Politics may sound abstract or perhaps like a rich man's game, but there is a very human side to it all. Political decisions may be made by a few people dressed in suits, but these policies affect our communities. Bad policies kill, or make families poor, seperate parents from their children, and send our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, or moms and dads to foreign lands to protect resources. Although we covered a lot this quarter, from energy and the environment, to using the threat of terrorism to control people, to the mainstream media influencing the outcome of our elections, to the financial crisis and the war on drugs, we weren't able to cover everything.
That's were you come in. For your final blog, please watch one of three Frontline reports on abortion clinics, health care systems, or the Darfur tradgedy and write a short report answering the following questions:
Paragraph 1. Summarize the issue. What is the problem, according to Frontline? Who are the people and/ or groups involved?
Paragraph 2. What are your feelings on the matter? What did you learn from the news report about the issue you did not know already? Did your opinion change at all from this information?
Paragraph 3. Why is this issue important? How does policy affect this issue? What is the solution in your opinion?
Paragraph 4. Finally, apply what you have learned about group dynamics and teamwork to solve big problems and explain HOW you would organize a grassroots movement to address this issue in your community. (I actually want you to lay out a general plan.)
That's it! You have come a long way and learned a lot (despite your best efforts not to!) so give yourself a pat on the back. I bitched at you a lot, but you guys stuck it out and did a great job. Happy Holidays and remember, yes we can!
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Since “Roe V. Wade”, the Supreme Court decision to allow women to have abortion up to a certain point in the pregnancy, pro life organizations have been attacking have been attacking both people that support the law and people that practice or utilize the decision. Early on it was mostly violence that sprung forth from the protest. From fire-bombing abortion clinics to assaulting or killing the doctors that practice abortion the early “protesters” were radical and gave the pro-life side of the fence a bad name. As of late the law on “Roe V. Wade” was slightly redefined and gave the pro-life side of the campaign an entrance to begin chipping away at “Roe V. Wade” doing everything they can politically and legally to eliminate abortion in any way they can.
Personally I believe that the option of abortion should never be eliminated for multiple reasons. One is that if abortion became illegal people who have miscarriages would then be under investigation for having an abortion. People that really need the abortion will use “back-alley” methods and lose their lives in the process. I’m not a woman so I can’t say that I would know what goes through their mind when considering this decision and by that thought I think that each case is entirely circumstantial and cannot be looked at as black and white. I did not know how much abortion is losing the fight in many states and I’m a lot more paranoid about people losing their rights. My opinion was not changed by the video but strengthened.
The issue is important because people’s lives are at stake and that is a finality that cannot be denied. The policies affect people severely and are extreme in the sense that they ignore the poor and the people incapable of traveling 200 miles one day and then coming back later. Honestly the pro-life side of the issue seems very conniving and discriminatory in the fact they are not directly backing what they are going for but saying they are protecting women while all they are going for is restricting their capability to abort a pregnancy in any way they can. I cannot honestly say that I can think of a solution for this cause the fact that no one solution will ever solve this due to the fact that each situation is unique.
The best way to organize against pro-life campaigning would be the same that they are doing to use because it seems to work very. It would simply consist of lobbying and protesting 24/7 and reveal the “woman’s health” camp for what they are which is pro-life.
Abortion has been an issue ever since abortion became an option for many women who became pregnant and didn’t want to keep their “Live” but yet, “Unborn” child. This issue always involved a variety of people from different backgrounds such as religious groups and politicians. While abortion is being fought primarily because some believe that it is wrong, courts are simply deciding on whether or not to allow the States to make their own laws when dealing with abortion. This has been the case for the past forty years after Roe V. Wade was brought up in court.
In my opinion, abortion shouldn’t be an option for any woman. I believe that the better alternative is to give the child up for adoption to a couple that can’t conceive. I do know that some woman become pregnant by accident and some because they were sexually assaulted, but that shouldn’t be a reason to kill such a defenseless and beautiful child. And if you think about it, many of us were mistakes but yet we were given life. I have learned that Mississippi has more pro-life groups than any other state and that it has only one remaining abortion clinic that pro-life groups are destined to shut down.
A reason that abortion is important is because rather than giving women the option to abort, we should spend more time on informing people on the many birth control options they have. We should also inform women on the options they have if they do become pregnant and how to safely surrender their unwanted child. I do believe that schooling women will have greater results than having the government decide on letting states make decisions for women.
