Why do I vote pro-choice?

Why do I vote pro-choice?

A candidate’s stance on abortion tells me a great deal about whether or not the candidate values women. If a politician values a potential life more than s/he values the life and needs of an actual living woman, that person does not value women.

Pregnancy is not a petty inconvenience. It often caries life long consequences, and yes, women do still die in childbirth. Even if I would die without it, I cannot force another person to donate a pint of blood. The risk of death from a blood donation is nearly zero for anyone not in the poorest of health. Yet anti-choicer’s would force women to surrender their whole body for the use of another. This only make sense if you do not value women.

Why would I vote against my own interests by voting for an anti-choice candidate? Yes, abortion does trump other issues. If a politician does not have a strong pro-choice record, then our world view are too far apart for that politician to ever represent my interests.

Miss America Fails at makeover...again

For those of you who do not pay attention to such matters, the Miss America Organization (MAO) has decided to recapture some of the pageant’s shrinking audience by making it a four week reality show with a two hour live finale. Miss America: Reality Check has given us the chance to “get to know” the contestants, at least as well as you can “get to know” someone you’ve only ever seen in a broadcast signal. If the MAO was hoping to re-enforce the stereotype that contestants were appearance obsessed, empty headed bikini stuffers or to put forward the idea that the pageant rewards style over substance, they have succeeded brilliantly.

Let’s start with the advisory board. What were they thinking when they chose the people? “Let’s make Miss America a contest to find the latest celebu-tart.” “I know! We’ll let the celebrity culture and fashion industry re-make the contest! That will convince people Miss America is really about achievement.”

Then there are the contestants. I work with college students every day. To suggest these girls are the best and the brightest in the nation is absurd. They might have the brightest smile or the best hair, but their achievements in scholarship and talent are nothing extraordinary. They might have an edge in service, but that is debatable.

I would have some respect for Miss America if the institution and the contestants would just face the facts. Miss America awards scholarships to girls who fit a very narrow definition of physical beauty. Miss America contestants are using their bodies to get through college in the same way that strippers use their bodies to get through college. Only strippers are less pretentious and more honest about what they are doing.