The New Jersey Supreme Court has reversed a previous ruling requiring that doctors tell women prior to an abortion that their fetus is an “existing human being.”
The 5-0 Supreme Court ruling reversed a unanimous ruling by a three-judge appeals panel. Abortion cases pending in Illinois and South Dakota have raised the same issue.
“On the profound issue of when life begins, this court cannot drive public policy in one particular direction by the engine of the common law when the opposing sides, which represent so many of our citizens, are arrayed along a deep societal and philosophical divide,” New Jersey Justice Barry T. Albin wrote for the court.
The actual story of the woman who brought this case to trial sounds horrible and incredibly traumatizing. However, the incompetence and insensitivity of a single doctor (assuming that the allegations are true) is absolutely no cause to require other doctors to provide their patients with inaccurate information. I wish the woman well in her path to recovery, but I also profoundly thank the NJ court for doing what is right.
On a related note, another City Hall meeting was held in Aurora last night about the town’s new and embattled Planned Parenthood. The good news? This time, we outnumbered them. Estimates say that there were about 200 pro-choice residents and around 150 anti-choicers. Not great, but it’s definitely huge progress, and I thank the good people of Aurora for stepping up for women’s health. Now if only we could get the damn place open.
Also, I couldn’t let this quote from the article slide without comment:
“They are no different than drug dealers that push drugs in our schools. They push sexual pleasure,” Aurora resident Jeff Budill said of Planned Parenthood centers.
Um . . . let’s just ignore the insanity of comparing Planned Parenthood to drug dealers. Too easy. So: What the hell is wrong with pushing sexual pleasure? I like sexual pleasure. Don’t you? Don’t all people who aren’t either asexual, too young or brainwashed by a crazy cult religion? That’s why they call it “pleasure!” People can come to my neighborhood and push sexual pleasure all they like, thank you very much.
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“People can come to my neighborhood and push sexual pleasure all they like, thank you very much”
hahahahaha! awesome…they can peddle it around here all they want too! if you aren’t having fun, what’s the point?
it’s good to hear some good news once in a while!!! like we are all some brainwashed sex cult…hell bent on the destruction of virginity!!!
didn’t you know? PP doesn’t provide health care…they only encourage sex so they make shit tons of money off of all the slutty girls and poor confused girls getting lots of abortions…seriously…i read that somewhere…give me a break…
and finally…go new jersey!
“push sexual pleasure…”
i wonder if his neighbors have stopped laughing at him by now.
This just reminded me of a funny story: I work as the fundraising intern at my local PP, and last week I was writing a fundraising letter that’s going out to our major donors. There was a sentence that was supposed to read “Teens are still receiving far too little sex education too late.” I ended up changing the sentence after that, but accidentally deleted too much, leaving it to read “Teens are still receiving far too little sex.”
Thank God we caught that one– but my boss and I were cracking up about it for about 5 minutes straight, creating ideas for how Planned Parenthood was going to solve the crisis of teens not getting enough sex. I think that we decided we ought to make a couple of extra rooms available at the clinic in the afternoons . . .
i am really glad that you are having fun while doing something so worthwhile…now i just wish that more people could see the good that PP and people like you are doing!!!
Mr. Jeff Budill needs to shut his dumbass mouth.
Saying PP is no different than drug pushers? Someone should smack him.
Okay, enough about that, I was just a little taken aback by that statement. But I like PP, I mean they give out free condoms for crying out loud!! :D
It is absolutely amazing that you all are feeling so free to say that Mr. Budill should shut his mouth and not voice his opinion yet you all do it here. He is at least strong enough to stand up for what he believes even at the risk of great ridicule. I am unable to say the same for the weak cowardly comments here.
In regards to this topic, there will always be difference of opinion. Sexual pleasure is absolutely natural. God created it. If you don’t believe in God that is the first place where we won’t see eye to eye. Fine. The main purpose of course is to create children. Having a child is not an easy endeavor(I have four). I certainly wouldn’t recommend it to a teen. Condoms are not a failsafe. They break, pucture, rip and voila a baby is created. Perhaps you don’t agree that it is a life until birth. I would ask that you know why you believe what you believe. My wife lost a baby only 4 months along. Go ahead and tell me those ultra sounds weren’t of a living being.
Anyway, PP does indeed help many. One of the reasons it has any value at all is because of all that parents that ended up with kids they didn’t want doing something called pleasure. So how long do we say this patern is ok. My children are my responsibility not some agency that will tell them it is ok to have sex before they are ready or at least prepared to have a baby.
