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I see in the news that anti-choice organizations are planning demonstrations today at Planned Parenthood facilities around the US to support GOP plans to defund PP.

Of course, my first thought was to grab a sign (and my, ummm, "kittyhat"!) and head for my local facility to show my support for PP, but I also see in the news that PP offices are asking that supporters not show up at the facilities to counter-protest (because they don't want the crowds of protesters any larger or more chaotic than necessary as women are trying to get in and out for services).

Some communities are planning counter-demonstrations in other venues, but I haven't been able to find any information about any events planned in my city.

So, I've decided to set aside the time planned for the anti-choice demonstration in my city today to contact all my elected representatives, from the White House down to my state legislators, and Tom Price at DHHS, to remind them that I support PP and am strongly opposed to any efforts to restrict women's reproductive rights or Planned Parenthood's access to public healthcare dollars as a legitimate healthcare provider.

I hope PP supporters here will consider doing the same, and spread the word to people you know. I hope people all over the country will have the same thought. Wouldn't it be great if, while comparatively small groups of protesters are standing out in the cold and snow with their signs, huge numbers of Americans were flooding mail boxes and switchboards around the country with messages of support for PP, women's health, and reproductive rights?

morte said:
you just admitted to being anti choice.... I congratulate Elk on using the more correct term.

Despite your repeated inability to utilize the quote button I will assume you are responding to me and ask you this. How does having a moral objection to something but not pushing said objection on anyone all the while supporting an organization that promotes "choice" despite my objection make me "anti-choice"? The short answer...it doesn't and nothing you say will change that. Your responses are the reason nobody can have an open dialogue about this subject. You accuse somebody of using inflammatory language and order them to stop when you are doing the exact same thing.

cocoa_puff said:
To me, pro-life means I believe every unborn child (or fetus, if you prefer the medical term) has a right to life, and that right extends after they are born as well to grow up in a safe, healthy environment. Abortions for rape/incest and medical necessity are a completely different matter than an abortion for "convenience" or because the family doesn't want one more kid. However, I don't force this opinion on other people, they have the right to think and believe what they want. I don't think abortion should be illegal, I think improved birth control access and education what we really need. Does PP do these things? Possibly, however they have claimed to provide services in the past that they have now confirmed that they do not provide.

Also, saying "pro-life" people should be against the death penalty and war is insane to me. I'm in no way "pro-war," but I understand the importance of defending your country and family. People enlist in the military, that is their choice. And yes, there are casualties and innocent lives (on both sides) are lost as a result of war, but just imagine how many more innocent lives would be lost if we didn't fight back? I guess you could say I'm "pro-death penalty" for convicted serial rapists, serial killers, pedophiles and other heinous criminals. To be honest, they get a more humane death than a 95 year old dementia patient with end stage cancer, contractures, a trach, a feeding tube, and multiple pressure ulcers who has "lived" that way for however many years and remains full code due to the family's wishes (yes I have cared for many of these patients).

///Disclaimer: These are my opinions, sorry if you don't like them///

Although our opinions differ a bit, I just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to explain your position in a thoughtful way. You gave me a new perspective and I appreciate it.

ItsThatJenGirl said:
Although our opinions differ a bit, I just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to explain your position in a thoughtful way. You gave me a new perspective and I appreciate it.

Thank you for this. It is exactly the attitude needed when discussing such a sensitive topic. Inflammatory language, snark and name calling do nothing to further a better understanding of both sides.

Wuzzie said:
Despite your repeated inability to utilize the quote button I will assume you are responding to me and ask you this. How does having a moral objection to something but not pushing said objection on anyone all the while supporting an organization that promotes "choice" despite my objection make me "anti-choice"? The short answer...it doesn't and nothing you say will change that. Your responses are the reason nobody can have an open dialogue about this subject. You accuse somebody of using inflammatory language and order them to stop when you are doing the exact same thing.

t

insults will get you no where, and I was not using inflammatory language, unless you consider the truth inflammatory. some things there is no room for "discussion" and my rights to my body is one of them.

OrganizedChaos said:
What other services? Because in my town there is a PP & maybe 2 OBGYNs. So if that PP shut down, where would those women go? The closest towns are over an hour away. I have been to that PP in my town & it was full. What if those women don't have Medicaid, don't qualify or for a variety of other reasons can't/don't go to an OBGYN. That's a bigger issue than abortion.

Thank you for showing me another perspective. I forget that every town doesn't have as many alternative resources to PP as what I am familiar with in my general location (many charitable organizations, some religious and some not). A lack of services is certainly concerning, and although I do not support PP, it sounds like they are a needed part of your town. I apologize for assuming that every town has the same resources as my own.

morte said:

insults will get you no where, and I was not using inflammatory language, unless you consider the truth inflammatory. some things there is no room for "discussion" and my rights to my body is one of them.

