Thursday, November 17, 2011

"Blame-Blindness"

*nothing to do with the Optic Nerve  =D

I'm a fan of protecting my property. (Putting up fences and posting "No Trespassing" signs are the just the shallow end of the pool when it comes to what I consider my right to defend) But even when I've failed to deadbolt my shed closed and some thief steals my hedge clippers (because, like, hedge clippers are totally this year's Tickle-Me-Elmo? ...Anyhow!), the law will still punish that offender. Despite not having a lock, the criminal is still the one at fault.

This concept does not apply to women. Well, haa, let us be honest, a woman's body is not her own in the first place! ;D

A lot of Americans will immediately assert that they believe women in Saudi Arabia should not have to wear obfuscating clothing (the visual being the burqa); But mention that a rape/sexual assault victim was wearing a mini when the attack took place -suddenly, "Well, she's asking for it if she dressed like that!"

A woman does not need a deadbolt or burqa for a man to know not to mess with her body without her permission.  I could cover my yard in signs promising I have stashed long-lost Spanish treasure in my basement, and guess what? If someone goes ahead and takes that booty, it is still ILLEGAL.

So no, particular make-up and clothes do not equate to "asking" for anything.  What does?  Well -for starters- asking or saying, "Yes".

And because this is a body we're talking about, permission is free to be withdrawn at any time.  Kind of like how a boxer can throw a flag and that over-eager opponent in the blue corner has to stop those damn knees to the gut already.

 Yes, yes, I get it - there is such a thing as precaution.  And there's also such a thing as being held responsible for CRIMINAL acts when one messes around with stuff they have NO RIGHT over.  And being married, as we are now comfortably into the twenty-first century, is no longer a contract of ownership, so you're out of luck there too, rapists.

Unless you are in Norway, apparently.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The "Personhood Amendment" FAIL.

Just enough people are smart enough to have turned down the Personhood Amendment in Mississippi.

This proposal would have criminalized birth control -and here's a shocker!- possibly even miscarriages. Thankfully, its ridiculous nature was obvious.


Here's the thing - ONLY a woman can die from complications with a pregnancy. She has every right to say "no" to a pregnancy, especially within the first trimester. It should be her decision to carry or not to carry a child to term, not the state's.  Republicans who support the personhood amendment and similar demeaning, limiting government actions are going against the fabric of their party.  It is shameful.

Some will argue that a child can also die from complications in a pregnancy - but the only human being with the mental capacity to make decisions, who has lived and defined (his or) her own existence, is the mother. Not the child.  The power should be with the mother.  Stop disregarding her life and personhood.