I had lunch today with my 97 year old grandmother, and with the current goings on in Congress, I found myself reflecting on her life, including her choice to have an abortion despite the fact that it was both illegal and incredibly risky.
Let me tell you a little bit about my Grandma Toni. She grew up in Slovenia were she regularly got up at 4am to toil on the farm to support her mother and siblings while her father was off in the U.S. Finally, they were brought over to America, where my grandmother achieved a version of the American dream.
She survived WWII and the Great Depression, waiting tables into her 70s in a smoky Tavern for little pay and no tips. She and my grandfather, also a Slovenian immigrant, had no formal education, but managed to raise two children who both went on to post graduate school.
My grandmother is a tough, but loving, cookie and while she says she is more than ready to exit this world, the light of her life is her 4 year-old great grandaughter.
And she had an abortion.
I relate her story because it illustrates the importance of abortion rights and the right to control our reproductive health. My grandmother had the abortion because she and my grandfather were at the limit of their resources. They looked realistically at their situation and knew that if they went through with the pregnancy, they and my aunt would suffer. They made a decision which was responsible, caring, and their business. A few years later, they had my mother and they instilled in both of their children a high work ethic, consideration for others and deep respect for personal privacy.
My grandmother had to make that decision at a time when abortion was illegal. She risked her life to do what she believed was the right thing for her family, and when abortion was legalized in this country, she was thankful that no other women would have to go through what she did.
Sadly, while abortion has been legal now for decades, the fight for reproductive rights is as heated as ever.
We need to raise our voices and tell Washington, in no uncertain terms that we believe ALL women in this country should have access to abortion.
Come to DC with us next Tuesday to do just that!
Jump on the bus and join in our lobbying meetings with Senators Snowe and Collins, current key players in Congress.
Our goal? To tell our elected officials (who are finalizing health care reform policy) that women deserve access to all health care options, including abortion. The House-passed health care reform bill includes the Stupak amendment, which forces any woman receiving a federal subsidy who wants abortion coverage to purchase a separate abortion rider covering only abortion. We have a chance to stop this in the Senate, but Capitol Hill needs to hear from us NOW!
Check out the details and sign up for a seat on the bus here.
And go to the Maine Women's Lobby's website to sign the online petition opposing the Stupak amendment.