My first letter to the editor

I just finished writing my first letter to the editor :) There have been many times when I've been tempted, but this time put me over the top!

In last Friday's edition of "The Spokesman Review", there was an article informing the public that 2 of our health board members have asked to cut ties with Planned Parenthood. You would expect that there would be some sort of evidence to back up this proposal such as PP was not doing what they had said they would do. However, this is not the case. What, you may ask, is the reason for this proposal? I'm sure you've already guessed...PP performs abortions and 2 of the board members don't like that.

Well, boo hoo Dr. Wolfe & Mr. Richard. If you don't believe in abortion, don't get one!! Here is the letter I wrote:

I was disturbed to read that members of our Regional Health District are trying to cut ties with Planned Parenthood. Even more troubling is the fact that the only reason cited was that these board members disagree with abortion. The health district has had a contract with Planned Parenthood to provide breast and cervical cancer screenings for low-income women. There is also a plan to include needed vaccinations for children.

It is unacceptable for these board members to threaten needed health care for women and children simply because they disagree with less than 3% of the services provided by these clinics. Since recently losing the People's clinic downtown, Spokane is in desperate need of low-income clinics. I doubt there are other viable options at this time to replace Planned Parenthood's services.

Personal beliefs should not be involved in these important decisions. I understand that you do not believe in abortion Dr. Wolfe & Mr. Richard, so here is simple solution…. don't have an abortion. But, do not put women and children in jeopardy because of a personal belief of yours. Please, base your decisions on facts.

Stephanie XXXX

We'll see if it gets published :)

I had wanted to say more, but the limit is 200 words. If I could have written more, I would have included some other information such as:

Abortion is a legal right women have...it doesn't matter if you believe in it or not.

I do not pretend to understand EVERY woman's situation. I may not personally choose to have an abortion, but I do have that right to choose. Why should a fetus, that cannot survive on it's own, possess more rights than the woman it is growing in?

I don't like to eat pork. Does that mean I should try to prevent restaurants that serve pork from feeding people at a homeless shelter? Even if there is only one menu item with pork in it? I know this is a simplistic analogy, but it points out the basic facts. We all have different beliefs, but we do not have the right to impose our beliefs on others. We definitely do not have the right to cause harm to others simply because of a personal belief.

The major portion of services provided by Planned Parenthood are family planning and prevention of unintended pregnancy. Now, if we want abortion to become obsolete, we need better family planning and prevention of unintended pregnancy. Unless it's truly not about abortion, but instead about personal religious beliefs, which is most likely the case, these people should be supporting Planned Parenthood!

I have said before that I used to be pro-life...back in my high school days :) Now, I look back and am disgusted with my arrogance. How arrogant to think that I KNOW what every woman who is considering an abortion has been through. Do you think we might have less child abuse, child abandonment, and other problems if people actually wanted their children and were able to plan when they were going to have children? I tend to think so.