In my community there is an abortion clinic with pro life groups protesting outside. A good alternative would be to have such groups inform and convince women to give up their child at birth and not kill it rather than scare them by telling them it’s wrong although it is.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/clinic/view/
Christian Hernandez
Group Dynamics
Mrs. C
There is something horrible that has been happening across the seas from the U.S. for a very long time. And that is the Darfur crises or genocide as it should be called, may innocent people are being killed for what the Sudan government calls ethnic cleansing. This had been happening since early 2003 and it hasn't stopped, it was first brought to the attention of the U.N. by Dr. Mukesh Kapila but the U.N. did not find the matter very important at first so they ignored Dr. Mukesh Kapila warnings. One of the groups that is involved in the killing of all thees people is a group of bandits called the Janjaweed who where hired by the Sudan government to enforce there ethnic cleansing. There has been may attempts to stop this massive killing of people but has been stopped buy the Sudan government or the chines who have very strong ties with the Sudan government, as they are one of the biggest supplier of oil to the chines. According to Frontline the main reason that this has not been stopped is because its just not that important to anyone and I have to agree.
I have to feel ashamed of my self because I did not know any of this was going until just a few weeks ago, so I guess I am proving Frontlines point. What is happening to the people of Durfur is horrible and no group of people should have to go through something like that, but unfortunately it has happened many times. I did not know a lot about this crises,for instance I did not know that what basically started this “cleansing” was all do to the discovery of oil in Sudan. As well as how far china would go and let so many innocent people die just so that they can keep there oil supplier happy.
This is a very important issue because there is no reason or excuse for try to kill off a entire race of people and worst of all is that we as a world said that we would never happen again, but when it comes to politics I guess you have to take anything they say with a grain of salt. This problem need to resolved as soon as possible and one way would bee to get more people aware of the problem because I guarantee you that there are a lot of people like me out there that don't anything about this issue. Another way this could be resolved is if we can finally get china to stop being wusses and stand up to there oil supplier.
One way I would address this issue would be by gathering up some of my friends to try and get people more aware of this issue around my neighborhood and out side my neighborhood as well. The best part about this is that since these are my friends the whole team building process has been taken care of, we would have none of the insecurities that are normally found when a team of people that don't know each have. And the team leader would just be decided by which ever one of us is more enthusiastic.
What can I say, there is not a lot of support if your female in Mississippi and you want to get an abortion.From watching the "The Last Abortion Clinic" ,I wasn't surprised it was in the south.Terri Herring (president of the movement) plays a big role in the pro-life movement in Mississippi, her goal is to make that state the first one in the union to be abortion free, and it seems like she is very close to obtaining her goal.I was surprised when I heard about the bombings in the 80's and 90's.That gave pro-lfers a bad name.It seems that they have to make up for the mistakes that were made in the past.Personally, I am more on the side of pro-life , but how do you tell a 16 year old girl that just got raped , to please have your baby. How about in the Delta(very poor area in Mississippi)how do you tell a teenager to keep a baby when she can't even afford to take care of herslf.The Jackson Women's Health Org. is the only clinic in Miss. that still does abortion.But they are understaffed and still have a hard time getting doctors to do the procedures.I can see why that would be because you are in a very conservative state.It must suck, if a woman wants to get an abortion in that state, alot of times they have to go to their neighbor state, that place is very far and understaffed.I think the main issue is that the people are not well educated about birth control , condoms, safe sex, etc..Maybe people in that area do not consider that they have other options besides keeping the baby.The pro lifers seems like they work well in there teams and will probably accomplish there goal in the near future.other support groups such as American United Life ( based out of Chicago )not only are pro-life, but they also try to make sure that the abortion clinics in the country are within health regulations.In a nutshell, if you want an abortion, don't go to Mississippi.This blog is by Sean Barry.
This is an follow up to my blog, if I was on the pro- life side. I would have done the same thing Terri Herring is doing, but I would have try to get some more ideas from my fellow team mates, because we are in this together.I would have went down to the Delta to talk to the women that are less financially stable and help them anyway I could have, to let them know they are not alone.If I was on the pro-choice side of the fence, I would have gathered evrybody I knew that had the same opinion as I did, gather all the information that would help us, and start making phone calls and protesting anywhere the pro-lifers are.I would try to reach anybody in the state officials(governor, mayors,etc,,) that felt the same way we did, try to make a friggin impact in our society, we would protest everyday and make sure our voices are heard and our demands are met.I would protest in the upper class neighborhoods, give the public pictures, and information about the people in there state that are less fortunate. Let them realize not everybody can afford to have children and not everybody can go out and get an abortion whenever they want.This follow up blog is by Sean Barry
The pro-life activists of Mississippi have worked hard to make it almost impossible for any woman in the state of Mississippi to get an abortion. There are many women harassed by pro-lifers for going into the last abortion clinic in Jackson Mississippi, and other women are forced to travel to another state just to get an abortion. Since abortion has been around, it has never been easy to do, and of course it has never been accepted by people with strong religious beliefs, but that does not mean any one has the right to tell some one else what they believe is best for them. Pro-lifers are all for preserving life while the child is still in the womb, but the neither the government nor the pro-lifers are doing any thing to help the woman who chose to keep their child, take care of it after the child’s birth. Most of the women having baby’s are teenage girls. Pro-choice activists and lawyers are fighting to keep abortion in the state, and to leave that choice up to the woman considering abortion.
