Appalling

The Supreme Court has done it; they have set women back 35 years and placed our lives in danger. By upholding the ban on so-called “partial birth” abortions, women’s lives are in danger because they may not be able to seek abortion if their life depends upon it, and their doctors face criminal charges if s/he tries to save her life. This is the extreme scenario, but it is reality and it will happen…it could even happen to me or someone I know. This scares me. It scares me that this law could mean the chipping away at other laws that protect a women’s right to choose.

At the same time, Bush claims to be the bearer of human rights in other countries, including Iraq, as we devastate their country. Sunsara Taylor explains the big picture,

In the post-Sadam central power vacuum, Sharia law is flourishing, forcing women under the hijab, fostering “honor killings” and filling the morgues with growing numbers of women’s bodies bearing signs of rape, sexual mutilation and torture. A dark curtain is being curtain being pulled over the schools that once served girls and dreams of equality are being snuffed out.

Here at home, George Bush’s claim to support the liberation of women is more shameless hypocrisy. Speaking sanctimoniously about the “value” of fetal tissue, Bush has overseen the most aggressive and cruel assault on women’s fundamental rights and the fostering of an openly patriarchal culture.

carnage in Iraq Because of this, I am told by friends to rally around the Democratic presidential campaign in hope that they will set things straight. But how can I believe this when they fail to stop funding the war in Iraq? Are we even outraged at what is happening? I was honestly surprised to hear about the Supreme Court’s decision on the news, considering the devotion of air time given to the massacre at Virginia Tech. If I criticize the time spent on this story am I heartless? Why can’t I inquire into the latest news in Iraq (where they just experienced the worst bombing since the war began—200 dead)? Why do I have to search through cnn.com to find articles on Iraq and the abortion decision?