Ok, some of you are going to feel that this is old news, but I thought it would be helpful to distill a few thoughts regarding Ms. Sandra Fluke. Let us begin by looking at a term that has been thrown around a lot, before we even get into the issue at hand:
Activist: An especially active, advocate for a cause…
Let it be noted that by this definition “Activist” carries no inherent liberal or negative connotation, only the implication that someone is fervently speaking up about something – though it may be a political topic – this term need not be taken as a negative or overtly liberal identifier. I, for one, would hope that many more voices, particularly women’s, from both conservative and liberal sectors would be amplified in advocacy for what they believe.
If you are not familiar with the goings-on of the trial early this year which sparked the controversy, particularly inflammatory between Ms. Fluke and Rush Limbaugh, the gist is that Ms. Fluke desired to give testimony in a trial that would determine the health coverage of women, particularly for students, and particularly at Georgetown University. The hot button issue was that of birth control/contraception. Let it also be noted here that birth control pills are not only marketed by their suppliers but also promoted by doctors to treat many more things than for the most obvious effect – which is to prevent pregnancy. However, conservative radio host, Rush Limbaugh, decided to report on the case in such a manner as to rail against Ms. Fluke as the very picture of a floozy.
It was Mr. Limbaugh, himself, who described her as a 23-year-old (implying naiveté) and a ‘slut’. I will spare you further details, which are readily available online. After his tirade was over Mr. Limbaugh was wholly judged as in the wrong by Georgetown staffers, politicians on both sides, as well as sponsors of his show – no matter their stance on which way they thought the ruling should go it was unanimously thought of as having gone too far. That being said, conservatives who wished to side with Limbaugh (because of their opinions on birth control) started to pick her apart, attacking things such as her age (I did not find anywhere that she claimed to be 23) and labeling her as an “activist” (which we already established as a term relating only to someone’s passion and not to the quality or correctness of their message).
Even if she (an old activist) was not the appropriate witness for this trial – she spoke out because there was no female voice adding to the conversation. A conversation which was to decide the health provisions for women, specifically without the opinions of women being expressed in the proceedings. The council was populated by clergymen and needed to consider the women they were effecting with this decision, but therein lies the challenge. Even if a church body decides that men are called to be in a position of leadership for the church as a whole, this can not be at the cost of the woman’s concerns. Also, it is worth noting that this trial was within a University setting where women were being educated – not in a private congregational setting. How much more so!
Within the conversation of health care, and women who are speaking up for those who ARE IN NEED OF AN ADVOCATE, I’ve come across Sister Simone Campbell and her Nuns on the Bus. The Sister has launched her own campagne with fellow nuns to teach people about the health care policy issues, as well as encourage those serving the disenfranchised along the way. Sister Simone has been labeled as having split with the Church but she maintains that she has “split on politics and NOT on faith”.
Both of the aforementioned women were asked to speak at the Democratic National Convention. I do not interpret this as a divisive act of campaign programming, rather I would hold that these women went where they were going to be listened to. Let me be frank, I am not a Democrat, I am not a Republican either, I am currently unaffiliated – though I had a Libertarian stint, and I do come from a conservative christian family – a white, middle class family. But I feel that I need to publicly stand with these two women (different as they are, yet both Advocates) and hope that my readers will consider the voices which they are listening to for the upcoming election – not just the nominees, but observe who has their ear as well. Do you hear your opinions being communicated? If not, that is a problem. If not – please comment below as a place where you CAN share your stance.
Observe whose voices the conventions amplified: Here is the RNC list, here is the DNC list.
And here is one more for the road, if you have the time.
*Annex information on approximate costs to control pregnancy or monitor fertility:
Birth control pills, $50-$100 for one month dose
(not determined by frequency of intercourse)
Condoms, $40-$50 for 30 (single use)
Fertility Monitor, $200 for the monitor and $50 for a pack of 30 sticks
(daily use to monitor feminine cycle)
Also in development, anti-rape condom