Oh and to the author of the original post. You really shoot yourself in the foot when you call religion a cult with the cute little slash through it. First of all, in a cult, everyone does what the leader wants. So you can’t even say the very existence of God qualifies, cause there are so many that won’t even try to follow his teachings. It would be interesting to see how you teach your children. Honestly…”just ignore the names they are calling you suzy, it is ok to have sex with as many men as you like…that is why they call it pleasure. Oh and by the way…if you do accidently get burdened by one of those babies that so many are trying so hard to have, it isn’t really a life until birth so go ahead and get rid of it. Just be thankful that I didn’t do the same to you.”
Look, there will always be troubled teens in our society, they need somewhere to go. But it shouldn’t be made ok if all in the pursuit of pleasure.
1. I never said that Mr. Budill couldn’t say what he wants. I said that he made himself look like an idiot.
2. I dare you to find a single pro-choice person who claims that an embryo or fetus is “not a living being.” If they say that, I would be forced to direct them to a biology textbook. Whether or not an embryo/fetus is alive is not the question.
3. Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean that do/am going to have children. I don’t and I’m not going to. But thanks for asking!
Have a nice life! Hugs and kisses.
P.S. I’m very sorry about the loss that you and your wife have experienced. i wouldn’t wish a miscarriage on anyone who wants to have a child.
Cara,
Thank you very much for sympathy regarding our loss. That shows that you do indeed have character. I would though, if I may, take a moment to respond to your responses.
1. I was actually not referring to you with the comments about Mr. Budill saying what he wants. That was more towards the juvenile reactions in the comments that followed yours. His comments were very strong to one side. Does that make him look like an idiot? Extremist, maybe. When it comes to my kids I too am one.
Cara, I am all for you having all the unmitigated sex you want. That is your personal life. The issue is the education of kids that goes on as a result of PP. I think that if a boy wants to think that he is man enough to have sex then he sure as heck ought to be man enough to face the embarrassment of buying condoms. Again, the fact of the matter is God created sexual pleasure as an incentive to reproduce. It is the designed result. If God is not in your life then just go with the science of it. The two come together and create another. So perhaps instead of abortion clinics we should offer voluntary sterilization clinics. Or teach masturbation techniques. At least then we would be preventing the creation and taking of life.
2. Cara, perhaps you can help me understand the pro-choice thought process. How can a pro-choice person justify abortion if they acknowledge that it is a life? At what point does that thought process end? It is ok to kill as long as it is only so old. I am sincerely trying to understand the thought process.
3. I’ll have to go back and re read my note, but I don’t remember asking if you personally were going to have children. So your welcome, but I am pretty sure I didn’t. I had assumed not, but was trying to help expand your thought process beyond personal gratification to the person that you could potentially create in your womb and then kill off due to inconvenience. (that is off course assuming that you have not already voluntarily sterilized yourself. I am not asking that either …rhetorical)
I look forward to your response. I do not intend to create hard feelings, but I would love to open some minds. There are far to many of us only thinking of ourself. I leave with this. If all you look out for is number one you will eventually step in number 2.
While I couldn’t possibly close with Hugs and kisses not knowing you and all, I do wish you all the best.
ps. Please remember, Jeff Budill like you, is passionate about his beliefs. It is alot easier to make fun of opposition than at least try to understand it and respect his opinion as he does yours. I know him personally and know him to be a man of integrity. No matter what side of this issue your on, this country needs more men willing to stand up for what they believe.
1. Anyone who says that sexual pleasure is a bad thing, yes, is an idiot. As for all of your suggestion to help prevent abortion, Planned Parenthood does ALL OF THOSE THINGS. In fact, less than 10% of their resources go towards abortion services. But none of them, however well executed, will ever entirely eliminate the need for abortion. Ever.
2. A fetus/embryo is life because it contains living cells. Bacteria is living. Bugs are living AND have heartbeats. And yet I fully support the right of humans to end the lives of both of bacteria and insects. Animals are alive. And yet, I do not see anything innately wrong with eating meat (though I take huge issue with the current system of manufacturing meat and the conditions that most animals raised for meat are subjected to). The argument in the abortion debate is whether or not a fetus is a person, not whether it is alive or whether it is human. The argument also is whether or not an embryo/fetus’ life outweighs the rights of the woman carrying it, and whether any human being is responsible for acting as a life-support system for another living creature against his or her will. That is where you and I differ. Life is a matter of biology, where as abortion is a matter of ethics.
3. I am not thinking for myself. I work at Planned Parenthood because I am thinking about the lives, rights and health of all women everywhere.
