Thursday March 8th ~ 2012

International Women's Day
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
International Women's Day (IWD), originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year.[1] In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements. (click on the link above to read more!)

  I started reading about IWD when I opened up Google for a search this morning and was greeted by a very fun GOOGLE image. I love it when they do fun stuff like this. I was barely aware that this "day" existed and as I read on I was amazed with evolution of this day and how it has taken on so many forms of expression, from political statements of suffrage to other nations version of Valentine's Day.

I feel that this year the day has taken on a deeper mean of many of us. This has been a year of taking away a woman's rights of choice and access to essential medical needs. Time and time again, the GOP led state governments (all led by males, I might add) have taken it upon themselves to tell women how best to take care of their own medical needs.

Everything came to a boiling point for many, two weeks ago, with the Transvagonal Ultra Sound Bill in Virginia. The passage of this Bill would, in essence, forcibly rape a women with a medical device, require her to undergo a procedure that is not medically necessary in order to procure a medical procedure that has been guaranteed to every women since 1973 with the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. Furthermore, the passage of this BIll would also place every Medical Professional in an absolutely untenable position regarding the Doctor/Patient relationship.

Then to my absolute amazement, well, not really, Mr. Limbuagh opened up his Pie Hole, inserted his foot and did not stop chewing off his foot for the next thee days. His tirade stemmed from the testimony of Sandra Fluke, a graduate student, whose testimony regarding the importance of keeping contraceptive drugs available and affordable for women seemed to anger Mr. Limbaugh.



His characterization of Ms. Fluck was, in no uncertain terms, reprehensible. He called her a "slut" and a "prostitute". And In return for the taxpayers giving her this "free" access to  this contraception Mr. Limbaugh demanded that she post her sexual encounters on You Tube for all of us to be able to watch.

Sandra Fluke, not once brought up the need for sexual contraception, her testimony talked about how these drugs were necessary for a female friends medical condition and how the lack of this medication causes great harm to her friend. That was the extent of her testimony and nothing more.

The ensuing firestorm has not let down during the past week. Mr. Limbaugh has seen over 40 of his sponsors leave, he has had 2 stations drop his show and there is loud outcry for the Armed Services Radio Network to drop him as well. Needless to say, Fox News has called foul and even a conspiracy. Amazing!

But I feel that the most important part of this narrative that has received little to no attention is the fact that the "men" who are running for the GOP nomination have not had the backbone to stand up and disavow Mr. Limbaugh's 3 day tirade. This was that moment that could have shown each of these men as caring fathers, as men who would stand up for women and show that women are an integral part of the fabric of our society, not a disposable after thought.

Mr Romney was quoted: "I would not have put it in those terms."

Excuse Me? Does that mean you AGREE?
That is what your comment sounds like to me...

Mr Santorum was quoted: "What he said was absurd."

That is all you can say? Really?
You are supposed to be a man of God and that is the best you can come up with?
How about bearing false witness…
Come on Mr. Theologian and Chief Wanna Be!

Each of these men are fathers, each of them have daughters, each of them have families and yet, each can tolerate that kind of hate speech against women?

John McCain had his moment and he proved the kind of moral and decent man he was when he stood up to that idiotic woman who said that Barak Obama was an Arab. Mr. McCain showed us all how to behave and none of you could muster the spine.

Mr. Romney, Mr Santorum, How are either of you supposed to lead the country, when you can't even join the voices of outrage. You disappoint me more than you could ever know. I applauded President Obama's phone call to Ms. Fluke and I applauded Mr. McCain when he stood up as a decent man and I despise each of you more than you could possible know.