51st State?!

November 6th, 2004

Howard told us that it was about trust

"This election, ladies and gentlemen, will be about trust. Who do you trust to keep the economy strong, and protect family living standards? Who do you trust to keep interest rates low? Who do you trust to lead the fight on Australia’s behalf against international terrorism?"

Bush told the US the issue boils down to trust

"This is a campaign of trust. Who do you trust to secure this country? Who do you trust to lead with firmness and steadfast resolution to protect the American people? Who do you trust to adhere to the values that most people agree with? And who do you trust to get this economy growing?"

Now the echolalia is concerning Women’s reproductive and human rights.

Sarah Maddison addresses the comments made by Howard’s Health Minister, Tony Abbott:

"His personal views are no mild aside, they are an attempt to influence public and parliamentary opinion in order to change the rules in relation to Medicare funding for terminations. Abbott believes there is an abortion epidemic in Australia, and he thinks he has the medicine to cure what he considers to be a national tragedy."

NARAL addresses the comments made by Bush’s administration:

"President Bush had to pull out all the stops to beat back the mobilized opposition he faced in this campaign. He will face an even bigger mobilization if he now tries to pack the Supreme Court with new anti-choice zealots. Not even George Bush could keep a straight face claiming that this election gives him a mandate to roll back women’s rights."

Is this where we want Australia heading?

As at 20 October 2004, we have Jim Peacock, President, Australian Academy of Science as the only Australian signatory to the World Leaders Statement in Support of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).

Where is the Prime Minister?

Where is the Minister for Health?

Who will advocate to protect what happens in the Uterus?
My grandmother did.
My mother does.
My father does.
Their children do.
I do!
My partner does.
My daughters and sons will,
and their sons and daughters will.

Never will it be morally permissible for a Government to legislate away a woman’s right to her reproductive choices.

Occupying a redundant timeline?

November 4th, 2004

I am overwhelmed with a sense of feeling alien to my species.

The majority of Americans have also been Classically Conditioned.
Who’s next? The British?

I am now officially describing myself as Homo Sapien Sapien Evolved.

There will be no inter-species frolicking!

Inflicting shame and guilt where a healthy libido would frolic.

November 2nd, 2004

I have always been apprehensive of Tony Abbott’s ability to separate his arrogance, his faith and his portfolio since he took over the role of Health Minister from the clueless Kay Patterson.

Now I am terrified.

I’m not too old to remember the panic on the faces of my girlfriends as they asked around trying to procure an abortion. It was never information that was reliable or accessible. Still, they all succeeded in terminating and went from pregnant to not pregnant. They were all forced to obfuscate the truth.

Very few women are open about terminating a pregnancy, yet we know it is a widespread surgical procedure.

Despite the silence there were often tell-tale signs.

  1. Their boyfriend (if they had one) would have sold his car/motorbike
  2. She, usually vibrant and hopeful, would be wrapped in a coat of shame and guilt.

Why?
Why are we even discussing diminishing choice and reproductive rights?
Back to widespread shame and guilt?

They were having sex.
They were not making babies.
The two are very different motivations.

We all desire intimacy.
Sex is intimate.
Sex precedes unplanned and unwanted pregnancy.
Unplanned and unwanted pregnancy is devastating.
Intimacy should not be wrapped in fear.

Don’t be silent Tony.
Yell loudly that you as Health Minister will advocate strongly to not only maintain the reproductive rights of women, but to improve access to safe and free abortions.

Worst fear…

October 28th, 2004

..no hope of a vibrant Senate to protect the rights of the vulnerable and marginalised in Society.

Oprah and the v word

October 23rd, 2004

In the US, 50 million eligible women didn’t vote in the 2000 election.

Oprah Winfrey, using her hugely successful television show reminded American women why in this election they can’t afford to be so complacent.

"Take your rights for granted at your peril, ladies. Move, or else. Choose how you want the laws to treat and respect you and your body – or someone else, someone who hasn’t touched a vagina for 30 years and who thinks sex is only tolerable in the dark, fully clothed and with a respectable prostitute, will choose for you."

I, for one, applaud Oprah’s neofeminism.