Why is this even a conversation piece?

Just because someone says something stupid doesn’t mean we need to give it any attention.

I have a bit of an obsession with all the controversy over abortion and birth control lately. From recent statements made by Richard Mourdock and Todd Akin I fear that the controversy is becoming twisted.

So why are we letting these men run the conversation? They are twisting it and turning it away from the conversation about choice. Who gets to choose? Are women going to let men tell us what to think about? What to talk about? Whether or not to have a baby? And when/if we can have an abortion?

Rape and abortion are two different conversations. Rape doesn’t always end in pregnancy. Abortion doesn’t always stem from unwanted and/or violent sexual activity. Why are we twisting up our reproductive rights with abuse?

If we aren’t careful, the choice will be turned into a question about scenarios in which women should be allowed to have an abortion. Instead of the real question of choice.

Reproductive rights and choice in the matter of reproductive rights are getting bogged down in a male chauvinism.

For the record, I’m as liberal as they come and I will vote for Obama in this upcoming election. But I am very concerned that a few comments made by Republicans are being taken and twisted by their opposition in order to get the left riled up against the other party. It’s about to backfire on us and we need to step very carefully.

Rape is rape. And yes, women who get raped sometimes need to get abortions. But let’s not get the two conversations confused.

Rape is a violent atrocity that typically happens to women and children. Many women suffer long-term consequences such as pregnancy, STDs and emotional trauma due to the rapes.

Abortion, birth control, and a woman’s right to choose, however, is under attack in this country. Too many laws are being passed right under our noses taking away our reproductive rights when it comes to abortion and birth control.

When a woman is raped, she needs to be able to have that choice. Her choice was taken away when sex was forced upon her. She must have a choice somewhere in the process.

That should be a given.

That should not even be a question.

It shouldn’t be part of the debate. Time is marching backwards. How can this even be? We fought so hard to instill and enforce laws that gave women choice in the matter of childbirth.

It’s being taken away  from us. The choice and option of having birth control was also a hard-fought battle.

Please, let’s not get the two confused. All woman should have choice in being pregnant. Sometimes that choice comes after the fact. Even if a woman is not raped, she gets to choose. That’s what the current law states. We need to start working toward keeping it that way. If we aren’t careful, that’s going to go away. It’s happening already in many states. South Dakota, North Dakota and Mississippi are down to one clinic. They are making it even harder by requiring waiting periods. Many states are now requiring that women be told of all possible “risks” of abortion, of which many are not backed by most scientific communities.

And the biggest fear here, is, if Mitt Romney is elected, we stand a good chance that Roe v. Wade will be overturned, which would allow states to ban abortion. I’m pretty certain that Texas would be one of the first ones running toward that legislation.

Let’s not get bogged down in the what ifs of rape or terminal illness, choosing over the fetus or the mother.

The argument is moving in the wrong direction. The conversation is becoming all glommed up by the technicalities.

Let’s start by saying all women deserve choice. Sometimes that choice starts after a pregnancy begins. And sometimes, it must end. We choose. Women must have choice.