Seen and Noted

Well, the Michigan House of Representatives has managed to add another layer to the murky depths that men will go to these days to deny women any say regarding women’s reproductive health.

A bill was introduced in that body which would likely be one of the, if not the, most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the country. Nothing particularly new in that; Republicans all over America have been trying to overturn Roe v. Wade for the last couple of decades at least. The real kerfuffle came during what passed for debate on the measure. Two Democratic female legislators were shut down when they tried to speak against the measure (one actually had the temerity to use the word “vagina”, thus giving several of her colleagues the male equivalent of the vapors). Debate was abruptly ended when several other women who opposed the bill tried to speak. Unbelievable!

Naturally, the Republicans are trying to say that this is all being done for the benefit of women’s health; that all the restrictions, requirements and regulations are purely in the name of safety. Well, to paraphrase an old advertisement, to that I politely say, bunk! If they were really interested in safeguarding women’s reproductive health, they wouldn’t be trying to force women back into the days of botched back-alley and self-inflicted abortions – they’d respect what has been settled law for over 40 years. And they’d remember that, until the great day comes when men can get pregnant, they shouldn’t try to legislate that which will never directly affect them.