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Komen vs. Planned Parenthood
Feb. 7th, 2012 09:18 amLast week on Facebook, during the Komen vs. Planned Parenthood vs. women vs. breast cancer upheaval, I posted a link to a CREDO petition to fire Karen Handel, who is (still) the Komen's Sr. VP for public policy. I repeat "PUBLIC" policy - not church-related, "moral majority", or any other oxymoron; "public". Public includes everyone, such as people from different religious, economic, moral, and social backgrounds. Here's how I posted the link, after I signed the petition:
"I was appalled (and still am saddened) that this whole thing transpired this week. Planned Parenthood is being bombarded for no reason, but thankfully, they now have more funding than they ever expected to get. Karen Handel, you're a disgrace to your gender, your industry, and your party."
A female friend of mine commented (and I received only one comment) with, "Does that mean all women who don't support Planned Parenthood are a disgrace to their gender? Is it mandatory that those who desire to see an end to breast cancer must give money to Planned Parenthood? Can one be pro-life and still be a woman and support breast cancer prevention. I can understand people's concern over this issue, but I don't think these two organizations must be in bed together in order to perform the functions of their individual missions."
Prior to my signature on the petition, I had thought about the implications, why I was doing it, and what it meant for both organizations. Here was my reply, which I didn't want to lose in the shuffle of future posts. My reply here also encompasses both my thought pre-signing process and my reasoning for posting the link with that blurb to my FB wall.
"Komen is a collection agency for the prevention of breast cancer. For them to decide to deny funding to the largest breast cancer screening agency in the country is ludicrous. Especially in these times when mid to low income women are faced with greater financial turmoil! Komen understands all too well the benefits of early detection. Their move was politically motivated and disgraceful.
People have been led to believe that PP is synonymous with abortions, which is a joke. PP performs 1000x more breast cancer screenings, along with other female-specific health care issues, than any other organization period and is the primary source for health care for middle to low income women. THAT is my issue.
I wasn't generalizing. I specifically said that Karen Handel was a disgrace to her gender. If you don't support Planned Parenthood for whatever reason, I (personally) could care less. Her organization under her direction specifically stated that because PP was under investigation by Congress that she (pretty much on her own and by herself, representing an ENTIRE organization that had supported PP before the investigation for YEARS) decided to withdraw funding. THAT was my problem. Furthermore, PP has been under investigation for over 6 months. Why all of a sudden would SHE choose now - as if it's a surprise that PP is under investigation - to withdraw funding? It was a political move in an election year. Period.
If the Komen Foundation doesn't want the funded clinics to perform abortions with their donated monies, then they can stipulate that in the transaction, and from what I understand, that's what they've done. "About 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in the U.S. and 40,000 women will die from it." (from an article on PP's website) If another clinic out there did as much work on women's issues as PP and had as many facilities that were coordinated throughout the country, then this wouldn't be an issue at all - Komen could take their money elsewhere. I wouldn't have a problem with that.
The facts stand for themselves. I don't believe in politically motivated maneuvers that potentially put 1000s of women's health at risk. Komen has relied upon PP to perform screenings from as early as 2004. And PP hasn't changed their focus. The only issue now is that this is an election year."
I felt I had to capture this instant in political discourse. My non-US friends might not understand our country's need for Planned Parenthood, especially within those countries whose governments supply socialized health care. For women, this is a form of socialized medicine, especially for those who can't afford other forms of health care.
"I was appalled (and still am saddened) that this whole thing transpired this week. Planned Parenthood is being bombarded for no reason, but thankfully, they now have more funding than they ever expected to get. Karen Handel, you're a disgrace to your gender, your industry, and your party."
A female friend of mine commented (and I received only one comment) with, "Does that mean all women who don't support Planned Parenthood are a disgrace to their gender? Is it mandatory that those who desire to see an end to breast cancer must give money to Planned Parenthood? Can one be pro-life and still be a woman and support breast cancer prevention. I can understand people's concern over this issue, but I don't think these two organizations must be in bed together in order to perform the functions of their individual missions."
Prior to my signature on the petition, I had thought about the implications, why I was doing it, and what it meant for both organizations. Here was my reply, which I didn't want to lose in the shuffle of future posts. My reply here also encompasses both my thought pre-signing process and my reasoning for posting the link with that blurb to my FB wall.
"Komen is a collection agency for the prevention of breast cancer. For them to decide to deny funding to the largest breast cancer screening agency in the country is ludicrous. Especially in these times when mid to low income women are faced with greater financial turmoil! Komen understands all too well the benefits of early detection. Their move was politically motivated and disgraceful.
People have been led to believe that PP is synonymous with abortions, which is a joke. PP performs 1000x more breast cancer screenings, along with other female-specific health care issues, than any other organization period and is the primary source for health care for middle to low income women. THAT is my issue.
I wasn't generalizing. I specifically said that Karen Handel was a disgrace to her gender. If you don't support Planned Parenthood for whatever reason, I (personally) could care less. Her organization under her direction specifically stated that because PP was under investigation by Congress that she (pretty much on her own and by herself, representing an ENTIRE organization that had supported PP before the investigation for YEARS) decided to withdraw funding. THAT was my problem. Furthermore, PP has been under investigation for over 6 months. Why all of a sudden would SHE choose now - as if it's a surprise that PP is under investigation - to withdraw funding? It was a political move in an election year. Period.
If the Komen Foundation doesn't want the funded clinics to perform abortions with their donated monies, then they can stipulate that in the transaction, and from what I understand, that's what they've done. "About 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in the U.S. and 40,000 women will die from it." (from an article on PP's website) If another clinic out there did as much work on women's issues as PP and had as many facilities that were coordinated throughout the country, then this wouldn't be an issue at all - Komen could take their money elsewhere. I wouldn't have a problem with that.
The facts stand for themselves. I don't believe in politically motivated maneuvers that potentially put 1000s of women's health at risk. Komen has relied upon PP to perform screenings from as early as 2004. And PP hasn't changed their focus. The only issue now is that this is an election year."
I felt I had to capture this instant in political discourse. My non-US friends might not understand our country's need for Planned Parenthood, especially within those countries whose governments supply socialized health care. For women, this is a form of socialized medicine, especially for those who can't afford other forms of health care.