My view on this topic is neither pro nor against abortion. I believe it is completely up to the woman to make the decision she feels is best for her, and her life, but I do also believe that every thing has the right to life. these children do not chose to be created and don’t have the choice of life or death, but if the woman who is pregnant has no means of taking care of the child and if they are going to resent the child it shouldn’t be born into that situation any ways. No one is ready to be a parent, not even those who plan their children, it doesn’t come with a hand book and the child is not born with a warning lable. There is no greater challenge in this world than that of being a parent, some woman are just less ready then others, financially, or emotionally. Young teens have more to fear, abusive parents forcing them to turn to home made abortions or back alley abortionist. If they were informed of their options like birth control, or the emergency contraceptive pill Plan B, there would be less teen pregnancy. My opinion has always been the same on this issue no one has the right to tell some one what they can and cant do with their body..
This issue is very important because it takes away women’s rights to chose for themselves what is in their best interest. The only solution is to let some one decide for themselves. No requirements should be met in order to get an abortion, no one but the person in question has the right to chose what’s good for them.
To address the issue you would have to get people who share your views, come up with a common slogan, then get supporters. It is important to be informed of the issue, how its affecting the community, and how’s its hindering people and not helping them. Pro-lifers are concerned for the wrong reasons, because they are doing nothing to help them once the child is born. Helping people see the big picture that its not just about their life and their issue but a community and a nations problem. No t every parent is quick to help their child get an abortion or to help them once the child is born, some women don’t have the means to support a child so they might dump it any where on the streets. No one has the right to restrict any one else’s rights!
- Laura Barrera
The idea that Roe V. Wade concluded legislative acts on deciding how, how broadly local and state governments could control women’s abortion rights in their jurisdictions, is brash misconception. Since the Roe v. Wade case was decided in 1973, pro-life groups have looked for ways to undermine, challenge, restrict and eventually eradicate the law. Roe v. Wade spawned many national and state debates among groups who aimed to challenge Roe directly. The Casie case allowed that Katherine Kolbert and planned Parenthood to appeal the Roe v. Wade decision up to the Supreme Court, where the standards of abortion laws was changed. They diverted from the clause that stated a woman may access abortion for any reason as long as she’s within her first or second trimester, for a new position that supported Roe and restricted laws that put substantial burdens in path of women seeking. They coined the new clause the “undue burden cause.” By transferring the woman’s exclusive right to govern her own body wholly, the government laid way for an all out attack on pregnant women, abortion clinics and doctors. These occurrences compound the already ugly issue abortion while many pro-choice peoples saw a victory, pro-life groups like Americans United for Life gathered to continue protesting and pass legislations to answer what case concede undue burden. These legislations are slow and incremental, but they are what allowed states like Mississippi to slowly eradicate abortions.
Women are in control of their own bodies, as all people are. No special situation should exist that allow the government to exert any overpowering influence on women who desire to make their own choice with what they do with their body. After all one woman’s burden may not be applicable to all other women, in different or similar situations. Also hospital, clinics and “crisis facilities” should at least do all pregnancy related procedures, not just ultrasounds, for the purpose maternal shock/guilt treatment. I would be very irate if went to the doctor who diagnosed me, but refused to treat me. I myself was not aware that any state required for a minor to notify both parents of abortion proceeding, the way New Hampshire does. I will always support exclusive women’s rights.
This landmark issue of abortion being a woman’s fundamental rights is important to all people because it is a precursor to many future cases that will reflect how individual use, treat and manage their own bodies. These laws and policies that our states make affect the policy entirely. Many women’s options are stripped from them because of their states stance on abortion. Waiting periods, long distances, informed consent (24 hour waiting periods, double visit) and state mandated shock value information are all real issue created by faulty policies. Many women suffer by these policies, while women in less controlling states access treatment without any hassles. Other policies are used for the purpose of setting many obstacles in the way of the clinics and doctors who perform abortion like requiring them to increase treatments given to abortion patients and requiring their facilities to meet really minute requirements. A more applicable approach would be to draft some form of criteria that would allow uniform policies to be enacted in states who want to hinder abortions.
