WTF?

So, I got an email from MoveOn.org that was simply appalling. Earlier I talked about how a friend joined the Facebook group "The Pill Kills"... well, now it seems the government is taking that same logic. The email in its entirety:

Dear MoveOn member,

Can you imagine living in a place where birth control is considered an "abortion" and health insurers won't cover it? Where even rape victims are denied emergency contraception?

It seems unbelievable, but the Bush Administration is quietly trying to redefine "abortion" to include birth control. The Houston Chronicle says this could wipe out dozens of state laws that protect women's reproductive freedom and protect rape victims.¹ Access to basic health care for millions of women would be jeopardized. And it's being pushed as a "rule change"—meaning, it doesn't need congressional approval.

Can you sign an emergency message to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, whose department is considering this rule change right now? Tell him: "Contraception is NOT abortion. The Bush Administration's proposal to change the definition of abortion and reduce women's access to birth control must be stopped."

Clicking here will add your name to this message:
http://pol.moveon.org/contraception/o.pl?id=13468-9814446-cmgy9Ox&t=4

The best way to beat back this proposal is to show Secretary Leavitt massive public outrage—that's why today we're launching this petition jointly with Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Together, we'll deliver every signature to Leavitt. You can help add to our momentum by forwarding this message to friends.

Here's what some others are saying about this proposal:

The draft regulation would define birth control as abortion...it could deny access to critical family planning for women across the country.—Letter signed by Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and 26 other senators.²

The draft rule could void laws in 27 states that require insurance companies to provide birth control coverage for women requesting it [and] laws in 14 states requiring that rape victims receive counseling and access to emergency, day-after contraceptives.—Houston Chronicle editorial³

The administration needs to stop playing word games with women's health and state clearly they will reject any regulations that will undermine women's access to basic health care.—Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.⁴

[It's] a spectacular act of complicity with the religious right... —RH Reality Check, Information and Analysis for Reproductive Health⁵

The birth control pill, the IUD, and emergency contraception might all become unavailable—illegal—as a result.—Brigid Riley, executive director of a Minnesota teen pregnancy prevention organization⁶

Can you help send a loud message to Secretary Leavitt that birth control is NOT abortion? Clicking here will sign your name:
http://pol.moveon.org/contraception/o.pl?id=13468-9814446-cmgy9Ox&t=5

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Laura, Patrick S., Adam G., and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Redefining abortion; Federal officials considering a rule allowing health care workers to refuse to provide contraceptives," Houston Chronicle, August 10, 2008
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/5935532.html

2. Letter to Secretary Mike Leavitt from Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and 26 other senators, July 23, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=4042&id=13468-9814446-cmgy9Ox&t=6

3. "Redefining abortion; Federal officials considering a rule allowing health care workers to refuse to provide contraceptives," Houston Chronicle editorial, August 10, 2008
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/5935532.html

4. "Birth control: is administration backing down—or not?" Los Angeles Times blog, August 8, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=4043&id=13468-9814446-cmgy9Ox&t=7

5. "HHS Moves to Define Contraception as Abortion," RH Reality Check, July 15, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=4041&id=13468-9814446-cmgy9Ox&t=8

6. "White House Considering Contraception Restrictions," Public News Service, August 11, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=4040&id=13468-9814446-cmgy9Ox&t=9

Do you like Jesus? Check yes or no.

So, as Brent and I were getting out of our car early Saturday afternoon, two nice ladies stopped us in the parking lot and told us about their church, which was opening up across the street. Neither Brent nor myself were even the little bit interested, but listened and took pamphlets to be polite. However, when we got inside we discovered that one of the things they handed us was a Chick tract.

The one they handed us was their one on Mormonism. Having a bit of background in the subject, I can actually report that the 15 or so pages are accurate, if not a bit mean spirited. Stuff like God was once a man, Kolob, war in heaven, etc. I lost it and started laughing hysterically on page 17 though, where it says "I can tell you for a fact that it is nothing but a modern-day form of Baal worship." It calls Mormonism a mix of "Babylonian and Jewish religions."

Even better than Baal worship however, was the very last page, where it tells you how to "get to heaven." There is, honest to god, a question that asks "Do you accept Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour?" AND THEN THERE ARE CHECK BOXES FOR YES AND NO!

Btw, here is the link for the actual track we were handed: The Visitors. Scroll down to the bottom to see the check boxes for yourself.


EVERYONE who has even the slightest bit of RPG nerd in them owes it to themself to read this one: Dark Dungeon. It has to be one of the funniest things I have ever read in my entire life. Even more absurd than the comics are the links down at the bottom of the page... one of which suggests that casting a spell in D&D might actually summon a demon in real life!

And, as a bonus link: Why do people laugh at creationists? This is a series of YouTube videos poking fun at the absurd arguments that creationists sometimes make, like that the Grand Canyon was made in 5 minutes, or that the banana is absolute proof of God.