Student Protest: Planned Parenthood to potentially lose federal funding

Controversy has always been an element that our society thrives on; we are a very opinionated people. One topic that has never been able to escape the crossfire of debate is Planned Parenthood. Recently, the House of Representatives voted to cut all federal funding for Planned Parenthood and this decision could hurt millions of women and families.

People believe that abortions are the main service that Planned Parenthood provides, but what about the other contributions that the organization makes available? What about people who don’t have health insurance and are in need of a reproductive screening, counseling because of domestic violence or prenatal care?

In a CBSNews.com article, “Planned Parenthood loses funding in House vote,” Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards said, “In attacking Planned Parenthood, the House Republican leadership has launched an outrageous assault on the millions of Americans who rely on Planned Parenthood for primary and preventive health care, including lifesaving breast and cervical cancer screenings, annual exams, family planning visits, birth control, HIV testing and more.” I completely agree with Richards. There are millions of people who disagree and dispute the right for women to choose to have an abortion, but are those people comfortable with turning away a woman with Stage IV breast cancer?

I am the public relations executive for Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood on campus. I’m not crazy about the heated discussions that people have regarding whether abortion is right, wrong or just. The majority of the events that we hold are educational and supportive to those who need it most. Our biggest event supports victims of domestic violence. Cutting the federal funding for Planned Parenthood will only hurt those who are limited financially in this harsh economy.

Now, the hard truth, whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, is that there are women out there who are going to have abortions, no matter what. It’s easy for society to say that there isn’t sufficient cause that necessitates abortion, but is every woman in every situation accounted for? Planned Parenthood doesn’t “weed out” patients going for abortions according to reason — that’s a confidentiality issue. So is it right to make a woman go through a pregnancy that’s the result of a rape? Does your opinion change if it’s a young girl?

Furthermore, is it right to make that decision for them? The government can say no, but the term “back-alley abortion” didn’t just appear from thin air. An article from SocialistWorker.org brings up the fact that history proves that women have found ways to abort unwanted pregnancies, even if deadly.

I understand the people out there who believe that abortions are justifiable in certain situations, but if you believe that, then how do you pick and choose? It’s not a game; it can be life altering. Who gets to plan whose life?

So, what is the government trying to say? If you want an abortion, do so at your own risk? Of course not, but I will say that people have lost sight of the importance of Planned Parenthood and the great things that come from the organization. Millions support them, and for those who are truly against a single medical procedure provided, are you willing to leave millions of women and families in the dark, or will you do the right thing and choose the lesser of two evils?

– Bobbilynn Tull

Junior radio/TV major