♾ Infinite Gumption ♾ Amy Infinity ♾

Why We Shouldn’t Burn Planned Parenthood to the Ground

I didn’t get an abortion at Planned Parenthood. But I did get an annual exam and a pap smear when I was a poor college student who was alone in the world for the first time. I wasn’t overly impressed by the facilities, by the stuffy waiting room, made even more uncomfortable by the nervous tension seeming to radiate in waves off of patients waiting longer than usual for who knows what kind of appointment.

But I was already uncomfortable when I got there, feeling untethered, unsure if my parents still had me on their insurance since they were so mad with me. I was too afraid to ask them. 

The exam was matter-of-fact. Then they gave me a renewal on my birth control prescription that I had been on since age eighteen for abnormally horrendous cramps and the hopeful possibility that I might someday meet a guy, fall in love, and make love. 

Well, someday had come and gone. And now I was in love again, engaged at age 19, hence my dad being so upset. He thought I was doomed to abandon my potential success and his hopes for my presidential future. And yet I was still me. Responsible reliable me. And as such, I was determined to not ignore my body, to be as safe as possible, and to stay healthy. Planned Parenthood provided me that possibility, as I am sure they have for many many women and men, both before and since. 

I am not writing to advocate for the morality or ethical standings of this organization. I am writing to bemoan the travesty that would be cutting off the federal funding to an organization that provides countless individuals choices, education, and treatment, particularly to a wide variety of groups from a wide variety of income levels, social standings, and enclaves that might otherwise not receive these all-important services. 

The overall fallout from this potential cutoff cannot be denied. I don’t even have to look at statistics. Just seeing how full the waiting room was on the day of my visit, I can only imagine how many women will not get their annual exams, how many STDs could be passed along as a result, how many unwanted pregnancies could occur both from a lack of education and medication, and how many more children will end up in the foster system. The trickle down will catch up and, in a world where we are overpopulated already, this can only hinder us. 

I am not advocating for the specific issues at hand, birth control, fetal tissue experimentation, and abortion included. I am advocating for choices. And the cutting off of federal funding for this organization would take away a large segment of the population’s only viable choice. It is hard enough to swallow the fear and find the courage to take responsibility of your health, your actions, your body, and your sexual education, especially at a young age or when you feel isolated, out of money, or embarrassed. With the defunding of this option, a door is slammed and I can only imagine how many will feel even more alone as a result. I know I would have. 

I came from a middle class family. But I was alone in my new world, trying to make good choices, trying to be responsible. But now, largely due to a gaggle of ridiculous pundits and their followers making a political issue out of an ethical and religious one (as happens regularly now it seems), this option could ultimately fade away. Medical and educational options should be backed by the government. The choices themselves are for the individuals to make. 

Many people are vehemently opposed to anything having to do with this organization. I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for their ignorance, for their willingness to be swayed by their twisted shepherds. One of my friends on facebook even posted that she would like to see them burn to the ground. Really? Are we that sort of barbarian? How does that resolve any of the underlying issues, the larger being a need for these educational and medical services? Even if they are (and I’m not saying that they are) doing something controversial, something you are religiously opposed to, how does that completely supersede all the good things that they do? For me, the bigger question is how do we counterbalance the grandstanders and politically motivated truth-twisters, who seem to have a sticky grip on a large part of our population? How do we shake reason into the masses who seem to be content flocking after fanaticism at any cost? 

I always try to look at the positive side of an issue or an outcome, because negatives don’t seem to get us very far. If stopped up, perhaps the positive side of this possible misfortune would be manifested in a few decades, when all the babies born as a result of this proposed action might fight back through their political stance and beliefs acquired through the inevitable hardships faced as a result. Or perhaps some generous benefactor will step out of the shadows and provide funding for the educational and medical service rift that this action would produce. Or perhaps people will come to their senses. We can only hope.