my tax dollar

Planned Parenthood clinics perform about one third of all abortions in the United States, about 300,000 abortions in 2007-2008, and they receive $350 million in tax dollars annually. I don't want my taxes being spent this way.

When I first thought of my rebuttal to yet another of this friend's fb status updates, I was going to focus on areas in which I did not my tax dollars being spent. Then I reconsidered; this approach would be successful in allowing me to vent my displeasure, but beyond that it wouldn't accomplish much. Rather, I have decided to focus on the nuts and bolts of what Planned Parenthood actually does and how these tax dollars indeed provide necessary services.

While I was at Marquette, I went to Planned Parenthood for my annual checkup and to receive my birth control pills; years later, I still do so. Why? As a college student, I believed being on the pill (or any form of birth control) was better than the alternative of bringing an unplanned child into the world. Today, due to being older and hopefully wiser, it still beats the alternative AND I wholeheartedly believe in the purpose and existence of Planned Parenthood.

The root of Planned Parenthood's mission and actions is that all women should have access to the full range of reproductive health care. This includes (but is not limited to) birth control, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Their primary goal is prevention; reducing the number of unintended pregnancies in our communities via preventative healthcare measures and education.

In fact, preventative and primary health care is what Planned Parenthood predominantly does; more than 90% of their resources (or more than $315 million in tax dollars) are allocated to these services. By providing these services, Planned Parenthood helps women and families make responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, their lives and their futures.

As a part of protecting their health and the health of their families, women facing an unintended or unwanted pregnancy must have access to safe, abortion services without interference from the government or anti-choice extremists. In case you missed it, Roe v. Wade (1973) constitutionally and legally protects a woman's access to a medically safe abortion. Decisions about whether or not to have an abortion is up to the individual, not the government; and should be made by a woman in consultation with her family and doctor, not by politicians. This is a right that must be protected.

However, the real issue is to reduce unintended and unwanted pregnancies in the first place. How is this done? By increasing access to affordable birth control and comprehensive sex education. Yes, sex education does include abstinence. However, with over 50% of teenagers (a percentage that is higher in low-income urban areas) losing their virginity before high school graduation, preaching abstinence is not wholly effective.

Teenagers, and the populous as a whole, need to be educated on the different options of birth control available and the way to properly use these options; as well as the consequences of not utilizing what is available to them. By providing the correct resources and working together, we (in theory) can produce an educated population equipped with the knowledge to make responsible and informed decisions.

Planned Parenthood provides necessary services to women and their families - preventative and primary health care, affordable birth control and sex education.

I want my tax dollars being spent this way.

(additional information and statistics provided by Planned Parenthood and The Kaiser Family Foundation)

not propaganda

This morning, I was greeted by the following status message from a fb friend:
Life has suffered and been destroyed constantly in Haiti over the last decade and it took a massive earthquake for people to decide to help. What will it take for our country to recognize and stop the suffering and destruction of the unborn?

Sigh.

Haiti has never been what we would call a stable country - plagued by periods of political unrest, economic decline and general abuse of human rights. The recent earthquake, while sad and devastating, adds to the tumultuous history of this island country.

I agree that, due to natural disasters and a militant dictatorship, life has indeed suffered and been destroyed in Haiti. And we Americans tend to be a reactive bunch, thus it takes an event of mass and devastating proportions for us to take action. I don't think many would argue with either statement.

However, to use a disastrous event like the Haitian earthquake to promote religious and/or political propaganda?

Regardless of your political or religious persuasion, that's just wrong.

People have lost loved ones, their homes, their whole livelihood. We, as human beings, have unified in our humanitarian efforts to help those who have been affected - whether it be donating money to the Red Cross, participating in an organized fundraiser, or for those who are able, going to Haiti to help directly.

They say there is a time and place for everything - in this case, compassion for our fellow human beings.

Not propaganda.

this is milwaukee, right?

Last I checked I lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - not Madison, Wisconsin. Thus, I believe that coverage any college basketball team (i.e. Marquette, UW Milwaukee) based in Milwaukee should take precedence over the one (UW) in Madison.

Before I go any further, perhaps I should preface this by saying I grew up with a dislike of the Badgers. I know what you're thinking: "But Bec, you grew up out east in the DC area. Why do you dislike the red and white so?" First, red and white are also University of Maryland colors; and in my world, they alwaus will be first and foremost. Second, my granddad was a proud Northwestern alum. Third, and likely the most relevant in this matter, my mother went to University of Minnesota. That Paul Bunyan axe? Well, it doesn't belong in Madison.

