Of Concussions and the Planned Parenthood Bill

What would you say to someone who suggested that your favorite football team should be banned from the league because they don’t believe in the seriousness of concussions and don’t agree that your team should have a protocol for dealing with it or taking the doctor’s time in treating it?  That hopefully sounds absurd to you, even if you are foolish enough to agree with the person’s stance on concussion science.  Well, the president’s recent bill that took aim at defunding Planned Parenthood is tantamount to agreeing with your friend, except with much more serious, real-life, consequences.  Not only that, but the people it hurts the most are the working class and lower income Americans that he claims to be trying to help.

You’re not buying it?  Even the president himself complimented Planned Parenthood and recognized the immense amount of important work that they do just months ago.  Yet now, because of a personal belief about a portion of their practice that is ONLY 3% of the services they provide, which NONE OF THE FUNDING is used for anyway, and is LEGAL, he is potentially drastically damaging the welfare of millions of Americans.  Of course, this president is the same person who called the NFL ‘soft’ because of their concussion protocol while calling concussions a ‘little ding to the head’.  So, what should we expect? 

It’s important to know what Planned Parenthood does and who they help.  Roughly 5 MILLION people annually use Planned Parenthood for their sexual and reproductive health care, education, and outreach.  To my point about the bill hurting certain supporters of the president the most, 83% were 20 years old or older and 80% had incomes at or below 150% of the federal poverty level according to the most recent data from the Government Accountability Office report released in 2015.  No one would argue the essential need for sex education for both adolescents and those in impoverished areas, which is a large component of Planned Parenthood as they provide sex education to 1.5 million people each year.  42% of their services, the largest aspect of the business, go toward sexually transmitted disease screening, resulting in 4.2 million tests and treatments in 2014.  They also perform 270,000 pap smears, 360,000 breast exams, and participated in more than 70 research projects according to the 2014 annual report.  

Perhaps more importantly, 26% of Planned Parenthood patients said that it was the only place they could go for the services they needed according to a 2016 survey.  This is a large number considering that in 2014, 20.2 million women needed publicly funded family planning services.

So, let’s get to the crux of the issue, then.  Many seem fine with sacrificing all of this because of their beliefs about a portion of what the group does legally.  It shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s not as cut and dry as those that only look at the surface think.  First, let’s tackle contraception.  For most, this isn’t that controversial with the argument against contraception usually coming from a religious angle.  Our forefathers were amazingly astute when they put out the idea of separation of church and state.  The concept is applicable here, as they saw the negative effects that can happen when certain beliefs are used to rule a diverse population.  So, what happens when the community loses this access?  You can take a look at Texas:  between 2014 and 2015 they saw around 24,000 unplanned births after funding cuts.  The reasons were obvious, about half of those interviewed said they were unable to access birth control they wanted to use because of cost, lack of insurance, inability to find a clinic, and inability to get a prescription.  What’s frustrating is that those fighting for these cuts don’t look to see the consequences.  Just from this one example, the state and federal taxpayers’ Medicaid costs rise up to $273 million!  I also hate it when I hear that these people should just keep their legs shut if they can’t afford to get pregnant.  Yeah, that is easy to say, but everyone knows that’s not going to happen and undermines attempts to manage the issue to help our society and economy.  I’ve also heard someone say recently that underprivileged women should have to pay for all of their birth control and birth care themselves since they just ‘want to waste taxpayers money’.  As I just stated, this is backwards as in reality it SAVES taxpayer money.  But, also, you can’t say that anyone has less of a right to have children.  I have close relatives who had kids while on food stamps.  Those kids are now some of the most intelligent and talented people you’ll find and the family now makes more money than I do.  But, according to these people, it wasn’t right for them to have their kids!

But, of course, the biggest issue is that of abortion.  I’m not going to delve deeply into it here as this blog would get way too long to give it the detail it deserves.  But, as I mentioned in the first paragraph, I find it disappointing that people are willing to risk all of the positive work that Planned Parenthood does due to a personal belief on a legal aspect of their business of which the funding isn’t even used for.  Again, when you look at it from all angles, it’s just not as cut and dry as some want to believe.  Do you really think the doctors enjoy performing this surgery?  I recently spoke with an OB-GYN who detailed some of the horrors they see with patients who have had illegal abortions.  The reasons vary, but often the life of the woman is at risk.  Without going into the pro-life/pro-choice argument, I’ll just say that these women are usually going to get them done one way or another by the time they’ve made that decision.  At least Planned Parenthood educates them, describes in detail their various options, and performs the surgeries in a safe manner when that is what is decided upon.  You don’t have to approve of the option to realize that having it offered in this scenario saves lives and large amounts of taxpayer money.  Again, looking at the reality of the situation: defunding Planned Parenthood would likely lead to MORE abortions due to the higher number of unintended pregnancies (real-world studies show a 40% reduction in unintended pregnancies with access to birth control.  Two studies showed a 42% and 75% reduction in abortion rate with access to long-acting birth control), an increase in STDs (i.e. 150 new cases of HIV reported in the small town of Austin, IN in 2011 after PP was defunded), an increase in maternal deaths (pregnancy related deaths doubled in 2010-2012 in TX after regulations were enforced), an increase in taxpayer cost (in 2015 the nonpartisan congressional budget office calculated a $130 million increase if PP were defunded), and the list goes on and on.

