We interrupt our regularly scheduled broadcast.
Im going to probably get into trouble for using The Bummer Life for my own political means, but an issue has come to light that I think is of vital importance, and I sincerely hope you do too.
When youre done here, skip down a post to get back to the regular old nonsensery.
From an email I just received;
Dear friends,
Can you imagine living in a place where birth control is considered an "abortion" and health insurers won't cover it? Where even rape victims are denied emergency contraception?
It seems unbelievable, but the Bush Administration is quietly trying to redefine "abortion" to include birth control. The Houston Chronicle says this could wipe out dozens of state laws that protect women's reproductive freedom and protect rape victims. Access to basic health care for millions of women would be jeopardized. And it's being pushed as a "rule change"—meaning, it doesn't need congressional approval.
Can you sign an emergency message to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, whose department is considering this rule change right now? Tell him: "Contraception is NOT abortion. The Bush Administration's proposal to change the definition of abortion and reduce women's access to birth control must be stopped."
Clicking here will add your name to this message
The best way to beat back this proposal is to show Secretary Leavitt massive public outrage—that's why today Move On(dot)org launching this petition jointly with Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Together, we'll deliver every signature to Leavitt. You can help add to our momentum by forwarding this message to friends.
Here's what some others are saying about this proposal:
The draft regulation would define birth control as abortion...it could deny access to critical family planning for women across the country.—Letter signed by Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and 26 other senators.2
The draft rule could void laws in 27 states that require insurance companies to provide birth control coverage for women requesting it [and] laws in 14 states requiring that rape victims receive counseling and access to emergency, day-after contraceptives.—Houston Chronicle editorial3
The administration needs to stop playing word games with women's health and state clearly they will reject any regulations that will undermine women's access to basic health care.—Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.4
[It's] a spectacular act of complicity with the religious right... —RH Reality Check, Information and Analysis for Reproductive Health5
The birth control pill, the IUD, and emergency contraception might all become unavailable—illegal—as a result.—Brigid Riley, executive director of a Minnesota teen pregnancy prevention organization6
Can you help send a loud message to Secretary Leavitt that birth control is NOT abortion? Clicking here will sign your name:
Thanks for all you do.
Seriously,
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Comments
Stevil,
"...to keep an issue that I feel strongly about to myself for fear of alienating someone is probably something that wont happen."
It's hard to argue a point so eloquently stated. I see where you're coming from, and though I'm still uneasy about reading political news in your blog, as an astute reader commented, I've read the notice...so I've been warned.
..and yes...there is all of the other content to fall back on.
To Kurtz - that's pretty damned thought provoking.
To Johnny - I don't follow.
Posted by: Ted Brasky | August 22, 2008 11:16 AM
Every place is appropriate for your beliefs. Thanks for speaking out. Back in the early 60's and the years before, many states had laws against birth control / the pill. We need to make sure that women's personal issues are not regulated by the government. Funny you don't see the Bush Admin trying to redefine and outlaw Viagra!
Posted by: gttim | August 21, 2008 08:10 AM
There is no "refuge" from the world, we are part of it whether we like it or not. Thanks for having the stones and the conviction to put this up! I love the bummer life for all of it's madness and fantastic frivolity but posts like this could truly help a lot of people avoid the bummer life.
Posted by: Matthew Clark | August 19, 2008 01:15 PM
Mr. Brasky-
You say "this isn't the appropriate forum to divulge your political opinions..."
Interesting. What is Stevil's blog going to be tomorrow? Please let us know, and more importantly, let him know.
Thanks!
Posted by: Johnny | August 19, 2008 12:17 PM
Word, Stevil. It's nice to know we can count on you to fight the good fight. If you can't speak out here than what the eff are we all reading? Thanks for keeping the avoiders avoiding!
Posted by: Dave | August 19, 2008 11:26 AM
If what you have researched is true, I wholeheartedly agree with spreading the word. If, however, the following is true, I suggest further investigation on all our parts before we form heated opinions:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hRAzTceSVpUdFDosQqzkDNCzFqwgD92DNLL00
Posted by: kurtz | August 19, 2008 07:19 AM
Standing by and not doing anything about stuff like this contributes to the Bummer Life. Doing what you did helps us all AVOID the Bummer Life...the purpose of this site. Keep it up.
Posted by: Teamfubar | August 19, 2008 05:34 AM
Um did I miss the disclaimer? Oh no there it is. If one has been warned and still proceeds well then all bets are off.
Posted by: Chris | August 18, 2008 07:28 PM
Well first of all, I find that avoiding the bummer life sometimes means meeting it head on. I appreciate that folks find this space as a refuge, but the downside is that reality is always just outside, waiting.
Secondly, this is absolutely the appropriate place to speak my mind, because if I didnt do that, there wouldnt be anything here to read. In the two-plus years of doing this blog, it has, for lack of a better term, become an extension of me, and I suppose Id say that if you dont agree with something that I expound on here, it is absolutely your right, and I wholly respect that, but to keep an issue that I feel strongly about to myself for fear of alienating someone is probably something that wont happen.
The bright side is that I spent hours and hours penning the post that proceeded it, which is full of the good stuff, so youve always got that to fall back on.
Very respectfully,
Stevil
Posted by: S.K. | August 18, 2008 06:54 PM
I think your intuition was correct - this isn't the appropriate forum to divulge your political opinions. I agree with moveon.org and I've already signed the petition, but I read howtoavoidthebummerlife as refuge from world and national news which are, practically by definition, the "bummer life". Hope next time you trust your gut. Fair 'nuff?
Posted by: Ted Brasky | August 18, 2008 06:41 PM
Maybe hell yeah isn't appropriate here but... "Hell Yeah Steve!"
Posted by: Ray | August 18, 2008 02:26 PM
thanks for putting that up Stevil. Just when you think that the current administration can't possibly do one more stupid, degrading thing, the bar gets lowered once again.
Posted by: djonnymac | August 18, 2008 12:45 PM
Next thing you know they will try to outlaw pulling out.
Posted by: Nick | August 18, 2008 12:33 PM
You will get in trouble, no doubt. But then again, sometimes you need to get into trouble in order to do the right thing. Sometimes doing the right thing IS trouble.
I read this a few days ago as well. It is worriesome, but then, so is gay marriage, illegal immigration and all these other bullshit items that the ol' boys club think up.
Birth control isn't covered by insurance, but Viagra is...? Fuck that. I sincerely hope this gets dropped faster than a turd out of my ass.
Bummer life? Not today, thank you.
Posted by: the Gimp | August 18, 2008 09:12 AM
I wanted to punch the wall when I first saw this in the Wall Street Journal a few weeks ago. I feel fairly confident that despite the fact that we live in a patriarchal country headed by a privileged white boys club (make no mistake I, like you, am part of it), this new decision about contraception probably won't pass.
Then again, our country is filled with crazy people doing crazy things based on factless crazy ideas, so who knows. The riding in Canada seems to be pretty epic.
I'm glad you're out there avoiding the bummer life because each passing day seems to bring more bummer than cheer.
Posted by: yeshua | August 18, 2008 07:26 AM