It is unacceptable that Republicans would convene a panel on denying access to birth control coverage with five men and no women. My twin brother, Dr. John McDargh, sent me this: I heard the other evening the moving testimony of Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown law student, who described the tragic case of one of her friends who could not afford the $100 a month for contraception that was prescribed by her physician to prevent ovarian tumors. Her subsequent surgical loss of an ovary and suffering early onset menopause is a heart wrenching example of the impact of this policy that was NOT heard because the chair of the panel chose to rule her as “unqualified”to testify before Congress. Watch an interview with Sandra on MSNBC at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY8M3boxqbk.
My question: if this were about Viagra, would there be an all-woman panel?
Dear Eileen: Thank you for posting this item. My feelings exactly — how could a group of men make decisions about women? I am glad I am not the only one who found this scenario appalling. Women know what’s best for women. Best always, Eddie
Thanks, Ed. It is pretty darned astounding.
Ha – prior to reading this, MY comment was that an all-male panel on women’s contraception is as ridiculous as an all-woman panel on male circumcision. If I, a woman, were asked to serve on a panel on circumcision, and then found out there were no men on the panel, that is the very first question I would ask – shouldn’t MEN be deciding issues regarding their OWN bodies? But do you think the men on this panel took an equivalent stance? No, they did not – because certain men seem to think they still should be able to control women, and that it is their god-given right to do so. And why not add slavery into that equation as well – after all the bible condones it, who are we to say it is good enough for God but not for us….