And Then the Women Said "What?"

Who does not love wine, women and song
Remains a fool his whole life long.
Johann Heinrich Voss

These days many of us are shaking our heads in wonderment, is this pre-1920?  Yesterday was the anniversary of the day women got the right to vote, 8/26/1920. This should be celebrated with homage and cheer to the hard working suffragettes who helped bring this about. However, this is not the case everywhere. What concerns me is I'm getting the strong impression that certain segments of our population would just as soon we lost, not only our right to vote, but also our right to privacy. The is a devolution.

A very elementary thought: isn't what happens between a woman and her doctor private? It certainly is true for men. In my business, I hold sacred the rights of my clients to keep whatever is said in my office in confidence. The exceptions: the client is a danger to themselves or others. An example [one that is true for counselors and doctors everywhere] is that if the client is being abused, or is suicidal or worse homicidal, then someone must be alerted. Other than that it is private, and as sacred as the priest hearing a confession. I don't repeat outside office what I've heard inside without the written permission of the client.

So, why is it OK for the politicians to be dictating that women must divulge what is between her and her doctor? Well, it's not OK ever. If that trust is broken then it should be true for any man considering a vasectomy or penile enlargement, or Viagra for that matter. Do you see sweat forming on some of the male brows? I do because this is a logical argument. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Just as for a young man, any grown woman over the age of 18 has a right to privacy between herself and her doctor.

I don't believe in calling anyone a name but...

Here is the party that supposedly wants government off our backs, but they make

A woman's body can prevent pregnancy in cases of 'legitimate' rape.
Todd Akin,  Republican from Mo. a questionable member of the House Science Committee

There are in fact two things, science and opinion: the former begets knowledge, the latter ignorance.               Hippocrates, Law

Let's connect the dots. Who, I must ask all American voters, has the babies? Who brings that baby into the world? Who earned the right to vote in 1920 through a hard fought battle? Who has tried to keep these baby givers and voters restricted? I have a hint for you, it's not the Democrats. And it's not the Democrats who have it in their platform that no abortion is allowed, even in the case of incest or rape. Is this a loving, nurturing, concerned or caring platform for women? Is it right to attack the victim of a rape by requiring her to carry the child of her violent abuser? Isn't this just another form of abuse? Why and how can they justify no right to privacy for a victim of rape or incest? The fact is, horribly, most of the victims of incest are under the age of sixteen. So, not allowing her to have an abortion is a form of child abuse. In essence, they are recommending child abuse in their platform. Think about it: this is almost as egregious as the sexual abuse that the little girl suffered.

When an entire party agrees that abuse of little girls and women is acceptable and allowable, there is a word for that---misogyny. It means hatred of women and they will be misogynists all if they vote to OK this stupid platform.

There, of course, is a solution to the above. Vote for candidates who actually like and love women. Who respect our rights to privacy. Who would never dream of taking away your grandmother's right to vote because she doesn't have a driver's license and hence no photo ID.

As simplistic as this sounds, vote for your daughter's rights, vote for your mother's, your granddaughter's and your grandmother's rights. Vote to honor women, not to disrespect them. Do so with love and gratitude that women have these rights and sincerely do not want to lose them.

susansmagicfeather copyright 2012 Susan R. Grout all rights reserved.