But SOME PEOPLE - not mentioning any names - *cough* Dubya *cough* - seem to think the terms are interchangeable and one the same as the other.
In case you are as easily confused as certain Oval Office oafs, let me explain the difference to you: "contraception" is a method - INCLUDING ABSTINENCE - that prevents pregnancy. Abortion is a method, medical or biological, that ends pregnancy.
Some idiots in high places, having solved all of the world's other problems, want to make it illegal for people - primarily women - to have access to contraceptive devices and drugs.
That's right. Condoms would be illegal.
Not only that, basically what the idea there is, having sex for any reason other than procreation would be illegal. You know, a sin.
Because, after all, this country is by, for, and of the Christian Bible, and a woman's worth lies in her ability to reproduce healthy offspring.
No matter what your stance on abortion - and I understand, I really do, the argument against (though I don't agree) - what person in hir right mind can look at the state of the world and say, "hey, yeah, let's outlaw contraception"?
Oh, I guess I answered it there, didn't I? No person in hir *right* mind would. It takes an idiot, a mental defective, or a religious nut (all of which *are* fairly interchangeable terms and conditions) to think that.
"WTF" doesn't even begin to cover this one.
MoveOn.org clued me in on this latest moronic move by our "elected" officials (more info under the cut). I encourage everyone - no, I beg, demand, plead and insist! - to sign the petition they set up to stop this nonsense before it gets any further.
You can sign the petition here. Already 200,000 people have signed, and MoveOn is hoping for a quarter million signatures before sending it on to the Health and Human Services Secretary, Mike Leavitt.
MoveOn's emails
cross-posted at my LJ
Email 1:
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.[1] 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."
The best way to beat back this proposal is to show Secretary Leavitt massive public outrage—that's why today we're 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 editorial[3]
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 Health[5]
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 organization[6]
Can you help send a loud message to Secretary Leavitt that birth control is NOT abortion?
Thanks for all you do.
–Nita, Laura, Patrick S., Adam G., and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Redefining abortion; Federal officials considering a rule allowing health care workers to refuse to provide contraceptives," Houston Chronicle, August 10, 2008
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/5935532.html
2. Letter to Secretary Mike Leavitt from Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and 26 other senators, July 23, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=4042&id=13468-2980773-SO9Qp5x&t=6
3. "Redefining abortion; Federal officials considering a rule allowing health care workers to refuse to provide contraceptives," Houston Chronicle editorial, August 10, 2008
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/5935532.html
4. "Birth control: is administration backing down—or not?" Los Angeles Times blog, August 8, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=4043&id=13468-2980773-SO9Qp5x&t=7
5. "HHS Moves to Define Contraception as Abortion," RH Reality Check, July 15, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=4041&id=13468-2980773-SO9Qp5x&t=8
6. "White House Considering Contraception Restrictions," Public News Service, August 11, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=4040&id=13468-2980773-SO9Qp5x&t=9
Email 2:
Wow. In less than 24 hours, over 200,000 people have signed a message to the Bush Administration saying contraception is NOT abortion. Every signature will be delivered next week to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, and the media will be notified of our final signature count.
The more folks who sign, the stronger our impact together will be—can you help us break a quarter-million signatures? To do that, just think of 10 friends who care about reproductive rights and forward them the message below.
Thanks for all you do.
–Nita