In order to try to tackle the conflicting issues arising around the abortion issue itself. The process I would undertake would entail gathering strong supporters of both sides of this issue. Each person would communicate their own side’s views on major conflicting issues abortion. I would attempt to use some type of consensus on what stipulation to keep from each of the different points, in each major issue surrounding abortion. Then from these proposals our group could communicate a common agreeable policy. When there is a policy agreed upon which gratifies a women’s choice and both sides view equally, that is when we campaign for the new legislation to support out new policies.
By: Jarrell Easly
Work Cited
“The Last Abortion Clinic”. Dir. Raney Aronson-Rath. Prod. Raney Aronson-Rath. DVD. Frontline Vidoes 2005
Sickness is something that we all have to deal with at some point in our lives. It would be ideal if everyone would be immune to any type of illness, but in reality we do get sick and at some point we will need some type of health care to fight any type of illness we encounter.
Unfortunately Health care is something that not everyone can afford in the United States. The report by T. R. Reid, talks about how the United States being one of the richest countries in the world, cannot afford to provide a health care system that everyone can afford. In his report, Mr. Reid also travels to different countries around the world and examines some of the different types of health care systems these countries have. He found out that countries like England, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, and Switzerland all have a health care system for everyone the rich and the poor.
After watching the report from Frontline “Health Care Systems” I was surprised to know how other countries have managed to implement a health care system for everyone. And yet here we are we have a health system that is too expensive and where the quality of service depends on how much you are willing to pay or afford. Some of us are lucky enough to have health care benefits through our jobs the low income families have Medical and Medicare for the older people. But even then having insurance does not eliminate the medical bills, most insurance companies pay for most of the bill but not all, especially after a surgery or a life threatening illness. Out of pocket expenses and prescriptions get to be pretty expensive and that is where a lot of people struggle to pay the bill and some even go bankrupt. Health care is an important issue, because people’s lives are at stake. There are 47 million Americans without health insurance, and 8.7 million are children, and the numbers keep growing. Employers are slowly shifting health care costs to employees, who struggle to pay higher premiums, deductibles and co-payments and it is coming to a point where they will not be able to afford it.
First of all to find a solution to our health care problem, we need to solve our economic crisis. Secondly our government needs to start thinking that just like everyone has a right to an education, that everyone also has a right to health care. Health care is a necessity just like the right to access food, shelter and clothing, and yeah nothing is free but people expect the government o provide a fair market so we can access those necessities. I think that just like groceries or clothing, the government should implement a consumer driven market in medical care. To get sick is just too expensive and it shouldn’t be.
Health care is a hot topic everywhere you go and it is going to be very difficult to come up with a solution. But one of the things that I would do in my community is to get a group of people together and study our current health care crisis along with examining other countries health care systems. Go through the team building process, and make a group of people into a team, to be sort of like a transformational leader and make team members leaders as well. From there go out to the community and explain the situation and get everyone in the same page and make them understand that our health care crisis is like a sickness the longer we wait, the longer it is going to take to heal and the more expensive it will get. Show them how other countries have solved their health care problems and to try to follow some of their examples. Unfortunately our country is in a financial crisis and it is going to be very hard to solve a lot of the issues we currently have. With the election of the new President hopes of better health care seem slim, it is up to the people to speak up and come up with a solution like many instances throughout history, people have come together to solve the problems that this country has faced.
T.R. Reid “Sick Around The World”. Directed and Produced by John Palfreman.DVD. Frontline videos.
www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/
The Last Abortion Clinic
This Frontline coverage is about a town in Mississippi. Pro-life activists are protesting in front of the last available abortion clinic in the state, Jackson Women Health Organization. They’re singing religious songs and trying to persuade women to not get an abortion. This coverage talks about Roe V Wade and the Ayotte Case. Both were attempts on trying to ban or limit abortions. It also talks about how women in Mississippi would have to drive to neighboring states just to get an abortion. The procedures required to get an abortion, which is that women that want one would have to consult the doctor 24 hours prior before they can go with the procedure. They also show us that many women would have a lot of hurdles and jumps just to get their abortion.
I learned that I wouldn’t want to live in Mississippi. How can they just change our fundamental rights and making it so difficult for women? These Christians that try to put their beliefs on to other people just makes me sick. How about they just worry about their own lives and stop messing with other peoples.
This issue is important because these activists that are against abortion. They’re affecting our rights. It’s a woman’s freedom if they want to abort or not. The fact that they have to travel 200+ miles to ANOTHER state just to get an abortion is wrong. My solution is that they should just get some authorities to leave the Jackson Women Health Organization alone. It’s the only clinic left. The Pro-life activists already killed off the other ones. Give women their freedoms!
