Planned Parenthood: No more pro-choice message?

Remember what the so-called pro-lifers did when they found a message that might or might not have been attributed to Susan B. Anthony (most sources concur that she never signed her name that way) that might or might not have denounced abortion (the statement itself is rather ambiguous when taken into full context)? They created an entire anti-abortion society based on her name. She’s one of my heroes and I really hope she’s not rolling over in her grave over this crap.

Now that Planned Parenthood has decided to stop using a pro-choice slogan, I worry that the same thing could happen as so-called pro-lifers (I’m sorry, anyone who’s against a woman’s right to health and life in favor of the rights of a potential life just isn’t “pro-life” to me) point at Planned Parenthood and shriek, “See, they’re not for abortion anymore!” even as the country is finally more pro-choice than “pro-life.” 

Of course, the goal behind this removal of the term is much more serious and important, a cause for national discussion about how many women do not have a choice at all—something that political pundits seem to forget. We have all of these people crying for “life” or choice while they forget that it’s ultimately about women and women’s actual lives. You can see the video that Planned Parenthood released regarding this decision here. It makes a lot of sense—and may help the cause eventually—but right now, I just don’t feel very well about it. If we can’t claim the right to choose, after all, how can we expect anyone else to?

The analogy between the concept of gun control being moved to the term gun safety has been used to rationalize this—but so far I’ve only seen more people become rabid about not having their guns taken away and even more livid with people who want gun control. People who were previously peaceniks are now declaring themselves proud gun supporters. What if that reverse support effect happens in the case of Planned Parenthood now? Then again, I think the majority of people do want something done to promote “gun safety,” and many protestors are simply fringe folks who are also afraid of death camps… After all, how unreasonable is it to ask that gun owners get classes and permits?

How unreasonable is it to ask that women’s medical decisions be left to women?