I Stand With Planned Parenthood

When I was younger, I was a little more vocal in my politics.  I think it's easier to be so on a liberal college campus.

Then I became a lawyer and decided it was more professional to keep my politics and religious beliefs out of my workplace.  I still think that's true.  These are often polarizing issues that have no place where clients and colleagues are concerned.

This policy has made it's way down to this blog but lately, I've been rethinking it.  I have begun to believe that there is a time to stake myself out.

Last week The Komen Foundation's decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood flew all over me.  It once again solidified my belief that the so called 'Pro-Life' movement has very little to do with "life" and very much to do with an ultimate hatred of women and children.

Planned Parenthood does offer abortions - which happen to be legal in this country.  They also (I think) probably single handedly do more to prevent abortion - through education and birth control - than any other organization out there.  The answer to the prevention of abortion is not to make it illegal, although I suppose if that happened the 'Pro-Life' people could check that off their list and go back to the country club.  They certainly don't seem to me to give a wet slap about the very real suffering and need of millions of living, breathing American children.  Let's not forget that in addition to being anti-abortion the far right is also adamantly against their tax money going to help the poor. 

The answer to the prevention or elimination of abortion is to prevent unwanted pregnancy.  And that only comes through education and birth control - which, by the way,  the 'Pro-Life' movement also opposes.  If they truly wanted to eliminate abortion they'd be THROWING MONEY at Planned Parenthood.

But this post isn't about the 'Pro-Life' movement or right wing politics.  It's about the actions of a charity supposedly dedicated to women's health deciding that the 170,000 underprivileged women who they previously provided care for were apparently no longer deserving of support.  How's that for true commitment? 

The Komen Foundation's actions last week were baffling to me.  They resulted in 2 things in this house:

1.  A monthly donation to Planned Parenthood going forward; and

2.  Any money that I would have donated to Komen will now go to the American Cancer Society.  

I have emailed my feeling to Komen.  I'm done with them.  It may not mean a hill of beans to them in the grand scheme of things but I'm done.  And I'm putting my money where my mouth is from now on with Planned Parenthood.