*twitches*

So, is it now the in thing for parents/guardians/caretakers/whatever of both sexes to stand 5-10 feet away from their child's stroller while they chat with someone, with neither adult paying any attention to the child?  Because I saw about 10 people doing that today when I went to the mall for lunch with my parents.

Sometimes, I really wish I'd uploaded that Feminist Rage icon I made for lesbiassparrow...

 Most, I assume, have heard of the proposition that will allow doctors to refuse to perform abortions or provide any sort of preventive medicine or procedure on moral grounds with no consequences.  Apparently, it now goes into effect within 30 days.  Doctors will not be required to offer any aid, or to direct patients to another physician.

This post by naamah_darling links to the actual proposition, and lays things out pretty clearly, and I recommend everyone reads it.  If you look in the comments, any objections to having a problem with this proposition are pretty well addressed.

Now, here's the thing:  I support sticking up for your beliefs.  However, the entire point of taking a moral stance-any stance-is that you make that stance with a willingness to accept the consequences, understanding that there will be consequences.  It means choosing your beliefs over  what is accepted or expected, knowing that you may be condemned for them, and may even suffer for them.   A doctor refusing to offer services under this law will not be making a moral stance.  He or she will be will face no consequences for their actions.

Anyone who went into a medical field where they would be expected to perform abortion or provide other preventive measures within the last few decades knew that is something that would be a part of their duties.  They already made their moral decision.  It's a part of their job, and this law allows them to refuse to do their job with no consequences.  (Actually, that's not true.  The patient has to face the consequences of the doctor's decision.  Other, better people have ranted about that.)  There are medical fields a person can enter where this would never be an issue.

Is it different if a person has a moral conversion, for religious reasons or not, after entering the field?  Yes.  And at that point in time, they should make the choice between their job and their morals.  Not say "well, I no longer feel comfortable with this aspect of my job, so I now refuse to do it, but I don't expect to be held accountable for this, be it reprimand, paycut, suspension, or job loss."

And, quite frankly, how long do you think it will be before this is used to justify refusing other treatments?  Refusing treatment because of a moral objection to homosexuality or different religious beliefs?  Because of a drug overdose?  Because of gang related injuries?  Injuries caused by substance abuse?

And after that, how long until treatment is refused for more personal reasons?  The kid who bullied you in school, that person who cheated on your kid or sibling when they dated, the speaker at a political rally you disagreed with, your ex?

Because if you think it won't spread to anything else, even if it does take a while, I think you are very, very sheltered.  At best.

And as this is largely being portrayed as a religious issue in the media(though not by anyone on the f-list I've seen, or any of the OP-ers I've been linked to), I'd just like to mention that not every Christian believes in forcing their beliefs on others, or expecting them to adhere to the rules they live their own lives by.  Nor does every Christian pass moral judgement on people who don't live by their rules, or expect others to make exceptions for them.  Most are too busy living their lives to dictate how others should live theirs. 

And now I'm going to go read something that actually makes me happy.


Note:  This post is not about abortion.  Very bluntly:  if you comment defending or condemning abortion, or anything close to either-or, for that matter, stating that this is about abortion-I will delete your comment, even if I agree.  Abortion itself is not the point here. 

ETA:  No, really, that note in bold?  I meant it.  Any comments condemning or defending abortion, especially those directed at other commenters, are being deleted.  Period. 

ETA 2:  To clarify:  I consider this to be an issue important to female rights because it's refusal of medical treatment that is specific to women.  Honestly, do you really think a law would be passed saying doctors could refuse male-specific treatments because they don't agree?

Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones

Abdullah is a (mostly) humble carpet merchant in the city of Zanzib. His father, being very disappointed in him due to a prophecy at his birth, left him only enough money to set himself up a small stall in the bazaar, leaving most of his money to his first wife’s sons. Things start to change, though, when a man sells him a flying carpet. That night, he sleeps on the carpet, and wakes up in a palace garden, meeting a princess named Flower-in-the-Night. He thinks it’s a daydream, but the next morning he can’t find his sleeping cap, and he realizes that it was real. He keeps visiting her at night, and they (naturally) fall in love and plan to elope. The night they plan to elope, however, a djinn kidnaps the princess from the carpet.

Abdullah is arrested, but manages to escape and sets off to find her with the carpet, acquiring a djinn in a bottle, a size-changing cat and her kitten, and an ex-soldier turned conman and thief. For the first two-thirds, it’s a fairly obvious retelling of several Arabian Nights tales, most notably Aladdin. It is, however, very well done, and very charming. A hero whose survival skills and heroic abilities are limited to his wits and his flowery (and occasionally bargaining) tongue! A grumpy djinn who tries to make every wish go horribly bad! A magic carpet that will only fly when flattered! The only real drawback is that Flower-in-the-Night wasn’t really developed beyond the generic “damsel in distress princess” before being kidnapped.

But then we get to the last third, and we move into the awesome territory. 

( spoilers )

Angel Sanctuary Vol 10

( Is no one's gender safe? )

 
I think I need an icon of Uriel.