The GOP is once again playing their favorite “Boy Who Cried Wolf” game of defunding Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood is a low-cost women’s health center that receives government funding. Hey, that sounds great, why would the GOP want to defund something that is providing such a great service to those who need it?
Well, Planned Parenthood offers abortion services and the GOP seems to think that is the absolute only thing they do.
No. Wrong.
Anyone who is familiar with Planned Parenthood knows how encompassing their services are for all women’s health needs. In fact, abortion services make up three percent of Planned Parenthood’s services. While contraception and STD/STI screening make up the majority of their services combined.
While abortion is a taboo in cultures around the world, it is common in America. According to Guttmacher Institute, Nearly 45 of 1000 pregnancies in 2011 were unintended, and of those, about four in 10 were terminated by abortion.
I guess there is a bit irony in that, as a man, I am telling you why Planned Parenthood is a great organization. However, there is also irony in that the GOP has been ‘mansplaining’ this issue for years now. The government even decided that abortion is lawful in Roe v. Wade in 1973. So, it’s odd that the right is so concerned about the left taking their rights when they are trying to strip rights that were decided upon nearly 50 years ago. Also, isn’t it weird that the seventies were almost 50 years ago?
Anyway, there is another argument that abortions cause psychological damage. Given the fact that women have the right to choose, they would be completely mindful of their decision, I do have reservations about it. Because potentially birthing a child who was conceived through sexual assault is probably just as damaging as people think abortion as a whole is.
There is also an issue in that a lot of the arguments against the right to choose are rooted in religious belief. I by no means have any intention to turn this into a religious argument, but parts of it are. My only two cents in that regard are that a number of our esteemed Founding Fathers were for the separation of the church and state. Given how diverse of a nation America has become, it’s time to reconsider that theory, especially in the argument of abortion and Planned Parenthood.
Old, dead white guys aside, the doors of Planned Parenthood is priceless to any community it serves. The walls aren’t painted in blood even, it’s actually like a normal doctor’s office. Weird. To continue on the path of the progress we have made over the past decade, we need to fight to keep the doors of Planned Parenthood open, because the one’s right to their own body and medical treatment should be as inalienable as the first amendment.
Chuck Greenlee is a sophomore studying communications and public advocacy at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. How do you feel about Planned Parenthood? Let Chuck know by tweeting him @ChuckingAround.