OK, maybe the fact I'm a Marquette alum also plays into this ever-so-slightly.

However, back to the original disgruntlement at hand. Last night both Marquette and Wisconsin played a game on the hardcourt and obviously, coverage of both games was on the news. Since TMJ-4 is a Milwaukee-based station, logically and logistically Marquette should be covered before Wisconsin, right? Wrong! Wisconsin v. Michigan THEN Marquette v. DePaul. Now, I don't know nor do I care about the results of this (or any) Wisconsin game. However, the Marquette was actually a big deal but definitely not in a good way. (Really...DePaul? A team that hadn't won a Big East game in two years until last night?).

Maybe I'm a mildly enthusiastic and biased Marquette alum; but I truly feel that in Milwaukee, Marquette should largely receive top-billing when it comes to college hoops. That being said, I do realize there is another Milwaukee NCAA Division I university. For you UW-Milwaukee fans and alum, I think UWM should receive priority coverage over Wisconsin as well. In some cases UWM can and rightfully should even precede Marquette (yes, I wrote that), like in the past when they have defeated Top 25 Butler.

Bottom line: This is Milwaukee. Support the Milwaukee universities, dammit!

double standard should dye

Despite the strides that women have made over the past 100-plus years, the double standard still remains. Men still make more cents on the dollar for equal work. Women often have to work harder for the same amount of prestige. Men's athletics draw more spectators and money than women's athletics (minus figure skating). Men are allowed, by societal standards, to age gracefully while women are encouraged to fight it every step of the way.

Why do I bring this up? I am one of those women who are involved in the fight on aging. Yes, I'll admit it; I dye my hair. I started when I was 17 because I though reddish or purple-ish hair would be cool. I was even platinum blonde for a time. Now, I dye my hair for a completely different reason - I am at least 30% grey.

I've been told that this "natural lightening process" (as I call it) is the only visible sign of aging I show. I believe I'm too young to go grey; even if it is the pretty silvery-grey that will eventually turn winter white. But if I did decide to go au natural, society would frown upon it.

In fact, society frowns upon it no matter what the woman's age. My mother is 70, retired, member of AARP, etc. She's certainly old enough to realistically have grey hair, yet she dyes it as not to appear old or unkempt. My 65-year-old dad, on the other hand, does not dye his hair (and never has). Yes, I inherited his silvery-grey hair; but that's not the point.

The point? Men are considered distinguished when they age gracefully; women are just considered aged. Aged is not only good for men, but wine and cheese as well. Well, why not women? If a woman wants no longer hide the natural color of her locks, she should be able to without question or being scrutinized.

Does this mean I'll stop dyeing my hair anytime soon?

Don't bet on it.

friendship...blendship...

Sometimes it takes a personal setback to realize what you might have lost, but more importantly, what you have.

Many of you know that I had surgery on Wednesday to (finally) repair my knee injury, which had been plaguing me since mid-August. For the record: yes, I know that I should have gotten it checked out then but I honestly didn't think it was as serious as a torn meniscus that required surgery. Thanks to the miracle of social networking, I posted updates on facebook because it was easier to keep everyone updated this way, rather than fielding multiple phone calls, e-mails and texts. Besides, isn't that what social networking is for, on some level anyway?

In dealing with setbacks you learn who your true friends are. I don't expect everyone to read everything in their newsfeed, nor to I expect the fb world to revolve around me (as nice as it may be for a time). For the better part of last decade, I spent a lot of time with a group of people who I thought were good friends -- honestly, I thought many of these people would be lifelong friends. However, a vast majority have not even checked in to see how I was doing with this setback...or even about life in general. I'll be truthful; it hurts. I felt there was a bond but maybe I should come to realize it was all a facade.

That being said, I'm fortunate to have a network of amazing friends who have been more than willing to help me out (schedules permitting, of course). This, quite frankly, floored me. I didn't realize that so many people would jump in and offer to help. Aside from the good thoughts, prayers, karma, well wishes, etc., they have volunteered to drive me places, bring me books, entertain me on fb or IM, bring me food...you name it, they've been there.

I also learned a valuable lesson in all this: be happy for what you have, and don't lament about what you don't. I am truly grateful for all my friends. A simple "thank you" doesn't seem like enough, but thank you for being there. You really have no idea how much it means.