Just because you have a hammer doesn't mean everything is a nail

Another initiative on California's ballot would require parental notification if an underage women wants to end her pregnancy with an abortion. A local rabbi opposes the measure but has suggested mandatory counseling in place of parental notification for underage women seeking an abortion.

I think the rabbi (who trained initially as a psychologist) is putting the therapist before the cart. He seems to think counseling a young woman after she is already pregnant is a meaningful intervention. But the reality of access to abortion for many women--even here in California where it is legal--can be difficult at best. In many parts of the state women already have to travel away from their home towns to acquire an abortion. They have the expense of travel, overnight accommodations, meals etc. in addition to the cost of the procedure. They have to take time away from work or school and make excuses in order to protect their privacy. Requiring another step, another appointment, another hurdle, could result in removing the option altogether.

I agree with the rabbi that young women may be more likely to keep their babies if we as a society can demonstrate our commitment to supporting their dreams for themselves and their offspring. But we won't have to counsel them against the fear of losing their jobs, ending their education, being in poverty, etc. if that is no longer the reality for many young mothers. Unfortunately, we are a very long way from being able to assure a young woman that she will not end up struggling for herself and her child given the lack of services and support available.

It is too bad some people don't make the same choices that Rabbi L. would make for them. But I am much too concerned about protecting the privacy and choices of all young women to risk placing another impediment in their path to belatedly correct the behavior of a minority.

Is it really us and them?

I live in California. We have a measure on the upcoming ballot that would eliminate the right to marry for same-sex couples. I oppose Proposition 8. I have compared it to the infamous Nazi Nuremberg Laws. Did you know Section 1 of the Nuremberg Laws also applied to marriage? Outlawing marriage between certain Germans was just one of many steps taken to legally dehumanize Jews. I wonder if the people who support Proposition 8 realize how closely their constitutional amendment to “preserve marriage” from the nonexistent threat of marriage equality echoes Nazi laws designed to “safeguard the future of the German nation”? I pray that, like some good Germans, these folks will stop listening to their leaders and listen instead to their hearts.

Proposition 8 is wrong. It seeks to institutionalize prejudice. I really hope I don't have to decide what to do about living in a society that would do something so backward as denying gay couples the right to marry.

P.S. I had a No on 8 sign in my front yard for the past several weeks. Yesterday I noticed it was gone. Someone removed my sign. Apparently some of the people who want to amend our State Constitution to deny the right for some citizens to marry are also willing to trample on the U.S. Constitution--denying me my freedom of speech. I am afraid "America land of the free" has been replaced by America the intolerant.

A New Year

Rosh Hashanah usually sneaks up on me. It is supposed to be a time of reflection. But it comes at a time of year that is so full of activities I'm generally unprepared when the holiday actually hits.

Not this year. I was ready to reflect and consider, regroup and assess. It has been a very long, painful Summer and getting a New Year seemed like a really good idea. I have plans for getting my body back into condition, my house back in order, and my business...well, just back.

Rosh Hashanah is an opportunity to put everything back on track. And boy do I need that. For starters I need to feel more centered in my own being. So there will be more breathing. And maybe, just maybe, I will take my own advice and think long and hard before I say "Yes" to another committment.

We'll see.

Happy New Year!