OnLine With Zoe

Your Signature Will Help the Teens of OC

In 1972 (yes, I remember it) we believed that not one more American woman would have to die from an amateur abortion.  We believed that every female would be able to manage her body’s ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy.  It seemed the only issue would be applying economic justice so that women, rich and poor, would be able to get information and services equally.
 
In the 1980’s the sexual revolution ended suddenly when condoms became a matter of life or death.  HIV/AIDS took the list of STI’s to a whole new level as it was incurable and deathly.  As Catholic high school teacher myself, I made certain condoms were available for those who made their sexual decisions long before asking my opinion.  Parents may argue till they are blue-in-the-face that their teenagers are not sexually active but the only action in full view is how easily they are being fooled.  The resounding settlement of this round robin conversation happens when their 11th grader is going to be a parent before graduation. 

Having been in the PTA and a director of a free clinic, I can assure you, parents and keepers of the abstinence rule book are the only ones who do not get it; information does not cause sex.  Hormones cause sex and information might make it safe.  People who know the truth; teachers, nurses, the CDC, doctors and community workers just cannot convince non-believers that their “children” are don’ it.  Therefore, it is up to those who really understand and accept the truth of the matter to offer solid, comprehensive, current information and be keepers of social health.  This is the role of leaders; the servants and shepherds of community.

Some how this obvious theory has escaped the Orange County Board of Supervisors.  They have taken their elected positions as license to advance their religious points of view and act as if they are the blind parents of a pregnant teen.  This is not even a stretch of opinion, as Santa Ana and Anaheim are at the top of the list of cities in California in teen pregnancy rates and the OC accounts for 60% of Chlamydia cases. 

Possibly these Supervisors think that they know better than the professionals, want to parent everyone’s kids, are acting as religions missionaries or are afraid of not being elected next term if they show some true stewardship.  No matter their reasoning, the fact is they voted unanimously to de-fund the education and outreach program of Planned Parenthood. 

This is NOT MONEY FOR ABORTIONS.  This is money which is spent educating citizens of the OC on  health, STI’s, reproduction, family planning and, yes, even abstinence.  It is non-religious, comprehensive, age-appropriate information. 

Please sign the petition and support the simple idea that withholding information is never the answer ~ supporting accurate, comprehensive, age-appropriate information is always the right thing to do. 

The White House Council on Women

Not a minute too soon.  Something to dream about.

My Email Today

From: zoe@onlinewithzoe.com [mailto:zoe@onlinewithzoe.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 12:11 PM
To: Jenny Boshears
Subject: Pro- ERA

 

Dear Governor Beebe,

It would be so terrific if Arkansas stood up and took the informed responsible position on the ERA.   Please note ~

·         Over 85% of Americans want the ERA

·         ERA has nothing to do with the draft

·         ERA has nothing to do with abortion or marriage

Take a stand on the side of the informed majority and encourage the Arkansas legislature to pass the ERA.

Thank you,

Zoe Nicholson

 

From: Jenny Boshears [mailto:Jenny.Boshears@governor.arkansas.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 10:14 AM
To: zoe@onlinewithzoe.com
Subject: RE: Pro- ERA

Thank you for contacting the Office of Governor Mike Beebe.  Because of long-standing policy guidelines, the Governor does not answer mail electronically, but he has seen your message and appreciates your concerns. The Governor has been a long-time supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and has personally spoken to Senator Glover and others about this important issue.  He joins you in working for its passage and urges you to contact your state senator.

Time for Arkansas to Ratify the ERA

You may already know that Phyllis Schlafly’s organization deluged the Arkansas legislature with their usual ocean of fear and lies about the ERA; turning a deciding committee vote over last weekend.  Now is the time to tell them the truth; that most Americans want the ERA, it is in the national platform and to join the 35 states that have ratified equality for women and men. 

