"Women's rights" is, not understandably, but definitely undeniably, a controversial subject. Maybe it's just my liberal mindset but I cannot comprehend why any person/group feels the need to deny basic human rights to another [already born] human being. That one must specify "already born," to stay arguments from the deliberately obtuse, is sad and ludicrous. But the persistent attack of "conservative" U.S. legislators on Roe v Wade is of growing concern to women - particularly those of reproductive age, and their allies. Some people used to define themselves as "fiscally conservative but socially progressive." It seems the oppressive faction has commandeered the name and folks are just expected to buy into it; or at least not to challenge it. It seems to be what Trump is banking on, as he continues his attacks on four freshman Congresswomen, and now, Elijah Cummings: that [white] conservatives will overlook his xenophobic, at best, and outright racist, at worst, behavior and comments. Listening to NPR recently, I heard a short clip of Chris Cuomo asking a guest, "If Donald Trump came right out and said he was a racist, would you [still] support him?" Cuomo was taken aback by his guest's hesitation; the guest said he would "have to see who was running against him." So there we are.
Here are my 'two cents,' making America (United States) - or for that matter any, country "great," starts with: providing a living wage; ensuring the welfare of women and marginalized populations; and actively seeking ways to end armed conflict. Problems will still exist, even after those issues have been addressed: that will be reason to branch out.
"Power" has been [deliberately] misconstrued and misrepresented, to mean the subjugation of others. Only evil is capable of devising torture and weapons capable of destroying the planet. Dictators make every problem worse. In this first twenty years of Twenty-First Century, so many countries are adopting right-wing governments. Strength comes from making alliances. What makes people embrace cruelty? How does fear overpower reason? Why is there enough for some, but not for all? Knowing we live in a world of finite resources, does it not behoove us to encourage slow growth rate among the populace? Zero Population Growth (ZPG) should have been a global goal from at least the beginning of the Industrial Age, if not always. Maybe that would have at least postponed the dilemma the planet currently faces.
Much of the global populace is being held hostage, in one form or another. There are those who reside in countries under dictatorial regimes which, in my opinion, includes those nations under the questionable leadership of "strong man" governments. For the life of me, I cannot fathom what is so attractive about this push toward hard right wing politics. North Korea, for example, has its detention centers, filled with political dissidents; those interested in democracy. United States, for all its lofty language about "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" has a prison population which is vastly disproportionate with that of other countries. Many of those held are unjustly- even if "legally"- incarcerated. Listening to Snap Judgment on NPR, I heard a story of a man imprisoned for a crime he did not commit [no surprise, he is a person of color] and a guard helped him escape. He made his way to South America, ending up in Suriname. When militia ousted him and his family from their home, commandeered for a military outpost, he, his wife and their numerous children took refuge in a cement bunker, which had no sanitation facilities and no running water. After a while, he told his wife he would turn himself in and in exchange for his return to prison, would ask that his family be brought to United States. Long story short; U.S. reneged. They do that a lot. His wife had a mental breakdown and died. An older son, from a previous marriage, eventually got his siblings Stateside. Twenty-one years after returning to prison, for what should only have been three years remaining of the original term, this man finally received parole [after fourteen denials] and saw his youngest son - who was a toddler, when his father left South America. In areas where so-called "right to work" policies are in place, many are held captive by lacking the freedom to leave one job, in pursuit of better options. In a country such as the United States, which claims to value education [but makes it difficult for poor people to obtain], student debt can virtually cripple an individual. And then, there are the victims of gender and racial biases. Even when there is ostensibly a nondiscrimination policy in place, many people find themselves in untenable situations: threatened with loss of position for "making waves." Despite the Me Too movement - or maybe as push back, there is a whole lot of gender bias in the workplace.
Referring back to my opening paragraph, there are countries - allegedly civilized nations, in which a woman is denied the right to govern her own body. This might mean a woman needing permission from a male family member to go out in public. Did you know a married women used not to be able to get a credit card in her own name? She was seen merely as an extension of her husband, not a real person. Currently, there is a seriously demented faction in U.S. working/plotting to make it nigh unto impossible for women to get abortions. They have sadly succeeded in a number of places and the ensuing burdens are largely borne by women of color and those in economic straits. These legislators cannot seem to comprehend the fact that making birth control available and abortion safe and easily accessed, actually reduces the number of abortions. There is no other way to put it than to state plainly: stripping away a person's autonomy, is slavery. The United States "pro-life" cult should label itself Pro Birth, because the majority of their energies are focused, solely on denying a woman's right to choose. The least of their ideological contradictions is the ability to not see the death penalty as anathema to their allegedly pro life "convictions." To put truth behind a pro-life stance, one must be concerned for all life: for the flora and fauna disturbed/destroyed by fracking; for the girl children abandoned, in countries where sons are prized above daughters; for families torn apart, when factories relocate to countries with slave labor; you get the idea. Quality of life is at least as important as the drawing of breath. In a world that is overcrowded, being conscientious about population growth and sustainability, is of utmost importance.
Injustices abound and the subject could be talked to death; but that wouldn't accomplish anything. Let us each focus our time and energy on improving life for [ourselves and] those around us. Kindness and generosity - whether of money or of spirit, go a long way toward making life better.
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