Oh, Yeah, She Got It
Stopped at the local "cut it quick" hair salon a couple weeks ago. It was The Day When My Hair Drove Me Crazy, we were getting ready for a long trip to Milwaukee for Cliff's annual check-up and I needed a haircut . . .
Only one hair cutter in the place, but she assured me she'd cut my hair as soon as she "self-medicated." I almost tipped over into fight or flee mode, but I was already there. I decided to take my chances. She was skinny and blond and looked to have many hard years on her. Self-medicated, with scissors in hand, she started to work.
As she cut, she asked what I thought about the presidential race. Now, knowing that I'm one of only about six registered Democrats in Lee County, I usually keep my mouth shut in public (hard to believe for those of you who know me, I'm sure). I said, "I try not to discuss politics," or some other inane thing. Well, that didn't stop her. She said, "Do you know what they're trying to do to women? Do you know they're trying to stop us from getting abortions and birth control and pap smears and mammograms and affordable help from Planned Parenthood? Did you know that?" I almost fell out of the chair, but we started talking. Here was a woman who I assumed hated the president, a woman who would never vote for him, a woman who probably attended white-hooded rallies and cheered our horribly racist sheriff. But, excuse me, here she was, explaining in detail what would happen if Richie Rich were to be elected. "You know," she said. "I think they think women have gotten out of control, that's what I think." She asked me how old I was and if I remembered when abortion was illegal. Oh, yes, indeedy, said I. I told her about my friend whose aunt died from an illegal abortion; and the time I accompanied another friend when she had a legal abortion.
I have many friends who have made that decision, for many reasons. It was never easy; it was never forgotten; it was always agonizing. I am solidly pro-choice but I don't know whether I could ever have made that decision. But it's a legal medical procedure and I don't think I have the right to say another woman can't make that decision. Sometimes it's the only option. Well, my new friend, the self-medicated haircutter, asked if I ever thought we'd be discussing this in 2012; I said I found it appalling after what my generation went through in the 1960's, over 50 years ago. I'll never forget the first time I asked for contraception and was totally and completely humiliated by the "doctor".
I left the salon the other week, assured that my hunch is right. If this woman got it, if she understood it well enough to be horrified by what may happen, then my hunch is right. Women may tell pollsters they're for Richie Rich, but when they get in that voting booth, all by themselves, and think what may happen to women if he's elected, it will be an easy decision. They'll vote to re-elect President Barack Obama.
As she cut, she asked what I thought about the presidential race. Now, knowing that I'm one of only about six registered Democrats in Lee County, I usually keep my mouth shut in public (hard to believe for those of you who know me, I'm sure). I said, "I try not to discuss politics," or some other inane thing. Well, that didn't stop her. She said, "Do you know what they're trying to do to women? Do you know they're trying to stop us from getting abortions and birth control and pap smears and mammograms and affordable help from Planned Parenthood? Did you know that?" I almost fell out of the chair, but we started talking. Here was a woman who I assumed hated the president, a woman who would never vote for him, a woman who probably attended white-hooded rallies and cheered our horribly racist sheriff. But, excuse me, here she was, explaining in detail what would happen if Richie Rich were to be elected. "You know," she said. "I think they think women have gotten out of control, that's what I think." She asked me how old I was and if I remembered when abortion was illegal. Oh, yes, indeedy, said I. I told her about my friend whose aunt died from an illegal abortion; and the time I accompanied another friend when she had a legal abortion.
I have many friends who have made that decision, for many reasons. It was never easy; it was never forgotten; it was always agonizing. I am solidly pro-choice but I don't know whether I could ever have made that decision. But it's a legal medical procedure and I don't think I have the right to say another woman can't make that decision. Sometimes it's the only option. Well, my new friend, the self-medicated haircutter, asked if I ever thought we'd be discussing this in 2012; I said I found it appalling after what my generation went through in the 1960's, over 50 years ago. I'll never forget the first time I asked for contraception and was totally and completely humiliated by the "doctor".
I left the salon the other week, assured that my hunch is right. If this woman got it, if she understood it well enough to be horrified by what may happen, then my hunch is right. Women may tell pollsters they're for Richie Rich, but when they get in that voting booth, all by themselves, and think what may happen to women if he's elected, it will be an easy decision. They'll vote to re-elect President Barack Obama.
posted by Debra Hope @ 11:46 PM
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