Well we would need a good leader to lead multiple groups to save this abortion clinic. I see a lot of Pro-life people outside of the Jackson clinic, but no Pro-choice ones. They have to gather enough people in the community to fight against these people. I would organize it by using the internet and other networking tools available to rally up all the pro choice people in the community. All meet and brainstorm ideas on how to fight against these activists. Then I would protest outside a church and/or the Jackson clinic.
If they can get enough support then maybe the freedom of abortion can be saved
References:
"Roe v. Wade." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 23 Nov 2008, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade
Juno. Dir. Jason Reitman.
"Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 16 Oct 2008, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ayotte_v._Planned_Parenthood_of_Northern_New_England&oldid=245622431
Healthcare, one of the most talked about issues in this recent presidency election. Everyone at some point in their life has dealt with some sort of healthcare issue. The United States is considered to be the richest and most powerful country of our time, but yet when it comes to healthcare ratings we are rated 37 in the world. How can a country as rich and powerful not be able to provide first rate healthcare? As a matter of fact, we have people filing for bankruptcy because of healthcare debts, not being able to pay emergency costs or even for treatments that they need just to continue living.
I for one believe that healthcare costs are way too high. To have a hundred twenty dollars deducted from every check, plus a twenty five dollar co-pay if you want a same day appointment and still have to add on whatever the cost of prescriptions is going to be. For a family with a badly ill member it would cost a fortune just to keep them going to regular visits and getting their prescriptions. Before watching the Frontline special I knew how expensive our healthcare was but didn’t really have an idea of how we ranked up with top countries around the world. The special really opened my eyes on what is going on, how badly the issue is effecting many families.
The healthcare issue is really important because it affects everyone, people with insurance and without. Say your currently employed, have insurance through your job. What problem is it causing for you right? Wrong! You lose your job, now what insurance do you have? If you get sick and don’t have a job is it your problem now? I believe we need healthcare reform. Hopefully president elect Obama can make or at least begin making changes to our current system.
Well if it was up to me I would start by breaking down how our healthcare plans work now. Pricing of healthcare and medical treatment prices would be broken down. Then a universal healthcare plan would be created which would be governed by the government, making sure that everyone is covered from the poorest of the poor to the filthy rich and that everyone gets equal care. Impose a national fund for healthcare which would be tapped solely for our healthcare expenses. That way whomever does not have a job does not have to fear going to the doctor because they don’t have medical insurance. Of course if the government is being billed hospitals and clinics would try to jack up the prices but how I mentioned the prices being broken down before, they would then also be governed by the government. They would decide how much a certain procedure should cost and set a limit on what the maximum price for that procedure would be, and all hospitals and clinics would have to abide by them.
By Danny Ramos
One of the most significant issues that our country is facing is the ongoing problem of the affordability of health care. The cost of health care is increasing drastically, and whether or not health care will even be affordable in the next ten to twenty years is a major concern. There is a constant decrease of people’s health in the United States as well as people going bankrupted due to health care bills. America spends around 16% of our GDP and compared to other countries it’s a dramatic difference for example in Taiwan they only spend 6.2% and everyone has covered health insurance, as oppose to America. Most countries have already adopted a universal health care system and America has not even considering the lower cost it would give us. I have always been well aware of our horrible health care system considering I have over a $10,000 outstand medical bill which has caused me grief for years.
In order to solve the most significant issue of our generation, I feel that the United States should adopt a universal health care system. It is fair to say that health care is far from cheap. Unless you have health insurance, the cost of going to see the doctor and getting the required medicine can be very expensive. The United States health care system depends on private and non-profit health insurance, which is the primary source of coverage that most Americans have. Health insurance pays for medical expenses and may be purchased on a group basis, such as a family plan, or purchased individually. These groups or individuals pay premiums or taxes to help protect them from high or unexpected health care expenses.
If we were to adapt something of all the current universal health care systems it would solve the problem, and in order to start we would need to start with a group of people to help. We would need to go about this by informing the public in the correct manner and recruiting more people to help and grow the group. I would start in the community first then asking for companies and creditable individuals to assist in the position. Therefore, eventually creating nation wide support groups that can make a change for the better.
Ana De La Torre
The Last Abortion Clinic
Abortion has been and remains a very controversial issue in this country. In the state of Mississippi, a pro life organization has committed itself to enact more pro life legislation and become the first abortion free state in the nation. The state has shut down various abortion clinics and the Pro Life Mississippi Organization is oriented towards getting the last abortion clinic, Jackson Womens Health, shut down. The Pro Life Mississippi Organization is not the group in favor of eliminating abortion, but also the Americans United for Life Organization. This organization is the oldest pro life organization in America. A goal shared among these two organizations is to debilitate the Roe V. Wade court decision made in 1973. This decision ultimately gave states the power to write their own abortion statutes and regulations. Since then, the pro life organizations have attempted to alter the Roe V. Wade decision and develop methods of eliminating abortion, if not, significantly minimizing the abortions performed and the abilities to obtain one.
