Comments on: Rulers of the Universe http://belowthewaist.org/2008/09/rulers-of-the-universe/ Your bi-weekly podcast that focuses on reproductive health care, and the public policy that affects it. Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:58:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lon Newman http://belowthewaist.org/2008/09/rulers-of-the-universe/comment-page-1/#comment-538 Lon Newman Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:10:38 +0000 http://belowthewaist.org/2008/09/rulers-of-the-universe/#comment-538 Thank you for your comments, Katie, but I can't make a rational connection from them to anything I said in the article. You feel very strongly about your beliefs and you're certainly entitled to your opinions. --Lon-- Thank you for your comments, Katie, but I can’t make a rational connection from them to anything I said in the article.

You feel very strongly about your beliefs and you’re certainly entitled to your opinions.

–Lon–

]]> By: Frances Irwin http://belowthewaist.org/2008/09/rulers-of-the-universe/comment-page-1/#comment-531 Frances Irwin Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:37:44 +0000 http://belowthewaist.org/2008/09/rulers-of-the-universe/#comment-531 Katie, A few points: 1. No one is challenging, missing, or ignoring the importance of abstinence in the context of sexual health. 2. No one is suggesting that you would be better off if you were having sex. 3. Not everyone who would be affected by this rule change is a 22 year old woman who is not having sex based on her personal decision to wait until after marriage. For example, I am a 26 year old female who has been married for 2 years. My husband will be going back to school in January. We're not ready for our family to grow right now. Or what about my friend who is also married? She's currently expecting her first child but for a number of years, she and her husband were strongly discouraged from conceiving because a life saving medication he was on would likely have had a devastating affect on the child she carried. Shouldn't we be able to make this choice based on our personal circumstances rather than having everyone's choice made based on yours? 4. Nowhere in this article is it suggested that the decision about engagement in sexual activity or the continuation of a pregnancy should be determined by anyone except the individual(s) directly involved (e.g. the intimate partners, the people who conceived). Hope these points are helpful, Frances Katie,

A few points:
1. No one is challenging, missing, or ignoring the importance of abstinence in the context of sexual health.

2. No one is suggesting that you would be better off if you were having sex.

3. Not everyone who would be affected by this rule change is a 22 year old woman who is not having sex based on her personal decision to wait until after marriage. For example, I am a 26 year old female who has been married for 2 years. My husband will be going back to school in January. We’re not ready for our family to grow right now. Or what about my friend who is also married? She’s currently expecting her first child but for a number of years, she and her husband were strongly discouraged from conceiving because a life saving medication he was on would likely have had a devastating affect on the child she carried. Shouldn’t we be able to make this choice based on our personal circumstances rather than having everyone’s choice made based on yours?

4. Nowhere in this article is it suggested that the decision about engagement in sexual activity or the continuation of a pregnancy should be determined by anyone except the individual(s) directly involved (e.g. the intimate partners, the people who conceived).

Hope these points are helpful,
Frances

]]> By: Katie http://belowthewaist.org/2008/09/rulers-of-the-universe/comment-page-1/#comment-527 Katie Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:46:52 +0000 http://belowthewaist.org/2008/09/rulers-of-the-universe/#comment-527 Mr. Newman, I feel the need to inform you of a truth that you have either missed or chosen to ignore. Abstinence IS the ONLY 100% way to prevent pregnancies, STI's, HIV. It works every time. Wow, imagine that... We have the answer and yet, somehow, people like you think you have the right to belittle the truth and tell people like me, a 22-year old woman, that sex outside of marriage, as long as it's "safe," is not only effective, but good. Quite frankly, I am offended. As for "conscience protection," killing a baby is wrong. Sex outside of marriage is wrong. And any company, hospital, clinic or facility out there that would force me to suggest murder to an unexpected mother or promote and protect the promiscuity of teens and adults DOES NOT have the right to call themselves Health Care. If I remember correctly, Health Care was implemented to promote the health and safety of its community members and patients, not the murder of children and false sense of safe-sex security. Mr. Newman,

I feel the need to inform you of a truth that you have either missed or chosen to ignore.

Abstinence IS the ONLY 100% way to prevent pregnancies, STI’s, HIV. It works every time. Wow, imagine that… We have the answer and yet, somehow, people like you think you have the right to belittle the truth and tell people like me, a 22-year old woman, that sex outside of marriage, as long as it’s “safe,” is not only effective, but good. Quite frankly, I am offended.

As for “conscience protection,” killing a baby is wrong. Sex outside of marriage is wrong. And any company, hospital, clinic or facility out there that would force me to suggest murder to an unexpected mother or promote and protect the promiscuity of teens and adults DOES NOT have the right to call themselves Health Care. If I remember correctly, Health Care was implemented to promote the health and safety of its community members and patients, not the murder of children and false sense of safe-sex security.

]]>