by Nikohl Vandel
If our leaders are so powerful, why are we still fighting the same battles?
This past week marked the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and the truth is, we are no further along in the protection of the rights of women today than we were 40 years ago. The truth is, we are worse off today than when I was in high school.
As I listened to our "Women Leaders" at NOW's local celebration of the Roe decision, I had to stifle a laugh. Our "Women Leaders" parading for the television cameras and a handful of people, still have the same chips on their shoulders and they are as disconnected from our reality as Congressman Todd Akin. It was really sad too, because the truth was, those women were still fighting the same battles they have been fighting for 10, 20, 30. 40 years. I suspect, they will be happy to continue to fight those same battles because they have no idea what else to do.
The "Women's Movement" was not really a movement at all. The truth is, like the "Civil Rights Movement," there were "victories" in the form of laws, and well there you have it: laws on paper. True, those Movements did produce the multi-cultural face of television and today there are more people of color and women in positions of power than ever before in our nation, and YES, in most states it is still legal to perform an abortion. But, trading in the idea of equality for a position on "the team," leaders of the Women's Movement are classic sell-outs playing the roles designated by the media to perpetuate a never-ending war.
Like our President, everyone's poster child for the Civil Rights Movement, taking the oath on Dr. King's Bible while operating as Commander-in-Chief of our nation's illegal Drone Programs, truth and reality of the Women's Movement do not mix well. Leaders in the Movement have become an integral part of the Zombie Apocalyptic Script to lead the girl zombies down the same road, even if they can now hold hands and and kiss in public, we still have "legitimate rape" and Rush Limbaugh as our reality. Some progress.
A real movement progresses an idea. As nice as it is to have a Facebook world of equality, the truth is, women's rights have not progressed because our failure to protect the children of the world -- the most fundamental job of a woman on planet earth. Protecting a women's right to choose is as fundamental as protecting the right of a woman to be born. But, that would mean I am pro-life Feminist -- can there be such a thing?!
Should a woman have the right to choose? Yes. Should abortions be safe, legal and accessible to any woman who makes that choice? Yes. But, first, one must be alive to be given a choice. Like the connection of Civil Rights and Peace Dr. King made, Women's Rights and Pro-Life are connected on the fundamental levels.
Perhaps it is time to shift the Women's Movement here in America from the petty street fight over Roe v. Wade, and as we address the issue of State Legislatures undermining established law protecting women, we bring up the global discussion on the right of all humans to have an opportunity to be born, and, once born, have a respectable quality of life. Maybe then, when the women are all standing on the common ground together, we will get some movement on the idea that all are created equal and our concern over Roe v. Wade will naturally become moot.
###