I believe that abortion is a very personal and intimate matter that should be solely controlled and decided by a woman requesting to obtain it. It is not fair for an organization or government to dictate the outcome of a woman’s life. A woman is entitled to her own beliefs and understands the reasoning behind her own actions. A mature woman has the capacity of weighing out the pros and cons with and without and abortion. If having an abortion will have a less complicated turnout to her life, than by all means she must do what is best for her rather than have it take a toll on her and that baby in the future. Many women might not be financially ready and prepared to have a baby.
This issue is important because it has a significant impact and turnout on the lives of many women who wish to make a decision that is best for them, yet their reasoning to a better life and decision to do so is controlled and denied by laws enacted. This results in a woman seeking an abortion to resort to other methods of obtaining it such as having an unsafe abortion at home or alley, and even forcing them to drive hundreds of miles away as some women in Mississippi did and traveled to another state. I believe the religious beliefs of people should stop being taken into consideration and letting them shape and bend our laws and government. It seems that as more personal beliefs are introduced, laws are created that ultimately restrict us from our freedoms. Women have the freedom and right to do with their own person as they wish. I believe that the solution to this issue is having a strong organization that can represent in favor of abortion and bring out important explanations of why it is ok to continue performing abortions. The two organizations can then discuss their differences and attempt to convey their message in order to get their points across and reach a mutual agreement.
By: Miguel Sanchez
Works Cited
“The Last Abortion Clinic” . Frontline Videos 2005
-Jovany Lobos
Like every other controversial issue in America, there are two different points of view on abortions. When a woman becomes pregnant, she has three choices: have an abortion raise the baby, or give the baby up for adoption. Not every woman that is pregnant can take care of a child, nor is it always their choice. There are many variables that can lead to pregnancy, and lots of people do not understand that. So one group of people wants to allow women to have access to abortions, and another group wants to stop women from killing their unborn children. The problem that is highlighted in the video is that there are not enough regulations on abortion. Pro-Life groups want to make it almost impossible for women to have an abortion. Religious groups, state senators, Congress, doctors, and local civil liberty groups are all involved in this. Americans United for Life, Pro-Lifers, and Women’s Rights Groups are all playing a part in this issue. Not only are they playing a part in this, but many people in their own communities are protesting for and against abortion all over the country.
I feel that women have the right to decide what to do with their child when the child is still in their body. Taking away that choice that women are entitled to in the first place is just not the right way to deal with this. People bring religion in on this issue just like many others in America. I believe that a person’s dedication to their religion blinds them from seeing the bigger picture. Like with many other things we have faced in the past, (like Proposition 5) people are closed minded towards those issues and they can only see how it would affect them. What people really need to do is think about how this issue affects the lives of the people that it will really impact, women. People need to stop looking at how an issue affects them, and they need to start seeing how it affects the entire population. Sure you can say that you don’t want your daughter to have an abortion, but that doesn’t mean that you should stop everybody from having access to abortions. I learned that people are actually trying different ways to try and get rid of abortion clinics, other than protesting. Doctors have been beaten and killed, clinics have been burned, lives have been threatened, and many other forms of violence have followed the acceptance of abortions throughout the country. If anything, my opinion on this issue had become stronger. There are lots of things that I did not know about until I saw this video. It is shocking to see what great lengths people will go to in order to get their way.
The issue of abortion is important because it affects the lives of many people in our country. Either way, I feel that women will still have access to abortions, only they are not as safe as going to a doctor. If anything supporting Pro-Life would pass, it would only begin as regulation. As time passes by, it would make it nearly impossible for a woman to have an abortion. In my opinion, the solution to this problem is to meet halfway. Neither side is going to give in, so they can only meet on common ground in order to agree. Both sides need to reach a consensual agreement that will benefit both of them, and not be completely one-sided.
What I would do in order to address the issue of abortion in my community is to begin by informing people about abortion. People need to know about an issue before they can make a decision about it (or they at least SHOULD know about it). Next, I would find people that agree with me on the issue and talk to them about what to do. Then, we would hold meetings with people in the community to inform them on the issue further. Then finally, we would go out and invite people who are Pro-Life to talk with us about what they feel should be done. Also, we would allow people to talk to us, go out and pass out flyers, have meetings, and just let people know that this is a real issue that is in our lives every single day. We would talk within our group to figure out what forms of communication we can have with the community, and what would get information out the fastest. The only way that we could get anything done is to help each other out and think as a group. That’s what I would try to do.