4. If you know Jeff Budill, please explain to him that promoting sexual pleasure is in no way a bad thing, and in no way the same as telling people to engage in sexual activity when they’re not ready.
Does Planned Parenthood promote sexual pleasure? Promoting safe sex does not fall in the same category I think as sexual pleasure. For some reason I see sex toy choices and manuals on different positions when I think of sexual pleasure.
I agree partially with Scott that we all should take sexual responsibility. Especially where it comes to teaching our children that with sex comes consequences. One should be mature enough to handle these consequences when you become sexually active, what ever they may be from an std to an unplanned pregnancy. Both of which will effect you one way or another for life no matter what choices are made to deal with the situation.
Unfortunently many adults who have children blindly think – not my child. Well unless your willing to have the talks that are neccissary to create the relationship needed so, not if, but when, your child comes to that point in his or her life they are becoming sexually active.. YES this could be your child.
If you are that type of person who has nurtured this type of relationship then god bless you for your hard work, for hard work it is.
If not then thank god for planned parenthood and someone’s willingness to step up and say – USE a condom – come to us with questions – we can help – even if the decision is the hardest a grown woman will make, or a girl of 12 will ever make.
There is a girl here who gave birth to a child last week. Yes she was 12. Not 16 – not 18 but 12 years old.
I wish her parents had been responsible enough to teach her what she needed to know to not become sexually active or put herself in the position where the choice was taken out of her hands.
Unfortuently that is the world we are living in at this moment. The few who step up and say I am responsible is few and far between.
Those who have the direction of a supporting and loving family may never have need of planned parenthood. It is the ones who do not have this direction that need their help the most.
God bless those who do before hand, as with Scott and his four children.
God bless those who take a different road to try to educate and assist those most in need.
Cara,
I would like to commend you on a well written reply. I do not intend on prolonging this dialogue for ever but I am quite interested. So, of course, here is my response.
1. Jeff is not against sexual pleasure. They have kids with one on the way. I think they are all for it. But, they are in a relationship. One blessed by God. They also are very able and willing to provide and care for any life that they create.
Sexual pleasure outside of a meaningful relationship is actually empty. It creates only a need for more. Short of the act and the climax there is nothing. So, I would disagree that saying I am a idiot for agreeing with Jef’s statement that sexual pleasure is a bad thing. Far better to strive for sexual fulfilment.
I drove by a planned parenthood office in my town and almost stopped in. Short of their stance on abortion, I am not entirely familiar with them. That is other than info I have received from a client who works there. You said that your clinic teaches about sterilization and masturbation. That is amazing. My only thought is, your thoughts become your words and your words become your actions. With males (separating males from men by the way) masturbation leads to lust. Lust leads to males seeing women as objects to fulfill that lust. After the act the males then tend to discard the object as there were no ramifications or parameters connected with the activity. Somehow this very thought process seems to lead to more of the same. Men, honor women.and treat them like the true gift that they are. Sex is a mutual giving of oneself and hopefully connected with a commitment to each other. Again, no matter how hard we try there is always the chance that a baby will be created.
2. your words… The argument in the abortion debate is whether or not a fetus is a person, not whether it is alive or whether it is human. The argument also is whether or not an embryo/fetus’ life outweighs the rights of the woman carrying it, and whether any human being is responsible for acting as a life-support system for another living creature against his or her will.
My thoughts…In your opinion, when does a fetus become a person? When it can breath on it’s own. Maybe when in can suck it’s thumb? (just so you know…I have no sarcasm at all in my inflection. I really amd trying to be understanding.) In regard to the bug comparison, it is obvious that humans are created differently than bugs. The ability to reason and think, discuss opinions and worship our creator (whomever or whatever you think that might be) these are just some of the reasons we have dominion over them.
I am sure that you wouldn’t kill off someone in a comma or disabled and unable to speak or take care of them self. Where in your opinion is the difference. I make this assumption based on your stance to help women. An uncaring person wouldn’t be fighting for others like you do.
4. How is promoting sexual pleasure to teens not a bad thing? Unless of course you connect it to the fact that it needs to be something more than something we do. Cara, show me someone sexually active and not in a committed relationship and with time, I will show you someone who was deeply hurt once or currently hurting. What you are doing is justifying a behavior because it feels good personally and physically. But the same justification could be used for drinking or eating. Many people eat because it feels good. So saying eating is a bad thing sounds goofy. But not eating well is bad for your body and your soul. Sex is not bad, but sex outside of a committed relationship is potentially bad for your body (have you seen some of these stretch marks) and also bad for your soul. Biology vs ethics. Perhaps you are right. But if we were beings based solely on biology then why were we created with emotion. I believe our creator wanted us to love one another. Not, like the deer in my front yard, hit every doe in heat just for pleasure.