Contact the Governor by email and phone call today.
Email Governor Beebe of Arkansas at
tonya.mercer@governor.arkansas.gov OR jenny.boshears@governor.arkansas.gov
or call 501-682-2345

Let Governor Beebe know that we appreciate his help in asking Senator Glover to vote for the ERA at least in committee or to find someone else to carry the bill.  It would be a proud moment for Arkansas to become the 36th state to ratify the ERA. 

The News is, in fact, There is no News

I have not written anything for a while as I hear readers asking for something new; can I even say stimulating.  The news is that there isn’t news.  I began life on January 20, 10 AM with high expectation of cascading great news for women and girls but in spite of rescinding the global gag order and the signing of the Ledbetter Act, very old news is sustaining its hold on us; as demonstrated by the groundswell of anti-ERA activism afoot in Arkansas and the failure in the State Senate Committee. Funding for Reproductive Health is faltering at both the federal level and many states, including California.

51% of Americans are not proportionately represented in any of our elected and appointed bodies.  Congress is holding at 17%, placing the US as 69th in the world.  With the confirmation of Governor Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Obama Cabinet will have four women; Bush and Clinton had six.  There are NO women on The Stimulus Conference Committee.  There is no news on the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women; only a glut of emails asking me to sign the petition.  Yes, we have seen Michelle Obama on the cover of O; certainly a cataclysmic event but we need, women in leadership. 

It is March, National Women's History Month.  Maybe there will be a poster in the public library and a PSA featuring Eleanor Roosevelt or Rosa Parks but the ceiling is intact, rising out of reach. Eighteen million cracks are magically repairing.  Today, March 8th, is International Women's Day and we have not ratified CEDAW; leaving us in company with Iran and Sudan.  As of March 1, 2007, 185 countries have ratified the Treaty for the Rights of Women; not the US where the only place you can find International Women's Day mentioned on TV is QVC.

I keep hesitating, waiting for some magical thing to happen that demonstrates that this new administration understands that women in leadership, seated at decision tables is good for the world.  People have told me that after 100 days the gloves come off.  But committees, cabinets, houses, offices will be in place in 100 days.  Aren't the decisions being made now ~ the point?  Wait 100 days for an artificial politeness and the gloves come off ~ whose gloves, mine? his? conservatives? progressives?  Heck, who is wearing gloves?

What then must we do?

I sit, close my eyes and try to count my breathing.  I am conducting the same wave of fear and uncertainty that is washing through the neighborhood, the city, the county.  The fact that I am fine does not make me immune.  I sit on the couch, watching American Idol, speeding through the commercials with dog asleep on the left and cat asleep on my lap; I am fine. 

Despite the steady stream of my life, I feel the earth tremble just enough to make steps tentative.  Sleep is not business as usual, instead it is dreams of loss and limitation.  It makes me wonder how it must be for a family on their last paycheck, their trip to the market with the last cash in hand.  This is what is happening for families across the country, my country.

It makes me wonder what is happening in war torn places, where doors are kicked in and the sound of gunfire is common.  Or where there is no water or crops.  Where the losses cannot be counted on a calculator.  How can they sleep?  The fact is I have no idea.  I am thirsty and, while checking the dog bowl too, I turn the faucet handle releasing the abundance of my life. 

What can I do?  That is my unraveling thread.  Distractions are losing their strength.  I don’t care about the Bachelor, Limbaugh, Jindal.  All of the reasons I got on the Obama bandwagon have been shelved way behind AIG, Northern Trust and GM.  The Portuguese Water dog is not enough.  What will it take?   No on 8, Yes to Milk Day, repeal DOMA, ERA, 50/50 by 2020, end war, (oh yeah – what is this holocaust they are planning for Afghanistan).  It is Women’s History Month and where is Hillary?  What terrible calamity is demanding all of her attention.  I miss my dailies on Hillary – her tweet is not enough. 

I feel like I want to apologize.  Or do I want an apology.  I just don’t know.