Charlie Marquez
Charlie Marquez
Group Dynamics
Ms. Chauser
11-23-08
The Last Abortion Clinic
Jackson’s Woman Health Organization was the last abortion clinic remaining in the state of Mississippi before it was defeated and closed down for good by not meeting the state law requirements. The state of Mississippi along the help of the Pro-life supporters accomplished their biggest goal in the banning of abortion all over the state. The Roe V. Wade case was about the violation of the woman’s fourteenth amendment and it was unconstitutional as well, it rejected the idea of a young woman having an abortion after the first trimester. Terri Herring is the co-president of the most powerful group against abortion called Pro-life. The oldest group against abortion made up of lawyers are the Americans United For Life led by president Peter Samuelson. There are also a couple of groups such as the Crisis-Pregnancy-Center also known as Save a Life, and the Center of Pregnancy Choices.
I believe that every woman has their own right to choose if they want to go through the abortion or not ,no one has a saying in your own personal thoughts or ideas regarding their own pregnancy. After reading and gaining knowledge of proposition 4, I would say that by banning the abortion in Mississippi it puts young teens in danger. Not only do they have to travel to another state for the abortion but financially they cannot count on your parents, family members or friends. I strongly disagree in the outcome of the Mississippi ruling in the banning of abortion. A lot of the people in the Pro-life movement don’t seem to be in the low income situations and they look like they live a good life. As an example a small town called Clarksdale, Mississippi, more then one third of the people live in poverty. I wasn’t aware that the Mississippi was the only state that did not support abortion, I also gained knowledge that people tend to make this a big deal and that they are willing to take it to the next step no matter what it takes. I still agree that no state should ban the practice of abortion and that all woman should have the choice under the fourteenth amendment to make their own decisions. Abortion is something that should be taken seriously. Woman can actually die from such practices as well as having to go through dangerous procedures that don’t involve professional doctors. that’s why I disagree in the Pro-life movement and any other movement against abortion.
Abortion is a big deal and should be taken seriously with all means. Without the Roe v. Wade law, woman wouldn’t have the right to an abortion and that would mean problems for the woman of this so called free country. It takes away the right of the woman and it encourages them to commit self harm, dangerous procedures and even allowing them to take their own lives. Such movements as banning abortions puts teens and woman in great harm. The Roe v. Wade policy allows woman to still carry her right no matter what anyone says. The policy that affects the woman in Mississippi has to do with the woman committing illegal acts to themselves. It puts them in harm and danger. I think that everyone is entitled to their own opinion as well as how to choose your way of life. Such groups as the Pro-life, and the American United For Life should concentrate on their own personal lives as for their families and should let every other woman manage their own, without the consent of any bill or law of any state.
Group dynamics has taught me quite a lot. Since joining my group and actually defeating proposition 4, it has gave me a state of mind that nothing is impossible, and that if we set our goal and want to accomplish something, we can certainly do it. Communication is the most important factor in a group, as well as dedication and determination. All though we lacked all of the above in the first stage we manage to get ourselves together and working as a group in accomplishing our work.
I would gather all the information possible in why woman should have the right to an abortion, and why it is important for her rights to be in play.
Gather meetings of people whom have the same ideas as myself.
Have public and private announcements all over the city and state, and let my mind and ideas be heard.
Have people pass out pamphlets and encourage the people of why it is important not to ban the abortion practices.
Have fund raisers to help us grow stronger by advertising all over the state.
Give it 100% effort in trying to defeat our competitors no matter what it takes involving our team effort.
Whats happening is that the pro-choice people are loosing the battle in the state of Mississippi for the right to abort a pregnancy. Theres only one abortion clinic left in the state of Mississippi, soon to be none, making that the first state to ever be an abortion free state. The people that are attacking those pro-choice are the pro-life, most of which are Cristian church going, conservative, elderly white folks. According to front line, the problem seems to be that killing an unborn child is wrong, as so pro-life people would say but I what I seen, the problem seem to be that after Roe v. Wade and Casey there has been many regulations being mandated in all states. There is the major problem, the states have the ability to regulate abortion in their own state, but some states take to the extreme and they are making it way too difficult for woman to seek help and if help means an abortion the to dam bad is what their saying. I mean really, 60% of the woman in Mississippi go out of state to get an abortion just to be or feel safe. Thats disturbing.
