Jennifer Killpack-Knutsen ([info]green_jenni) wrote,
@ 2007-01-31 14:18:00
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Entry tags:2007 utah legislature, choice issues, feminism, reproductive choices, utah taliban

Utah Taliban: Keep Your Religion Off My Body
Background info:

Roe v. Wade

H.B. 235 S1

Utah Taliban/American Taliban: A place where laws are made according to the dominant religious/superstitious ideology and tend to result in excessive control over most aspects of one's life, and even more excessive control over women who are seen as inferior to men in that ideology.

What started out as a "trigger law" has become a serious threat against reproductive freedom in Utah. HB235 S1 (substitute bill) as become an all out assult on Roe v. Wade.

Fellow women of Utah, meet Rep. Paul Ray, a Republican from Clearfield, who wants to be in control of your body and your life.



Ironically, the way the legislature does email addresses make Rep. Ray's email: pray@utah.gov
You can also reach him at PO BOX 977, CLEARFIELD, UT  84089 or 801-725-2719

Read H.B. 235 S1

This substituted bill just made it out of committee and is expected to have strong Taliban Republican Support. The last time our legislature tried such an assault on our reproductive rights was in 1991 -- not only did it lose in court, but it cost the state $1.2 million dollars. Looks like our own little good ol' boys club is hoping that the rapture righties will be able to trash Roe v. Wade so that they can get away with this waste of money.

Quotes from Paul Ray:

"The people here have an ideal of protecting children - that's also unborn children." That's why our air is so poisonous -- to keep all those little children healthy.  That's why we are the most pro-war state in the U.S.: Gotta protect all those Iraqi children by bombing their houses and maiming and killing them.

"The honest reason behind this is, No. 1, I'm just plain flat-out against abortion," : Good for you, Rep. Ray! I support your choice on this and I promise to never force you to have an abortion.

and remember, this is the guy who's critical thinking skills gave us this little gem: “If we have to wait until the next legislative session, we’re going to have an onslaught, a rush of abortions to go in and beat the deadline."

I'll be keeping this blog up to date on all actions and organizing on this issue. Let me know if you know of something you don't see on this blog.

[If you think this issue is about the life of an embryo, let me remind you that our legislature in Utah allows insurance to cover viagra and not birth control, two things which add to the number of unintended pregnancies. Looks to me like an indication that punishment of a woman's sexuality as based on religious/superstitious ideology, and not life, is the driving force behind this legislation.]
Say No to HB235 S1
Say No to HB235 S1

(13 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]mwalton
2007-01-31 09:41 pm UTC (link)
Heck, regardless of anyone's thoughts on the issue it's a waste of "at least $1 million" according to Shertliff. That's money that SHOULD go to our underfunded public schools! Or any of the myriad of underfunded public works projects in the state. Not to mention the underhanded way this bill was thrust on people (when people thought they were there to talk about the only slightly less stupid trigger bill). Everything about this bill enrages me.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]green_jenni
2007-01-31 10:14 pm UTC (link)
You are right - there are so many needs that are more important than this ideological warfare.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]deadbeatwriter
2007-01-31 11:39 pm UTC (link)
Unfortunately because he makes exceptions for the mother's health and rape cases his bill has a decent chance of being enacted, even with a voter recall. He can't say he's "flat-out against abortion" either.

The kicker will be the spike in women reporting rapes...

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]green_jenni
2007-02-02 08:28 pm UTC (link)
And the spike in back alley abortions . . .

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]deadbeatwriter
2007-02-01 10:25 pm UTC (link)
He. South Dakota at it again.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]green_jenni
2007-02-02 08:27 pm UTC (link)
This is horrible--

But at least I can take (very) small comfort that I don't live in the only backward state in the U.S.

Rule by religion, especially when you don't believe that particular religion, really, REALLY sucks.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Overtune Roe v. Wade!
(Anonymous)
2007-02-02 05:21 pm UTC (link)

Dear Jen,

Of course, I support this legislation. I believe that Roe v. Wade needs to be overturned. This may be the chance the Supreme Court needs to do just that.

I agree with you that other people should not be trying to control your body. But, when it comes to abortion, I believe that there is more than just your body involved, so the picture becomes more complicated

I believe the unborn child has the same rights to have her body protected as you do. I do not believe that she has the right to kill the body on the outside of her (your body), just as I do not believe that you have the right to kill the body on the inside of you (her body).