If we put out in front of our kids that sexual pleasure is ok and good, some who may not actually be ready might just try it. Why do people try anything new. Because someone or something somewhere gave them the idea that it was cool or ok to do.
A prude I am not. I am speaking from the very things that influenced me to make wrong decisions as a teen. Fortunately, I was lucky.
Cara,
One other thing. Your very own comment policy says…This blog encourages and welcomes comments, debate and discussion. However, only rational, friendly debate will be tolerated. …..Any comments which are insulting, derogatory or inflammatory will be deleted……. These types of comments include, but are not limited to, those that are purposely racist, misogynist, homophobic, anti-feminist and/or anti-choice. Repeat offenders will be banned.
Seems to me that SakuraPassion’s comment fits within the aforementioned parameters.
A response to Tyra’s letter.
Tyra,
Firstly I agree what a horrible thing for that 12 year old to end up giving birth. How did planned parenthood help her? Maybe they might have told her that by giving birth as a child she is ruing her life and she should get rid of the child.
I agree that my kids will more than likely test the waters before their time. I am in the process preparing to try to help them see the ramifacations and the emptiness of doing it prior though.
Also with this 12 yr old. Who is to say that there wasn’t a condom involved. They are only like 97% effective. We can teach kids gun safety, but they still can hurt themselves, so we only allow them to use guns under parental supervision.
Yes someone needs to be there for these kids making bad decisions, but do we need to do an outreach program? Is it necessary to hand out condoms? Would they have given one to a 12 year old?
Thank you for your points, but yes I do believe that Cara was saying that promoting sexual pleasure was not a bad thing.
Perhaps we need to be doing more outreach to these parents blind to the potential of their kids having sex. That would be like letting them take that car and not thinking they would speed. Maybe we should teach them how to talk to their kids.
I also work at Planned Parenthood (although in Canada) on a great phone line where anyone can call in and get information on anything to do with sex. As a point of policy, we NEVER tell people what to do with their bodies or sexual lives, thus nobody would have told a girl or woman that having a child would “ruin her life and she should just get rid of it.” The point of the phone line (and of Planned Parenthood in general) is to give people facts about sexual health so they can make their OWN decisions. Period. So had she contacted us, we would have answered her specific questions. We would have told her about her options with repect to her pregnancy, and given her resources to help her in whatever decision SHE made. For her OWN body and life. Just wanted to clarify that…
And also, feminists do not believe that women are gifts. We believe that they’re people. And women masturbate too – they still seem able to see men as people and not objects.
Wow, Scott. I have tolerated you for long enough, now. I can’t even begin to tell you how much of your comment offended me. If you love god and want to worship him and denounce sexually active people, go do it in your church or on your own damn blog. Not mine. You are insulting every sexually active person who has ever had sex outside of a “meaningful relationship.” Which is most people. THAT is insulting. SakuraPassion calling your buddy a tool is not insulting, because he was acting like one. And oh, because it’s my blog. If you did read the comment policy, you will see that I make the calls, there is no appeals process, and that I also don’t tolerate anti-choice language. So. You lose. Comment again and your comment will be deleted. And you will be banned. The end.
For the record, I think that any teenager who believes that he or she is ready for sexual activity can fuck anyone he or she wants to. I sure as hell did. That is the teenager’s right as human being, and I support them in that decision as long as they protect themselves.
Folks, take this as a lesson as to what happens when you make the mistake of trying to engage anti-choice individuals in rational dialogue.
Tyra, to answer your question, Planned Parenthood doesn’t exactly actively promote sexual pleasure, but they do in fact support the idea of sexual pleasure and see expressing one’s sexuality as a right. They also promote knowing one’s body both from a health and a pleasure perspective. You can see more on their stance here and here.
Scott’s comment is deleted, and he is banned, but I’d like to think that this special message will some how still reach him through the cosmos: Fuck You.
Language language. Scott directed me to this website and I found it very interesting.
Well interesting that is up until the foul language and name calling. Just because one doens’t share the same exact views doesn’t mean their points are not valid. Each party has made valid points- gives one something to think about…
Now if you want to curse at me – well okay. I hope it makes your statements seem validated and not just sound frustrated.
If you want to have an actual discussion, it would probably serve you well to not open with a condescending finger wag at my choice of words. Though I think that I’ve made my lack of intentions to continue a discussion with the anti-choice crowd rather clear.
Also, you’re absolutely correct that disagreeing with a point does not make it invalid. Being able to refute a point with logic is what makes it invalid.
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