The big thing this week was the 41st anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision. Some of us remember life before Roe - most women my age either needed or knew someone who needed, an illegal abortion. I have friends, family members (including my grandmother), colleagues who had illegal abortions.
Here's the link to Daily Kos Radio on the subject.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
This site has three whole documentaries about Roe as well as a number of mini-docs. I watched the shortest of the full-length films, which I strongly recommend. It has some history of abortion law, and first person accounts from women who had abortions when they were illegal and from people who gave them care. Women who don't remember what life was like in those days should definitely watch it.
http://www.choiceatrisk.org/...
And now for the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The Good
The Childbirth Coalition has joined with the National Partnership for Women and Families, making both groups stronger, and adding childbirth to the issues of women's health that the National Partnership works for.
http://www.nationalpartnership.org/...
Did you know a gathering of starlings is called a murmuration? Here's a video from two women who went canoeing.
http://www.lifebuzz.co/...
Wendy Davis outraised her Republican opponent by $12 million. Of course, they're pulling out the heavy guns against her now. If you want to help her and other women candidates, go to Emily's List.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/...
Mom's Rising is holding a telephone town hall you can sign up for. It will include congressional allies, and will discuss issues that concern women and families.
http://action.momsrising.org/...
The Bad
US Evangelicals are not happy just to mess things up here, but are exporting their brand of intolerance to Russia as well. h/t to Dave in Northridge.
http://www.thenation.com/...
What would you do if the principal of your school said "Modest is hottest" and the old favorite "Boys will be boys?" Here's what one girl did.
http://causewecool.tumblr.com/...
The state of South Dakota continues to take Sioux children into foster care in non-Indian homes, refusing grandmothers' efforts to foster their grandchildren, in violation of federal law. The Sioux nation is asking to begin their own social services agency to deal with placing of children on the reservation. You can support the effort here:
http://petitions.moveon.org/...
After last week's wonderful diary last week about harassment, stalking, and threats online, the petition site has a petition that would require police to have a basic understanding of social media, so no one else reporting being terrorized on Twitter will be asked "What's Twitter?"
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/...
For those of us who watch Downton Abbey, Anna's rape was shocking and the aftermath continues as she reacts but refuses to tell Bates what is the matter. Here is Joanne Froggatt discussing her role as Anna:
The Ugly
What else but Mike Huckabee would fit into this category? So much emphasis has been put on the stupidity of his comments about women, libido, Uncle Sugar, etc., that we haven't even noticed that the whole thing is based on a lie - that the government will be providing the birth control. (shakes head in disbelief)
http://www.thenation.com/...