by Wayne Adair, Hamilton
It is difficult to imagine a community event that better exemplifies the joys of living in a small town more than Hamilton’s weekly farmers market. No matter what you are shopping for, you will likely find it there. Baked goods, arts and crafts, produce that was growing in the garden less than 24 hours ago or, my favorite, biscuits and gravy. And political messages from red to blue.
That’s my involvement. My wife and I volunteer some weekends there to staff the Ravalli County Democrats booth. Our message is never overtly political unless visitors want to make it so. I and other volunteers greet passers-by, thank them for their interest and ask if they have any questions. Most people return our greeting as pleasantly as it was delivered. A few scowl and ignore us. One fellow serenaded us with an out-of-tune chant, “Let’s go, Brandon.”
All in all, a thoroughly pleasant way to spend a usually warm and sunny Saturday morning.
One woman’s remark caught me off balance recently. As she passed by she remarked matter-of-factly, “I can never vote for a Democrat because you kill babies.”
Her use of the pronoun “you” seemed pointed and personal. This woman had just called me a murderer.
Unfortunately, she hurried away before I could respond. As I watched her disappear into the crowd, I took a second to parse my emotions. Anger was absent; confusion made a brief guest appearance. Sadness reigned. This woman whom I had never seen before assumed because of my political affiliation I would cheer a terminated pregnancy no matter how developed the fetus was. Nothing could be further from the truth.
As a Democrat and a human being, I consider every abortion a failure to be mourned, not a victory to celebrate. Every Democrat I have ever discussed the issue with feels the same.
We believe that every step possible should be taken to ensure a pregnancy is planned. Toward this end, we advocate making birth control widely available and, if necessary, free. Public high schools should teach science-based sex education classes. The effectiveness of these classes is well documented in states where they are taught.
Conversely, red states that provide abstinence-only classes have some of the highest rates of teen pregnancies and abortions. Consider Mississippi.
According to Teen Health Mississippi, “The Magnolia State currently has the highest teen birth and sexually transmitted disease (STD) infection rates in the country. This is a problem Mississippi can solve: Other states have significantly decreased their teen birth and STD rates by adopting medically accurate, evidence-based, and age-appropriate sex education. With high-quality sex education and youth-friendly healthcare, Mississippi has the opportunity to finally do the same.” (https://teenhealthms.org/county-stats/)
Conversely, New Jersey has one of the nation’s lowest teen birth rates with 9.2 teen pregnancies per 1,000 women. Mississippi’s rate is 27.9. New Jersey’s sex education curriculum must emphasize the importance of abstinence but requires classes include information on consent, sexual orientation, and be medically accurate. (siecus.org).
When pregnancies occur, Democrats believe every possible step should be taken to help ensure a healthy gestation that includes prenatal care, dietary counseling, emotional support and delivery in a safe and professional environment.
Ravalli County Democrats have created a series of pamphlets that explain our position on women’s health care and a variety of other topics that we offer free at our booth at the farmers market and at the Ravalli County Fair.
The topics include: Rural quality of life; Social Security; Guns; Veterans; Property taxes; Health care; Natural resources; Housing; Climate change; Immigration; Education
Please visit us for a copy on any of these vital topics. We look forward to seeing you.
Gomez says
Cav. Just keep talking. Every time someone like you says something like you just did about women’s healthcare, Donald Trump loses one more vote. You are forgetting that while women have only 50% of the votes, they have 100% of the pussy.
Thank you. Have a nice day.
Gomez says
Mike, so you’d really rather not answer the question directly. I understand.
WMA says
Mike,
Let’s face an ugly political reality.
When 45 percent of Americans support for president a proven rapist, a serial adulterer, a shameless liar and convicted felon, our division is deep, wide and, at least in the short term, insurmountable.
Mike Mercer says
Any reply to your charges is pointless as legal opinions vary like Ben and Jerry’s flavor of the day. As for being insurmountable? We just need a starting point and it ain’t politics or religion, any ideas?
Howard S. says
I went to a dermatologist to have a pre-cancerous mole removed. What they cut off of me was biologically living human tissue, but that doesn’t make it a person.
WMA says
Mike,
FYI:
“Steven Jacob Andrews sent 62,469 biologists who could be identified from institutional faculty and researcher lists a survey, offering several options for when, biologically, human life might begin. He got 5,502 responses; 95% of those self-selected respondents said that life began at fertilization, when a sperm and egg merge to form a single-celled zygote.
That result is not a proper survey method and does not carry any statistical or scientific weight. It is like asking 100 people about their favorite sport, finding out that only the 37 football fans bothered to answer, and declaring that 100% of Americans love football.”
About your comment about we the people:
We the people are deeply divided, politically, geographically and religiously. Living in New England or the Pacific coastal states is so different from living in the deep South it is difficult to embrace a single concept of we the people. You may not like it. I may not like it. But denying the divide is impossible.
Mike Mercer says
We can debate all day long about those things that may divide us but making an informed decision requires an open mind even if we are disproven. It seems it may be our pride that keeps this house divided…or perhaps our passionate political allegiance. Either way, it can’t end well for “We”.
WMA says
Mike,
Do you doubt that the teen birth rate in blue New Jersey is drastically lower than the rate in red Mississippi?
Mike Mercer says
I have no doubt the numbers are correct but that was not my point, truth and honesty in education is what should concern us all, not politics.
WMA says
Numbers aren’t politics. Democrats want to make abortions unnecessary. Realistic sex education is a vital step toward that goal.
Mike Mercer says
Then don’t use the terms red or blue, dem. or repub.; how about just people as in WE the people.
Mike Mercer says
Your mention of “SIECUS” tells me everything I need to know. But if you would like to know why people call it murder then look to science not SIECUS. They do not teach the 96% consensus of peer reviewed biology that states fertilization begins a “Human Life”. You want to educate, then demand SIECUS be inclusive of that science.
For those who don’t know, SIECUS “Sex Information and Education Council of the United States” was founded by the Medical Director of Planned Parenthood in 1964 as an advocacy group to promote sex education…they pick and choose what to teach, just like the off the rail politicians on both sides it seems.
Gomez says
Mike. So are you saying that once fertilization has taken place, that you feel that it should be illegal for a woman to have an abortion except in cases of rape, incest or if the mother’s life is in danger? If so, what do you think that woman’s penalty should be? What exactly are you saying?
Mike Mercer says
Biology says a human life exists at that point and I say that is what should be taught.
Gomez says
Mike. Do you believe that abortion should be illegal except in cases of incest, rape or the mother’s life being in danger?
Mike Mercer says
If it is a “legal” question then it becomes taxpayer funded which is a moral non-starter for many so let’s set that aside.
I see abortion as a dodge, not a simple dodge but it is meant to avoid unpleasant consequences. Your pointed question on rape, incest or mothers health does nothing to lessen those consequences but does present a suitable framework for an argument meant to entrap a moralist, but I am no moralist, you be you.
With that said, if we were truly an ethical people outraged by the evil act of rape or incest, our duty should be to protect the life of both mother and child. So yes, I would choose a chance at life under the most hostile circumstances. But, in the end, it is a personal choice and if the woman feels it is her only choice, then we have all failed her.
Cav says
Gomez. Were all of those women having abortions at the DNC Convention while drinking cocktails, and making TikTok videos Raped, victims of Incest, or in danger?
I’ve got this….. NO