Like it or not, because of the decision you made to engage in sexual activity, a human life was created. And, because of the choice you made, the two of you are stuck together for the next nine months.

That is a long time, and it may cause great inconvenience and discomfort to you, but I believe that you are the person responsible for that condition. I further believe that you do not have the right to avoid the natural consequences of your choice by robbing the unborn child of her body.

I believe that it is reasonable for society to expect fathers to provide for their children. I also believe that is reasonable to expect mothers to do the same. No one forced you to have sex. You chose that. Now, you need to take responsibility for your choice.

You do not have the right to put your interests above the life of your unborn child. If you do not want the child, fine. There are literally thousands upon thousands of wonderful couples who would be thrilled to provide it with a loving home.

All you have to do is not kill your child before it is born. That is all. In my opinion, it comes down to simple ethics: Her right to live outweighs nine months of your life.

Sincerely,

Alienated Wannabe
http://www.alienatedwannabe.blogspot.com

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Overtune Roe v. Wade!
[info]green_jenni
2007-02-02 06:58 pm UTC (link)
Once again alienated, you miss the point. You are defining the beginning of life on your religious view points. Do you have any non-religious proof that shows clearly that a fully developed nervous system, fully developed brain and a "soul" are all present at the point of conception or during the early stages of clump of cells or embryo?

If you cannot without a doubt prove this without religious arguments, than how can you compare a clump of cells to my life as a fully developed human being,with a fully developed nervous system and brain with emotions, memories, relationships? You can't without religion and you know it. There fore you are using YOUR religion to deny MY rights.

Did you know alientated, that the law can't force you to donate a kidney to save your own child's life-- and that is for a person that has a fully developed nervous system and brain. The law can't force any person to be a life support system for their own children -- YOU GET TO CHOOSE. Why do I have to be a life support system for something that is not yet fully human? Because your religious beliefs tell you so.

It's doesn't matter to you that your religious beliefs are based upon a book(s) that was written by men who thought women were inferior to men, or who thought women's primary function on the planet was to be incubators for their ejaculations. This isn't ancient times any more, and I get to choose whether I want to create children or not, not your misogynistic religion.

"Her right to live outweighs nine months of your life." Try 20 + years and really much more, alienated -- this is a decision that affects the rest of your life.

Abortion has always been with us and always will be -- you can choose to condem women who cannot handle pregnancy or motherhood to dangerous abortion and death, or you can choose to understand that even if you don't like it, we should save as many FULLY DEVELOPED human lives as possible and help to keep the procedure safe..

With the first option, you might "save" a few babies from being aborted, only to come into a planet where we kill people all the time for fabricated reasons (Iraq War, as an example) , where a lot of people are going to suffer and die for lack of food and water and all the climactic shifts we will be seeing due to global warming, where that child will likely live in poverty, possibly abuse, where more and more babies are found in dumpsters, just to name a few possibilities.

We cannot even begin to take care of all the children we have on the planet. Your efforts would do much better to focus on the kids already here and suffering than by trying to bring new ones into the world.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: Overtune Roe v. Wade!
[info]green_jenni
2007-02-02 07:20 pm UTC (link)
I have to respond to the it's only 9 months thing --

Did you know that there are higher death rates for pregnancy and child birth than for safe abortion (not that abortion isn't risk free)?

Did you know that murder is the most frequent cause of death for pregnant women?

Pregnancy on some women's bodies doesn't take a whole lot of toll, but for some of it really can be fairly destructive.

Just a few of the side effects of motherhood on my body: weight gain and difficulty losing weight; stress response -- mothering has been the most stressful part of my life - and these are kids that I chose to have. I can't imagine how much more stressful mothering would be to women who are forced to become mothers against their will; lack of preventive medical care -- since becoming a mom I have a lot less money to spend on taking care of my health; Stretch marks -- may seem just like a cosmetic problem but mine are serious enought to have made the skin very weak and subject to tears; Lack of sleep -- and not just during the early infant days. Every fever, every illness that might be serious and many other childhood problems causes lack of sleep, which we now know can reduce your lifespan. And that's just me. I'm sure there are many post-pregancy/motherhood problems that I've managed to avoid through luck or genetics.

