How Pure the Little Girls Are

I have often wondered what I would say to a daughter, if I am ever blessed enough to have one, when she begins to grow into a young woman. Would I follow my parents example - which is a good model to follow or go a bit further, a bit more graphic. I have followed political policies on women for quite some time. There is a common thread whether it be regarding sex, pro-choice vs pro-life or access to contraceptives. The common thread is this; as women we can now become surgeons, pilots or scientists just to name a few opportunities that have opened up to us, but when it comes to our reproductive health we need man, particularly in the form of government policy to take our collective hands and show us the way - their way. If I were to subscribe to a personal view it would be pro-choice. I know better than anyone what is good for me and my life. If I need contraceptive because having 20 children is not my idea of fun (not all of us can write our properties off as `places of worship`) and I really, really enjoy sex with my partner, I am smart enough to decide this for myself. If I want a child but not the man that usually comes with that package, I reserve the right to become artificially inseminated. I also reserve the right to not give two shits about what any ones judgement may be on my decisions because at the end of the day, the have their bed to lie in and I have mine.
Policy makers start small. Pre Roe vs. Wade that `small` thing was calling abortion murder and making it illegal to seek or deliver such a therapy. We won that one. But that didn`t stop the policy makers, oh no they are a persistent bunch to say the least. One councillor in Virginia proposed the following:
Women who miscarry MUST report the fetal death within 12 hours or face a possible 12 months in prison. The details of this proposed (it got yanked off the table) bill can be found at this link. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1481676
This was proposed by a man, a man who had never delivered a 3 month old fetus into a toilet, who never felt a child growing inside get ripped from his body, and who never will. But in addition to this traumatic experience, he expected a woman to report it and undergo questioning that would rival a murder trial. Why. Who does this benefit. This is a prime example of men gone wild. When did men become the gate keepers to female sexuality. I am not referring to a decision whether or not to abort being decided between the parties involved - that should be between those who made that child - I am referring to the ability for a woman to decide her and her children`s course without interference from policy. Do some women abuse this freedom, definitely, that said we can`t throw the baby out with the bath water (pun intended). Most women do make sound choices that benefit all involved, and in the event they do not, who are we as society and policy makers to comment.
My point (yes there is one) is that I would teach my daughter how to critically think situations through. How to rotate a situation and view it from all angles. Cause and effect. Arm her with all the education to make those choices and, better yet, by providing this education prevent her from needing to make the really difficult ones. In the end she may decide to abort a child conceived unwanted, or she may have 10 children or none. These are the things I feel a well informed woman can handle just fine without policy and penalty being enacted. There are laws against theft. Do people steal - of course but most don`t.
Gentlemen of the senate, parliament etc., our women, your women, all women are not to be feared as juvenile half wits in need of guidance. We are mothers, wives, professionals, and moreover soulful people who are able to decide our own path. Allow us that basic human right, nay basic God given right (Deuteronomy 30:11 and Luke 6:46 to reference a few for all you bible thumpers out there) to exercise our free will and personal reflection without reprisals.
Ladies, we must not let policy be shackled to our wombs, do not allow government to control our bodies, our minds or our hearts. We have come so far, this is the home stretch.