And how am I infringing on them when I say I support PP and the work they do? How am I anti-choice when I said nothing about limiting or getting rid of legal abortions? I said I have a personal moral objection to them which means I won't have one but I don't push my beliefs on anyone else. In your world am I not allowed to have my own feelings about a subject and verbalize them in a non-judgmental way? Your anger and animosity is misplaced. I simply don't want to be lumped into a category in which I DO NOT BELONG and calling me anti-choice is most certainly inflammatory when I am nothing of the sort. I wasn't insulting you I was pointing out the truth. You were not using the quote feature. According to you if it's the truth it's not inflammatory. And you do not get to make the rules about people can and cannot discuss. Maybe I want to hear what people with opposing views have to say. Maybe they want to hear mine. You don't get to dictate that. You don't want to discuss it? That's fine with me because I don't remember asking to get into a discussion with you in the first place about this or any other topic.

cocoa_puff said:
Thank you for showing me another perspective. I forget that every town doesn't have as many alternative resources to PP as what I am familiar with in my general location (many charitable organizations, some religious and some not). A lack of services is certainly concerning, and although I do not support PP, it sounds like they are a needed part of your town. I apologize for assuming that every town has the same resources as my own.

I appreciate your posts!

Planned Parenthood is down the mountain from me in a large city.

Here in rural-town . . . we have 4 medical clinics with physicians, NP's, and PA's. They do ob/gyn and all other kinds of medical care. People who want abortions do have to travel down the mountain but the truth is, most of us travel down that mountain just to grocery shop.

My small town has about 600 residents and the entire valley has about 2,000. The surrounding small towns add another couple of thousand.

I was the school nurse here for 5 years and most teens had their medical care here. They had access to birth control as well.

Rural healthcare is healthy and active here in the small towns of my state. We do health fairs a couple of times a year for lab draws (the hospital and the medical clinics on different days).

I'm a fan of working in a rural area. I like the idea that my provider has knowledge in many areas and I don't have to go to a specialist unless there is a special need. I like the idea as a nurse that I can work in different areas in the hospital. I did ER, L&D, and acute care all at the same time sometimes.

I am pro-life as well when it comes to babies.

I see no dichotomy regarding being pro-death penalty for some heinous crimes.

Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.
ItsThatJenGirl said:
So what would your solution be? That medicaid no longer covers Planned Parenthood at all?

I have a friend who was slightly overweight (~30 pounds) and she successfully lost it. Her doctor approved a tummy tuck. Her husband is in the military, so you "paid" for that, too. Which one bothers you more?

I'm not trying to argue with you at all, I'm just genuinely interested in the rationale behind this line of thought.

No, I don't think that the answer is to stop all Medicaid funding. I just think that PP does more harm than good sometimes and I just wanted to provide the flip side of the coin. I think that it is too easy for a young girl/woman to go to PP and get an abortion without proper counseling (a decision that will impact her for the rest of her life). I also think (based on the number of abortions in the US per year) that many use abortion as a form of birth control. As with any government funded (taxpayer money) program there is fraud and abuse (If you work in a hospital you probably see it). In my opinion, if my money is being used, I want to cut that fraud/abuse/waste of the system. Also, I do not consider Military in the same category as welfare, completely different. I am not saying that poor people should not get care but I have personally seen the abuse of the system by some poor and/or illegals. Some procedures are elective (abortions in most cases) and I don't want to work hard for my money just to have it so freely wasted, or for elective procedures. People who pay for their own insurance also have limitations (ie access to care). As for PP acting as primary care in rural areas, if this is the only care available then I would not want people to have nothing. I just think that PP needs less government money and more accountability.

Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.
-- marketing vs. reality; it's not always the same thing.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
cocoa_puff said:
Thank you for showing me another perspective. I forget that every town doesn't have as many alternative resources to PP as what I am familiar with in my general location (many charitable organizations, some religious and some not). A lack of services is certainly concerning, and although I do not support PP, it sounds like they are a needed part of your town. I apologize for assuming that every town has the same resources as my own.

It's OK. I wish there were more sources available. There are PCP's who cover the gambit (birth to death) but aren't true OBGYNs & I'm sure a lot of women don't go because they wouldn't receive the same care as at an OBGYN. Hell, we *just* got a true pediatrician in our town! LOL. Before that you either took your child to the PCP or out of town.

Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.
jenniferhopeRN said:
Thank God for the compassion of Planned Parenthood; always there to abort these unwanted, costly kids.

I was conceived in rape. I'm also a follower of Jesus, and God is pro-life. Killing someone because they are unwanted or putting a price tag on the cost is not compassion.

Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.
cocoa_puff said:
There are many, many other services that provide sexual/reproductive health care, STI treatment, birth control options and education, PRENATAL CARE, and MAMMOGRAMS for low income people, that are not PP.

1. Cecil Richards testified before Congress that Planned Parenthood DOES NOT provide mammograms.

2. Does Planned Parenthood do any good for women’s health? These stats will shock your liberal friends | Opinion | LifeSite is a good read.

3. Planned Parenthood just (past 6 weeks) got busted for advertising pre-natal services that they DO NOT provide.

Thank you.

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