If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you’ve probably heard about the newest anti-Planned Parenthood movement that ignited as a result of the video release of details about the organization donating fetal tissue from abortions to scientific research.

While the edited version of the video clearly served to promote anti-choice propaganda and the notion it suggests that Planned Parenthood “sells baby’s body parts for profit” has been refuted multiple times, anti-choice advocates have nonetheless stood firm in their position, using the video as “evidence” for why America should cease all funding to the organization.

Despite the fact that only 10 percent of Planned Parenthood’s services include abortions and zero percent of those abortions are paid for by federal funding, last Friday, on September 18, the House of Representatives voted to cease funding.

Fortunately for the millions of women and men who rely on Planned Parenthood for a number of health services, it is highly unlikely that President Obama will support the measure. Unfortunately, however, the result will be the emergence of another end-of-year budget squabble, and with it, the threat of another government shutdown.

Wonderful.

I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly tired of this bullsh*t. And regardless of your views on abortion, you should be, too.

Ninety percent of Planned Parenthood services last year were for basic health care services, and it wasn’t just women who were served by the organization. Health care services frequently included cancer screenings, birth control, and STD education, treatment, and prevention. Millions of folks, including many who are low-income with limited options, rely on Planned Parenthood for these life-saving services.

Meanwhile, while everyone is up in arms about continuing to fund life-saving services on the basis that Planned Parenthood provides abortions that are not funded by federal dollars, the United States is currently providing direct funding to numerous wars and indirect funding to dozens more. And in addition to the billions of dollars we’re pouring into wars overseas, we’re also spending billions more at home on the Department of Defense and new weaponry.

So here’s a question, America:

If we’re going to vote to cease funding to Planned Parenthood, when are we going to vote to cease funding for all of the wars we’re currently involved in?

While zero federal dollars are spent on abortions, billions of federal dollars are spent on killing people in the name of war.

So even though federal tax money isn’t going to abortions, I guess there is one thing anti-choice advocates are correct on: my tax money is going to the senseless slaughter of millions of people.

It’s always funny to see how limited the term “pro-life” is once we’re not talking about women’s wombs.

 

Relephant: 

Aborting Shame: One Woman’s Experience With Abortion.

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Author: Stacey Johnston

Editor: Travis May

Image: Flickr/Cambodia4kids