Unbelievably, I still hear people citing falsehoods from the video that was popularized during the election.  It’s amazing that people will hear what they want to hear, but not acknowledge when their position was proven false such as when during the investigation against planned parenthood the organization was cleared but the people who made the videos were the ones who ended up ultimately charged with crimes!

Yes, I realize it’s a controversial topic that many are passionate to the point of stubbornness about.  And, yes, there are many angles in which you can look at this issue.  In my personal opinion, if you sincerely look at the full picture and scope of the situation and beyond the aspect that makes you uncomfortable you will find that the consequences of the president’s bill allowing the defunding of Planned Parenthood can be damaging to the majority and devastating to many.  We need ‘pragmatic realists’ who see the world as it is and implement solutions and methods to make it a better place; not leaders willing to hurt those that need medical help the most to make a point.  The president who has passed bill after bill to erase regulations meant to combat corruption to help his wealthy friends has once again passed one that very negatively impacts those with lower incomes the most.  There’s a reason why he signed this one quietly and without fanfare.  He probably listened to powerful and/or wealthy supporters and even HE likely knew it was not for the greater good.  What a guy.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/04/health/planned-parenthood-by-the-numbers/

http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2017/4/14/disastrous-consequences-defunding-planned-parenthood

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/03/what-happens-when-you-defund-planned-parenthood

Syria Response - Appropriate and Deliberate?

The atrocities that occurred in the Syrian chemical weapon attack were horrific and cannot be allowed to go unpunished.  Were the military strikes the right response?  I’m not a military man and don’t pretend to know all of the details of the situation, but it does look like the site targeted was likely the best possible option for such an operation and it did deliver a message.  However, if your opinion of the president has somehow become more positive after this predictable response, then that is the real surprise.  Even if this was the best response, when you scrutinize the questions why, when, how, and what next you should be a little skeptical.  Take a step back from the sensational coverage and take a critical look at the facts.

·         First, in his typical childish fashion, one of the president’s first statements after the attack was to blame President Obama and past administrations for what happened.  Really?  If you want to make America great again, start by recognizing the efforts of those leaders that came before you, even if you disagree, and know your history.

o   Speaking of President Obama, remember that he wanted to strike against Syria and Trump was one of the most vocal against him doing so, especially without congressional approval.  So, you can’t now fault the guy for listening to you, trying to get said approval, and then trying for a more diplomatic solution when he wasn’t going to get that approval.

o   Secondly on this point, whereas the president blamed Obama, the rest of the leaders involved are now placing the blame on Russia and Assad, where it should be, with their failure to uphold their end of the bargain.

THE WHY and WHEN

·         Are you really gullible enough to believe that the pictures from this attack changed the president’s view?

o   In 2013 he HAD to have witnessed similar, and possibly worse, horrific scenes when he very publicly and vociferously told Obama that it would be a mistake to strike Syria

§  "What I am saying is stay out of Syria," he tweeted Sept. 3, 2013.

§  And, then on Sept. 5, 2013, he wrote, "AGAIN, TO OUR VERY FOOLISH LEADER, DO NOT ATTACK SYRIA - IF YOU DO MANY VERY BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN & FROM THAT FIGHT THE U.S. GETS NOTHING!"

o   So, if that’s the case, then why would his response now be a 180 degree shift?  He spoke the words people wanted to hear, saying that he was moved by the pictures now and it’s changed his attitude.  But, that drastic a shift just doesn’t make sense to me when you look at the whole picture.  He knew it would play well with the majority and he gets to play tough guy.

