I’m Having a Rant

I think I haven’t ranted for awhile now, but this morning I’ve just hit the limit of my tolerance.

First of all, I’m not quite sure the government should be controlling what health coverges employers provide employees, but I recognize that sometimes a little boost is required to get people, corporations, entities of various kinds to do the right thing. Sad, but true. As I recall, it was that need for a boost that caused the beginning of labor unions. That, however, is another topic for another day. Or not. In this particular instance, I am referring to the current fuss around the administration’s mandate that full contraception coverage be provided all women, including those employed by entities affiliated with a religious organization.

Again, I’m not sure I like the government making these determinations. But beyond that, I must confess that I am ferociously pro-choice. If I am infuriating you, you have the right to stop reading. Or to protest. Because I believe in freedom. Of speech. Of choices – whether they be which religion to practice – or not – what kinds of food to eat – or not – what books to read, movies to see, places to go, friends to make. AND whether or not I wish to have children, or more children. I know best whether I can afford children, financially and emotionally.

I believe God gave us the ability to think, to reason, to make decisions so we would do just that. I believe we have the right to do just that and so long as our actions do not harm others, we should have the freedom to do just that. While most of us have some degree of dysfunction, most of us are capable of making our life decisions. I do not need Big Brother, whether he be a government entity, a religious entity, an educational entity, or any other entity to dictate to me. Freedom, people!

I believe having faith is important. I believe it’s important for people to decide, as individuals, whether or not to become part of an organized religion, to believe in the scriptures, to live according to their beliefs. And to allow me to live according to mine. Whether my beliefs coincide with yours doesn’t matter. You and I each have the same rights. What is it about people that makes them unable to tolerate differences? Why oh why do we seem to feel that everyone, absolutely everyone, must believe in the same way?

This is true not only on the matter of religious choices, but also of political choices, lifestyle choices, all of our choices. It’s sad, I believe, that society seems to require we fit into certain molds. To be an attractive woman, I must be slender, I must dress in a certain way, I must wear my hair in a certain way, conduct myself in a certain way, be a perfect mom, a perfect employee, a perfect housewife, have big boobs (big boobs seem to have a lot to do with being a woman). Until we all begin to look the same, sound the same, think the same.

What I am should be my choice, so long as I am not causing harm to others. I believe I should be able to practice contraception if I CHOOSE TO DO SO. I am not a fan of abortion, but I am less a fan of abused, neglected, abandoned children. Yes, adoption is an option – but I understand there is a ready supply of children available for adoption, and the demand is less than the supply already. I see too many stories about children in foster homes, children who are abused by parents or friends of parents, children who are murdered by parents or friends of parents.

So what I ask is this: LET ME CHOOSE. It is, I think, a pretty simple request. Now, those of you with power to change things, let’s focus on the things thaat really need to be changed. Like employment, poverty, injustice. Please?