Respect

The letter to the editor that I sent finally was published last Tuesday.

Some background: Planned Parenthood of SD sent out an alert saying that they needed letters to the editor about the new attempt to ban all abortion in South Dakota. I responded, and was given a form letter to put my name to. The long and the short of it was that, while preserving the talking points given to me (with which I totally agreed), I made it my own through the process of giving it my own voice while editing it to death to make it fit the word limit for my newspaper.

Certainly we want the best for our loved ones. However, what “is best” is different to different people. As a community, it is important that we respect the decisions of others while expecting them to do likewise.

When a family must decide how to proceed with an undesired or compromised pregnancy, this respect is crucial. What if the pregnancy is risky to the physical or mental health of the mother? What if it threatens the well being of her current children? What if the fetus is incapable of developing into a baby that could live independently after birth? These are horrific situations to envision for any family. Unfortunately, many families struggle with like situations.

If Initiated Measure 11, the abortion ban, passes, families no longer will be able to consider their situations privately. Rather, they will be told that the government knows what is best for them, regardless of their unique circumstances. Do we really want to tell our sisters, mothers, and daughters that they are incapable of making their own decisions? South Dakota's fiercely independent pioneer forbearers would gasp at this government intrusion into deeply personal matters.

For the sake of our families, vote no on 11.

In the last several months, I've tried to become intentional about living out the last part of The Baptismal Covenant, which asks, "Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?" and, "Will you strive for justice and peace among people, and respect the dignity of every human being?" My reflection on these questions has led me to reframe my ideas on various societal questions. I never dreamed I would write a letter to the editor such as this. However, the proposed law is totally cruel and I think would lead to many unintended and unfortunate consequences.

And besides, South Dakota voted overwhelmingly in 2006 to allow the current law to stand. There is a very vocal faction in the eastern part of the state that will not let it rest. And the attorney general of South Dakota, Larry Long, actually authored the bill while saying at the same time it would not withstand judicial scrutiny. If that isn't a conflict of interest, I don't know what is.

I have more catching up to do, but it's time for my walk!

Becoming politically active

One tentative step at a time, I attended my first meeting of South Dakota Democracy in Action. This is a nonpartisan group of "women working to bring about progressive change in South Dakota". My friend LE heard me say that I needed to find a way to get involved with the political process as I have HAD it, so she suggested this group. I was impressed and will go next week to another meeting.

Politics are tough at my house. Taciturn, although very active in community volunteer activities such as Meals on Wheels and hospice, is a huge fan of President Bush as he has kept us safe from further terrorist attacks (acc to T). T has said that history will show President Bush as the greatest president our nation has ever had. I could not disagree more; I think the president should be impeached. Obviously this is a huge issue for us and after some very loud screaming matches, we have agreed to disagree. He thinks I'm deluded in my political views, as I think he is in his. However, I understand where his ideas come from, and I hope he would try to understand where mine originate:

... Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
your neighbor as yourself?

I will, with God's help.

Will you strive for justice and peace among all
people, and respect the dignity of every human
being?

I will, with God's help.

As I've said before, I'm fifty years old and should be able to say what I want and support what I want, regardless whether other people I know agree with me. I have to be me as I don't know who else to be, so I have to honor my own viewpoints rather than keep silent just because my husband and I disagree. Therefore, I must get started in finding my voice in those things. I have to get past the idea that if some people know what I really think or believe, that I will lose their love. I have to persuade myself that if I can't be me to be loved, then what I have isn't love.

I'm taking a deep, deep breath here!