This is far and away the coolest thing I've read in ages

[ebonlock]

Many thanks to Aelf for forwarding me this:
Giago: Oglala Sioux president on state abortion law

"When Governor Mike Rounds signed HB 1215 into law it effectively banned all abortions in the state with the exception that it did allow saving the mother’s life. There were, however, no exceptions for victims of rape or incest. His actions, and the comments of State Senators like Bill Napoli of Rapid City, SD, set of a maelstrom of protests within the state.

Napoli suggested that if it was a case of “simple rape,” there should be no thoughts of ending a pregnancy. Letters by the hundreds appeared in local newspapers, mostly written by women, challenging Napoli’s description of rape as “simple.” He has yet to explain satisfactorily what he meant by “simple rape.”

The President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Cecilia Fire Thunder, was incensed. A former nurse and healthcare giver she was very angry that a state body made up mostly of white males, would make such a stupid law against women.

“To me, it is now a question of sovereignty,” she said to me last week. “I will personally establish a Planned Parenthood clinic on my own land which is within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Reservation where the State of South Dakota has absolutely no jurisdiction.”

Strong words from a very strong lady. I hope Ms. Fire Thunder challenges Gov. Rounds and the state legislators on this law that is an affront to all independent women."

President Fire Thunder is my new hero.

Edit: Hat tip to the always well informed kirbyk

Want to help out? kathrynt has a post up with all the contact info: http://kathrynt.livejournal.com/366823.html

I'll be sending along good wishes and a check to help out the effort today!

Update:
For those playing the home game, here are the governor of SD's latest results in the polls:

I thought people would enjoy knowing that Mike Rounds, the South Dakota governor who signed the abortion ban, has seen his approval/disapproval numbers go from 72-23 in February to 58-38 in March. He doesn't have a challenger for 2006, though that could change soon. I was sort of guessing that this abortion ban would blow up in its proponents' faces -- pro-lifers outnumber pro-choicers in South Dakota only 49-47.

Let's hope that the birth-control-denying state legislators of Missouri are next.

Comments

[rexluscus.livejournal.com]

"Simple rape"? That's disgusting. What that suggests is that this guy has the notion that a woman raped in a dark alley by a stranger has a right to an abortion, but if she knew the guy, if it was date rape, if she started fooling around then wanted to stop and he wouldn't, then the pregnancy is somehow her fault.

Wow. That "simple rape" phrase really opens up a crack through which you can see just how misogynistic this law really is. Because there is no way to explain that "simple rape" exception, no handy "all fetuses have a right to live" excuse to hide behind, without basically coming out and saying you think women are sluts who should be punished for their promiscuity.

Ew. But the news about the reservation is nice.

[aelfsciene.livejournal.com]

That "simple rape" phrase really opens up a crack through which you can see just how misogynistic this law really is.

That's precisely what I was thinking when I read it. How it seems clear that these men believe women "ask for it" if they're raped, and then they need to face the "consequences" or some other bullshit.

I swear, if I was more violent, I'd get me a big 'ol strap-on and pay a visit to Napoli. He should really experience< sexual assault before classifying anything related as "simple."

[rexluscus.livejournal.com]

Seriously. What really disgusts me is the implication that some forms of rape are less serious or tragic than others. And I'll bet the dividing line in his mind is the woman's chastity. If a virginal young girl is assaulted by a stranger, that's "simple" rape. If a woman is fooling around with a guy and then tells him to stop but he doesn't, that isn't simple, because she got herself into the situation in the first place and must thus face the consequences of the most extreme outcome. So really, her crime is in being sexual at all. No woman with a long sexual history could ever suffer a "simple rape" because she chose to go down that path - or some such nonsense. Women must be punished for having sex drives.

Urgh! Sorry to be soap-boxing on your journal, Ellie. :)

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

Not at all my dear, that's why I post this stuff, so we can all get it off our chests.