·         There are multiple factors that made this response predictable:

o   First, knowing his temperament and psychology, as soon as the first reporter asked the question, “What are you going to do about it?” I immediately said that there were going to be bombs dropped.  Many, many people said that he would use his bombs at the first chance he got and he proved them correct.

o    Then, there’s this beauty that demonstrates clearly how he thinks,  “Now that Obama’s poll numbers are in tailspin – watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran.  He is desperate.” 10/09/12

o   In addition, he has to find a way to justify the large increase in defense spending that he has been proposing and these conflicts just so happen to give him leverage for justification.

o   With the talk about Russia being complicit in the chemical attack and their denouncement of the US's strike, the coverage of Russian interference in the election suddenly has taken a back seat.  A smart man once told me that there’s no such thing as coincidences.  I don’t believe that, but this is a pretty big one.

The HOW

·         No man is an island Entire of itself

o   “What will we get for bombing Syria besides more debt and a possible long term conflict? Obama needs Congressional approval.” Aug 29, 2013

o   Good idea, right?  The idea is that a single person should not be allowed to drag the country into conflict.  Then, why does this president think he gets a pass for doing that exact thing?

·         The best laid plans

o   As I said, I’m not a military man, but it seems to me that the president should be sure to have a solid follow-up plan, both short and long-term, for something this serious that his administration can clearly communicate.  Instead, it has been confusing and unconvincing leading many to wonder what the plan is.

WHAT NEXT

·         At first it looked like the president didn’t think things through in regards to Russia’s response, how the rebel groups would be affected, Assad’s likely response, what would come next, etc.  But, then you again look at his tweets in 2013 and you realize that he absolutely knows the potential consequences.

o   “We should stay the hell out of Syria, the "rebels" are just as bad as the current regime. WHAT WILL WE GET FOR OUR LIVES AND $ BILLIONS?ZERO” June 13, 2013

·         Sure, people are claiming victory saying that the strike sent a strong message.  Maybe it did.  If it stops the use of chemical weapons, that’s great.  On the other hand, that airfield was back in use less than 48 hours later and bombs were dropped on the same area that the chemical weapons were used on days later.  So, now Assad and the Russians know that they can kill people as long as they don’t use chemical weapons.  Wow.

·         The question that has been asked about Syrian refugees is a legitimate one.  How can you be so moved as to make such a strong statement for the Syrian people as to drop bombs within their borders, but not be willing to take in those trying to flee from those same atrocities?

·         Now there’s talk that Assad must go.  Yes, maybe he does.  But, the shift in how it is being talked about the last couple of days is scary and familiar.  We’ve learned that lesson in a very difficult way, let’s not repeat it.  Most familiar with the situation say that there would be a bloodbath if he were to be forced from power right now with worse parties likely to take over.  It's a very delicate and precarious situation that needs more than just guns and bombs.

·         The president has now made a public move to place ships off the coast of Korea and says he’s ready to act alone.  Once again, he’s trying to show his might with a lot of risk of provoking their unstable leader and putting many lives on the line.

Some are praising the moves.  Some are asking why he has taken a sudden turn from his America First policy that he touted.  But, those that look with unbiased eyes saw this coming.  This is a man who doesn’t believe in (or understand) science or regulations against corruption, but in the all mighty dollar and power by show of force.  Remember, he wanted a military parade at his inauguration!  It really isn’t an about face, but one that is in tune with his personality and feeding his power-hungry ego.  Let’s hope there are enough checks and balances to send successful messages without starting another war.

And, don't forget, this is the same president who stood up for a man accused of sexual harassment the week after declaring April sexual harassment awareness month.  Character and integrity mean a lot to me, as I hope it does for you.  What I ask is that if you agree with the response to Syria, don't be fooled about the reasons or let this one instance make you forget about everything else that has happened.

Inspiration and Admiration: Pauli Murray Home - National Historic Landmark Ceremony

 

For the second weekend in a row, I was unexpectedly inspired and amazed.  I’m embarrassed to admit that one of the most influential, intelligent, righteous, and multi-faceted people in recent history grew up just miles from our home in Durham and I didn’t even know the name.  I would wager that 95% of you reading this haven’t either.  I encourage you to read to the end of this blog to get the full feel for this amazing person.

Being another beautiful day with a cloudless Carolina blue sky, Monette had the great idea to go to a ceremony by the National Park Service and the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice as they named the Pauli Murray home a National Historic Landmark.  It was a wonderfully moving and motivational ceremony that left me filled with many emotions.  So, who exactly was Pauli Murray?  That is a much more complex question than you can possibly imagine.  I’m not going to be able to do her justice in a short blog, but I’d like to share with you some of what I learned today because I think her mission is still a vitally important one.  I’m not going to list her accomplishments in chronological order in an effort to show why she deserved to be honored simply for her work alone, but then I’ll follow that up by also showing what she had to overcome just to get there.  Much of the following and more can be found at http://paulimurrayproject.org/.

