The issue is the decision early last week by the Susan G. Komen For the Cure foundation to de-fund all monies being granted to Planned Parenthood for women's breast exams. In a move to make the decision seem non-political, the Komen Foundation indicated that these funds were being withdrawn from Planned Parenthood because of a new policy within the Komen Foundation that would take away funds from any organization that was "under investigation". Of course because of some of the work that Planned Parenthood does, it constantly is under investigation. Right now they face an investigation from a congressional sub-committee to ensure no federal dollars given to Planned Parenthood would go towards abortion.
For me, I don't even want to touch upon the abortion issue. I understand why people have such a problem with abortion. I also understand why other people feel that it is a woman's right to choose. Unfortunately for the people who don't like abortion, it is the law of the land as determined by our highest court. So it is legal for now - like it or.
So regardless of all this why would the Komen Foundation even want to step in the middle of this ongoing "war" between right to lifer's and pro-choicers? I think the answer is that there is no rational reason they did what they did. Yes - Komen gives money to Planned Parenthood. But that money Komen gives to Planned Parenthood is ONLY used by Planned Parenthood to fund women's health exams associated with breast cancer - it has nothing to do with abortion.
But when you start reading what was going on, you come to realize that the Komen decision was extremely political and has backfired in their faces in a very big way. I read a great story on the situation on the Huffington Post today. The story can be found at this address: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/05/karen-handel-susan-g-komen-decision-defund-planned-parenthood_n_1255948.html.
The reality of the situation is Karen Handel a former Republican operative with very strong anti-abortion viewpoints has become a vice president within the organization. She has only been there for six months but her whole driving force since she has been there has been to escalate this issue surrounding Planned Parenthood and get the funding to them removed.
Occasionally I have let my political leanings sneak out when I have written my blog. But in general I do try and keep them in check. In my personal life I am much more outspoken in my political beliefs than I am here on the blog. I don't think this story even has to be politically focused except to say that Karen Handel has tremendously damaged the Komen Foundation by entering a political edge to the decision making process. Doesn't the battle against cancer span ALL political agendas? Shouldn't everything be done across the board to save people's lives regardless of the political agenda they might hold. Given that Planned Parenthood is the only health care organization in some areas that will service the extremely poor, doesn't it make sense to get them as much funding as they need to help save lives? (Planned Parenthood can't use the money donated from the Komen Foundation for anything other than breast health issues.) So by pulling the money from them you are going to cost some women their lives.
The unfortunate thing is when it comes time for Race for the Cure here in Denver I am sure this controversy will be brought up time and time again. Without a doubt fewer people will give to Komen and the overall effort to save women's lives and improve their health will be de-railed, because of one silly person with a political agenda. Karen Handel, I hope you are happy with the damage that you have done. You have sullied the name of a great non-profit organization and you have diminished the importance of this charity. Shame on you Karen Handel!
I hope I haven't offended anyone by my viewpoint on this issue. If so - I am sorry but it needed to be said!
Today has given me real hope that I am going to get my life out from under this blanket of pain that I have lived under for the last 3 months. When I got up this morning I took 4 Advil and 2 oxycodone pills. Throughout the day I was relatively pain free unless I moved into extreme positions. It seems to me that I will eventual get out of this pain in totality! Leave the pain behind for the day has put me in a very good mode. Think about living with chronic pain for a very long time and then think of how different the world seems when that pain is removed. That is the way I fell today. There is a good chance that I will have to deal with other days filled with pain, but I think in the end run it is going to go away.
Along with the lack of pain on my part, it seems as though Zack is perhaps being able to live without his anxiety. His overall anxiety levels are way down. Today there has only been maybe 2 or 3 incidences of him "fear mongering" at all. That still isn't good enough as we need to get to the point that there are absolutely no fear-mongering incidents at all - but this is a huge positive step for him.
There isn't a whole lot else to mention for today. Since Tim, Celinde and Cole were away, we looked out for their dogs over the weekend. Given my limitations at the start of the weekend, I relied heavily upon Zack to help out with the pups. He did a good job and there were no issues of one pup trying to assert dominance over another pup or pups! It was fun to watch the pups play and except for one time they got into the garbage yesterday afternoon we had no problems with them at all.
Our total snow fall for the weekend from our monster storm was somewhere between a foot and a foot and a half. Regardless of the specifics - we got a lot. Given my back we are the only people on the cul-de-sac who do not have our driveway shoveled - oh well that is the way it sometimes goes.
I hope everyone had a great weekend!
Thanks and peace to all! ~J.
1 comment:
Ditto...."Shame on you Karen Handel!"
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