The only health advantage that I've had that those who haven't had children don't is less cramping and painful periods.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Overtune Roe v. Wade!
[info]green_jenni
2007-02-02 07:38 pm UTC (link)
Can't believe I forgot about the bladder! Pregnacy can be really destructive on the bladder. I may need surgery in a dozen years or so(assuming I can afford it) to keep me from being dependent on Depends, if you know what I mean.

Also, may or may not be related, but the timing is suggestive - pre-pregnancy days I had maybe a dozen or less migraines in my first 25 years of life. Beginning 2 months after my first was born and continuing to the present, I have about half a dozen a year, and if I didn't catch them early I'd probably have 1 every two weeks. And catching them early means medications that are hard on my liver.

It's not just 9 months of a persons life, in other words. We're talking serious bodily commitment.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Here! Here!
(Anonymous)
2007-02-04 12:02 am UTC (link)
Or is that Hear! Hear!

Anyway, keep up the good work. We will overcome these twits.

(Reply to this)


(Anonymous)
2007-02-07 10:52 pm UTC (link)
This website (http://www.pregnancy.org/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment1.php#week1) might prove helpful in the "religious inquiry". Is it only religion that teaches the baby is a human? Jen has argued that most abortions occur in the first trimester, so this pregnancy tracker website shows the development that occurs during this time. It's pretty amazing.

Gender is determined at conception. Human DNA is present at conception. I particularly like this quote, "The genetic makeup (the characteristics that make this new individual different from anyone else in the world) is determined at the moment of fertilization."

During the first couple of weeks a heart and circulatory system are formed. The foundation of the nervous system is formed. By week five blood is pumping, all four chambers of the heart are functioning, and the brain and lungs appear. At week six there's a pancreas, nostrils, and intestines. At week seven teeth actually form beneath the gums. The baby continues to develop rapidly in the next couple of weeks, gaining bones, a tongue, joints, fingerprints, hair, fingernails, and will curve her fingers around an object placed in the palm of her hand.

Clearly the baby is more than just a "clump of cells." She is a human.

Cameron
www.magicvalleymormon.blogspot.com (http://magicvalleymormon.blogspot.com/2007/01/philosophical-study-of-abortion.html)

(Reply to this)

...Avoid unwanted pregnancies...use an effective birth control...or two...
(Anonymous)
2007-03-11 08:15 am UTC (link)
Abortion numbers are far too high… Over 3,500 per day / Over 1.3 million per year in America alone. 50% of that 1.3 million claimed failed birth control was to blame. A further 48% had failed to use any birth control at all. And 2% had medical reasons. That means a staggering 98% of unwanted pregnancies may have been avoided had an effective birth control been used. There are an estimated 34 million women in need of contraceptive services in America — those who are not sterilized, pregnant or trying to conceive. 34 million…if the pill is 99% effective that means 1% of 34mill = 340,000 + 26,000 for the 2% = 366,000……………. 366,000 abortions per year..Doesn’t that sound better than 1.3 million… And it could be even less, some of the implants are 99.9% effective…. 0.1% of 34mill = 34,000 + 26,000 for the 2% = 60,000………WOW…….. 1.3 million per year or 60,000 per year…. DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN GET AN IMPLANT (in arm) THAT IS SAFE, 99.9% EFFECTIVE AND LASTS FOR THREE YEARS? Implanon is new to the US but has been widely used in Aus for about five years. The only bad report iv’e heard is if your a smoker you can’t use them due to increased risk of cardiovascular conditions. Good incentive to give the cigs a miss………… (not hard to work out which one I'd rather give up.) Any way my daughter has one, and no problems, no pills to remember,and she is protected from unwanted pregnancies for three years. (in fact our GP told my daughter they were 100% effective but they've left a 0.1% margin for error in case) But wait, how do we get them all to use birth control, many I’ve encountered spit chips at the mere mention of the idea. I know their are a number of people who can't use birth control for one reason or another. But is that true for all types of birth control, there are many different types to choose from, surely one to suite most every-one. I would suggest that the number of people that can't use any of them at all would be very small but many use this as their reason. If only people would choose to use birth control, They wouldn't have to make another choice........ http://www.sexual-health-resource.org/hormonal_birth_control.htm Cash payments for using birth control.............. http://serr8d.blogspot.com/2007/02/project-preventionthe-road-as-opposed.html Bruce.

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