Thursday, January 22, 2009

Things Are Looking Up, Part Next

He's fulfilling his promises. I'll get to that in the next few days.

But after looking at pictures of today's annual anti-choice march in DC I decided I had to say something. Besides that it was small, as usual, and filled with very young girls and not so young men. The photo over there shows the shallow anti-choice folks backed by a "My Body My Choice" marcher.

She's there. Look again. Hand-lettered sign right in front of the Supreme Court building.

I thought that today I'd be proud of my new President for a reason you haven't heard all over the news. Today he issued this proclamation:
"On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women’s health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose.

While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make. To accomplish these goals, we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services.

On this anniversary, we must also recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights and opportunities as our sons: the chance to attain a world-class education; to have fulfilling careers in any industry; to be treated fairly and paid equally for their work; and to have no limits on their dreams. That is what I want for women everywhere.
That's what I want too.
(Photo credit Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP)

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