I am a young, big city girl ( Californian to be exact) a Catholic- Latina. And I have my beliefs, I personally 'am against abortions but that doest mean that I will take action and try to end abortion. I see woman left and right who can't raise their children the way they wish they can. I see the struggle in young girls who are just beginning their life and have to put all their dreams on hold because they have become pregnant. Most of the time I'd say those woman are stupid, I mean there are so many procedures out there that can prevent pregnancy; the pill, the morning after pill as well as many other medical procedures. Most don't seek help because its cost to much but there are many free organizations that can help as long as you ask. Its hard to understand that these people who say they want to help the womans health are the same ones who are making limitations for abortions, those people want to control the facilities and have them not provide abortions at all. What is that? Mississippi has about 26 Crisis Pregnancy Centers that help and give those woman choices. They stated to have three choices, adoption, abortion and parenting. If abortion is the chosen option the center will not provide any address or number for that patient to contact the abortion facility in order for the abortion not to take place. The center doesn't even give out information about birth control or the morning after pill; how can teens especially know theres other ways to prevent a crisis when their not even told. My opinion hasn't change, I believe woman should have the right to chose whether they want to keep the child or not. If they can't afford to raise a child they should have it, if their medical reasons involve them they should go through with it- no pro-life activist will stand by you if you need help with the child or if your dying, why should they have the right to chose over others lives??
Its a hot topic in our country these days because pro-choice activist are loosing the battle each day with all the new laws and regulations each state is coming out with in order to make abortion vanish. If that comes to happen then many woman would turn to back alley abortions making their lives more dangers than if they were having the procedure done at a medical facility. The best solution I'd say is to have access to medical facilities at a low cost, its unconstitutional to take a womans right away and having strict limitations is the same as having them taking them away, in the facilities woman should be aware of the risk there is when conducting an abortion they should have knowledge of the procedure and their options with no judgment.
I'd set up an organization in my community, similar to planned parenthood. Where every woman can came in and be talked to about the situation they are going through. They will be notified about their options, be set in strict confidential-no questions asked and no judgment calls. As well as have classes for preventing pregnancy, giving then all the options and tools they have that are available for them. Have parenting courses- how to raise a child and what it takes and the time to do so. As well as the adoption option. Many people can't have kids, they seek help and partner with organizations to find a child and become their parent.
A. Laureano
Our Sick Health Care
It is very clear that there are a number of reasons that has caused the health care system to derail, and be in the aggravated situation it is seen today. According to the Frontline documentary, the main reason for the collapse on the health system is foremost the same reason the United States is still the world’s greatest economy: Capitalism and its free market.
When an entity has no guidelines, it loses control over itself. With a system that is controlled with the sole purpose of creating profits and accumulating wealth, rather than providing with what is needed, you lose the ability to accommodate a necessity for the masses, focusing on those who can afford, rather on those who need such a service.
This compromised system also extends to the pharmaceutical industry that over the years has greatly benefited on the "ill-being" of our population, by controlling the cost and circulation of medication.
A factor also of great importance is the unbalanced individual cost of insurance, the growing number of unethical lawsuits that slows the administrative process of the health care, increasing the cost of operation, which deviate those who really need care, and forcing others to cover those unpaid debts.
We already have answers for most of the problems the health care has put itself in. When the government its faced with a serious issue such as health care, it is often easier to put it aside until nothing can be done except a reform and full evaluating of what is needed versus what is expected.
To have seen countries where the health care was similar to the US, others partially and fully controlled by the government, it is clear that with different systems, there will be different outcomes, in quality and cost, and that each system has their own problems. Now with abroad vision of the quality health care offered in many other countries, it has forced me to ask myself this question: What are we waiting for?
Thousands of Americans each year file for bankruptcy due to medical debt. Companies struggle each year with the rising cost to insure their employees. There is no doubt this is a serious issue. When more than 45 million Americans go without coverage, and questions are raised, there should be answers and most importantly actions. The government needs to control their margin of profits, create a universal cost for basic insurance, set fees according to income, and provide basic care for those in need.
When we are faced with the fact that no one could live without the proper care, it makes it very difficult to use the advantages and tactics of the aggressive capitalism. But rather communities can create non profitable stations for those in need of urgent medical attention, negotiate with local hospitals for fixed rates for basic coverage. Create an easy access card (like the system Taiwan) for those listed in the plan to increase efficiency, fasten attendance and also reducing the risks of medical error.
If these small steps to improve the health care have shown positive results, this system could be implemented across the state into other communities. Small steps can be made to improve our way of living. By educating the population about proper hygiene, good eating habits, things they can do to become and stay healthy. It is in our power to correct years of neglection. We can no longer wait to be rescued. Nothing is worse than words without action.
By John Khalil Bacchus
Frontline, SICK AROUND THE WORLD, Airdate: April 15, 2008
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/
U.S. Census Bureau, Health Insurance Coverage: 2007
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division
Last Revised: August 26, 2008
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/hlthin07.html
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