 Even ignoring the background story for now, Pauli attained levels in every aspect of her life that most people can’t even dream about.  She earned her law degree as top in her class.  Her masters thesis, titled The Right to Equal Opportunity in Employment, was instrumental in the civil rights movement.  How many people can claim that?  She also was a renowned author, including the books Proud Shoes and States’ Laws on Race and Color, the latter of which was described as the Bible for civil rights lawyers by none other than Thurgood Marshall for such cases as Brown vs. the Board of Education among others.  She gained the attention of influential leaders and became an advisor to Roosevelt as well as John F. Kennedy, who appointed her to his Committee on Civil and Political Rights.  In addition, she took up poetry.  Not surprisingly, she was highly successful here, as well, including the influential poem Dark Testament.  Let’s continue; she was one of the founding members of the National Organization of Women (NOW).  She Co-authored the groundbreaking US Civil Rights Act “Jane Crow and the Law: Sex Discrimination and Title VII”.  And, the list goes on, but I’ll mention just one more.  As if all of this wasn’t enough already, she became a priest in the Episcopal Church … and ended up being named to Episcopal Sainthood in 2012!

Pretty incredible, right?  She obviously deserves recognition and honors for all of that alone.  But, I’ve purposely left out a major part of the story.  You’ve probably already caught onto the fact that she was a woman excelling in an era when they were routinely discriminated against and thought of as inferior.  On top of that, though, I haven’t yet mentioned the fact that she was black.  And, oh yeah, she was also a lesbian.  Now, imagine someone having to overcome that immense amount of stigma to reach the levels that she did – and yet we don’t even recognize her name.  So, now, let me offer a little more detail about how she kept pursuing her goals and striving for equality for all.

I’ll keep it brief and just hit the highlights.  After graduating from high school in Durham, she tried to pay her way through Hunter College in NY, but the stock market crash caused her to lose employment and, thus, leave her studies for the time being.  During this time frame she published several poems and articles as well as her first novel, Angel of the Desert.  She applied to attend school at the University of North Carolina, but was denied because of her ethnicity.  It was during this time that she started a campaign of equality around this denial, including a written letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt that caught the attention of the first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, which led to a life-long friendship.  Like Rosa Parks, she was directly involved in ending segregation on public transport having been arrested on a segregated bus in Virginia.  Then, she went to Howard University and helped form the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), for pacifist protests.  She was the only female in her class, and graduated top in said class as previously mentioned.  This typically came with a chance to attend Harvard Law School, which she wanted to do, but was again denied – this time because of her gender.  So, she went west to the University of California, Berkeley.  It was here where she published her famous thesis.

Her road would still be filled with roadblocks and a series of ‘firsts’.  She lost a post at Cornell University due to McCarthyism amazingly because her references, Eleanor Roosevelt, Thurgood Marshall, and Philip Randolph were thought to be too radical!  Her gender identity and sexual orientation also played a role in her life with the lack of understanding and stigmatization of the times, even going so far as Pauli undergoing psychological help and hormone therapy.  Due to this, she would change her name from Pauline to the more gender neutral Pauli.  However, she continued with her amazing accomplishments and fighting for equality for all, saying that it bothered her that a lot of people said they were fighting for ‘equality’ while still discriminating against certain groups.  She was still not done as she went on to be the first African-American to earn a J.S.D. from Yale in the same year that she served on council that successfully challenged the use of sex and race discrimination in jury selection.  Finally, she even made history when she went into the priesthood as she was another 'first', this time the first African American woman to become a priest, after entering the seminary before the Episcopal church even approved women as candidates for ordination!  And we all now know how that turned out.

At every turn, Pauli Murray had to fight for her right to pursue her dreams.  And, at every turn, she not only succeeded, but fought for others to be able to follow in her footsteps without having to go through the anguish that she did. 

The obvious was brought up in that, after making such great gains in this area over the years we have taken a bit of a step back of late.  However, with recognitions like the Pauli Murray home, which also happens to be the first landmark focused on women’s and LGBTQ history, hopefully we’ll get back on the right track.  And, hopefully, if you’ve continued to read, you’ve gained an appreciation for someone whose name should be remembered and admired.  I know I have.

“True community is based upon equality, mutuality, and reciprocity.  It affirms the richness of individual diversity as well as the common human ties that bind us together.”
– Pauli Murray