season that Melanie had got an abortion without Derwin knowing. So as usual he was upset and talking about she killed his "baby". Melanie was totally unapologetic for her decision and stood by her choice. This was the first time that I have seen the subject of abortion presented on TV where their not showing the woman being totally distraught over her choice. She reminded me of myself when she said Yes I had an Abortion!!! The only thing I didn't like was her reason behind having it though it was suppose to be because she didn't want to lose Derwin because it wasn't his fetus,but hey whatever the reason it was her choice just like it was mine. Kudos to the writers of The Game.

Friday, January 6, 2012

New Year Same Issues

So I love that I am the way I am and I am not blinded by people manipulations and own opinions and I stand strong on my own. I know it's a new year but people have the same issues. Sometimes I think people will change with time but I finally realized some people are just stuck in their ways and don't feel like they can learn anything from anyone. The anti-choicer"s are still trying to limit rights as a woman and so is the government but like I said last year I will not be silenced. I hope that more people will change just wishful thinking.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

What is the proper age for a young woman to be on birthcontrol?

So I was at the doctor yesterday and in came three girls that were 14yrs. old this I knew because they were having a conversation that gave out there age. So they were talking about things that 14yr. old talk about music, boys. parents, the usual. So one of the girls was there to see the doctor and she had a prescription in her hand that she had brought with her. So the girl asked her what it was and she was like it's my birth control shot. Now I did not know how to feel when I heard this, I was kinda happy but then it clicked like she is 14 is she having sex already. When I was 14 my mom had me scared straight out of boys and the only ones I was really interested in were the ones in the magazines. Boy times have changed! I was glad that her mother had that talk with her and decided to take preventative measures but on the other side I was thinking why does she need this at such a young age. Sex should be the last thing on her brain but it all has to do with society and how girls are automatically sexualized at a young age and the fact that sex is every where on the TV, magazines and radio. The media really takes a toll on society.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Pregnancy Free!

It occurred to me last week that this is the longest I've went without being pregnant since my first pregnancy in 2001. My last abortion was in August of 2007, coincidentally the same year that I received funding from the Chicago Abortion Fund and joined the leadership group. Since, I have learned about several birth control options including tracking when I ovulate. This is a huge deal to me because this proves that with knowledge comes power. I am taking back my body with the work that I do and I am learning and teaching others along the way. Truly an awesome feeling!!!! Peace!