Monday, October 20, 2008

Don’t Believe the Hype

I’m in Iowa now. I can’t help but notice the huge disconnect between what’s on TV and the Internet and what’s really going on outside of our health centers. If you believe what you read, you’d think that hundreds of protesters have flocked to Planned Parenthood centers across the state — but in a lot of ways, it’s just business as usual. It’s no different than a Thursday in June. I’m seeing the same protesters now as I did then.

All I can say to them is what we always say: If you want to reduce the number of abortions in the country, then work with us, not against us. Most of the work we do -- 98% in fact -- is prevention. But that message just falls on deaf ears.

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

16 comments:

Niko said...

Great blog! You are on my feed...you have my full supoort!

Donna Barr said...

It's not really about abortion -- it's about controlling women's sexual lives. The people behind these movements want to make sure no woman has any freedom. To do it, they'll lie and spread fear.

Sandy Sandy Art said...

Because of Planned Parenthood, I never had to face the difficult decision of an unwanted pregnancy or abortion. In my late teens and early twenties, Planned Parenthood was there to insure that I got the birth control, routine tests, health counseling and education I needed. Thanks to all you Planned Parenthood Emily X's out there. Keep up the great work! I'd hate to see the fundamentalist minority ruin decades of progress in women's reproductive rights. If they get their way, women will once again be subject to the "dark ages" and back alleys of family planning. Here's a quote that relates to our present situation that I found a bit humorous; "If we are going to teach creation science as an alternative to evolution, then we should also teach the stork theory as an alternative to biological reproduction." ~ Judith Hayes

Deidre said...

thanks for facing them each day. i use the local pp for birth control & yearly checkups at an affordable price. without you, i would be spending twice what i do to see a private doctor.

kathleen said...

Thank you for all you do to prevent unplanned pregnancies and to help women facing crisis pregnancies, of which there are far too many.

Surely an unplanned pregnancy is often an unwanted pregnancy. An unwanted pregnancy uninterrupted is likely going to result in an unwanted child. I can't imagine a worse fate than being an unplanned, unwanted child. Surely a child unwanted will lose their way. Surely our prisons must be filled with human beings who, through no fault of their own, were carelessly created, perpetually unloved and grew to become one more of our throw-away culture's excess baggage.

To paraphrase Mother Theresa "It is a poverty that a girl or woman should not receive the education or protection to prevent an unplanned or forced pregnancy."

Until every man, young and old, works at every level to defend defenseless girls and women, impresses their brothers that rape and coerced intercourse will not be tolerated and ensures every pregnancy is a planned pregnancy, girls and women will never have equal standing in our society.

Unknown said...

Thank you Emily! I just read your blog and was in tears for I once was one of the young girls that accessed planned parenthood for birth control in our little town of Okanogan, WA with my mother because she had no healthcare at the time. I could only imagine what it would have been like to have people screaming at me. Your ideas of how these people could be spending time instead of protesting was brilliant. I only hope that Obama gets in the White House and Gregoire stays in Olympia, WA so that our rights are not taken away.

Please know that hundreds, thousands, millions of women are behind you sending you energy and strength. Again, thank you and keep up the good work for those that need you!!

Queen B said...

Thank you Emily X and Planned Parenthood. You provide a difficult and necessary service for many women. Let's keep abortion safe and legal for all women. I am a Catholic and I am pro choice. Keep up the great work. I'll be praying for you.

And, isn't it interesting that they pick the 40 days right before the election????

thomaspaine4 said...

Keep up the good work. And thanks to the internet, the truth is spreading as fast as the lies!!!
I NEVER believe the hype.

And I NEVER us the term "pro-life" - that's part of the hype. It's PRO-CHOICE vs. ANTI-CHOICE. No living creature in its right mind is against "life".

Mary Margret said...

"If you want to prevent abortion work with us."

Well said.

Sandy Sandy Art said...

I just read the comments posted here and love this last comment posted by ThomasPaine4; "And I NEVER use the term "pro-life"- that's all part of the hype. It's PRO-CHOICE vs. ANTI-CHOICE. No living creature in its right mind is against "life".

Well said T.P.4.! I'm putting this on my web log with a link to to this great
E M I L Y - X blog right now!

Unknown said...

It's about anti-choice. These same people who are against "murdering" a fetus because life is sacred, are the same who the death penalty and wars are righteous and preferred "solutions" to problems.

Your attitude is amazing, and I wish more people could keep such a cool head and stay so positive. Thank you for being so sensible.

kadin3418 said...

I am pro life and nothing will change that fact. But I do support the work you are doing to provide our women with birth control and yearly check ups. I beleive with all of the birth control options out there no women should have to face an abortion. The key is to make birth control affordable and that is what you are doing.
Thanks!

The Last Unicorn said...

Thank you thank you. The disparity between what the media "says" is happening and what is actually happening is unreal.

It's because of people like you letting us know what is really happening out there. I fully support pp and all the work you guys do!

Keep up the good work!

Eve Washburn said...

Emily,
I'm 100% with you and I've added your blog to my own feed!! I think it shouldn't be a question about abortion, instead we should be talking about educating women and giving them choices when it comes to family planning and their sexuality. As an RA in college I often turned to planned parenthood to help organize hall meetings and fun events where I let my girls learn there were choices out there for them. Freedom of information, freedom to chose!! Go get'em!!

xxmelx said...

i am 17 years old now and when i was 15 i became pregnant and had an abortion. of course i was against abortions since i was younger. but everything changes when you're in the spotlight. im am very thankful of planned parenthood because it gives us women a second chance. inside im very angry at protestors but also sad that they havnt been through the experience we have gone through and understand that you are only here to help us...if only everyone understood. abortion is a choice..it shouldnt be a political debate..<3

Anonymous said...

Excellent.

Thank You