HomeMy WebLinkAbout20130332.tiffMr. Doug Rademacher and Weld County Commissioners,
RECEIVED
JAN 282013
WELD COUNTY
I was shocked and upset by your recent decision tc CQj._M{ I§( IERS
Contraceptive in Weld County. I am even more upset by your failure to publicize it,
but instead to slide the decision into notes from a meeting that is difficult to find. I
do believe if you were to have given the public any type of indication you were going
to vote on this matter you likely would have received quite a large response,
especially from women.
Sirs and Ma'am, This decision is a blow to women, as you are assuming that
in some way we are unable to make our own choices about our bodies and whether
or not we would like to stop our body from ovulating, which is quite different than
abortion. I realize you stated in an article in the Colorado Independent that you did
much research on Emergency Contraception, but if you had, you'd see it is much
different than the "abortion pill" and will not harm an already formed fetus.
Also, I am disheartened to find that a board largely made up of men made
this decision, for I feel it takes away most or all of what women have fought for up
until now. We continue to fight to make our own decisions about our bodies and
when a decision about what we can and can not do with them is made by a group of
men, it can seem like a slap in the face and exemplifies the notion that you are not
able to understand us or empathize with us in any way.
Why is it that politicians rarely take into account a man's role in creating a
child and tend to punish the woman? Why are men completely dismissed, exempt,
and absolved from any and all punishment? They are allowed to walk away, father
with a monthly check, etc. but a woman is ALWAYS faced with what could be the
largest change in her life? Try if you will to paint the picture in your mind of a
young woman faced with motherhood, not ready to have a child, now confronted
with the possibility of having to change her whole life because she can not get to a
nearby clinic for emergency contraception. Imagine that she had intercourse with a
young man who was an equal participant, but refuses to take care of a child (which,
based on statistics happens a near 70% of the time.) Because of your decision she is
forced to change her life forever, to struggle with childcare, the possibility of not
going to college, the continual financial struggle of single motherhood, etc. This
decision punishes women instead of empowering them. It allows men the same
power they've always had. The only life this decision changes is that of a woman, the
men in these situations, neither gain, nor lose any freedoms.
Please don't allow your own personal beliefs or religious beliefs to get in the
way of a what should be a woman's own decision. Please understand that as women
we are strong, intelligent and capable of making decisions about our bodies and our
own lives and futures. Do your best to understand that women are wise enough to
decide what they want for themselves, give them that power, do not take it away,
taking it away is a giant leap backwards that will only cause us to fight harder and
with more tenacity to finally gain equality.
Thank you,
Jaime Frost
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2013-0332
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