FULL QUESTION: It’s been a year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, what are your thoughts on abortion law?
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It’s been
a year since the Supreme
Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and unlike many other things that make
headlines and then disappear, the abortion issue is still very much with us. And very political. Just look at how voters in state elections voted
in favor of abortion rights in the last year, and it will no doubt
be a major
issue in the 2024 presidential election.
Not to avoid answering the question, but it’s a very personal and emotional one. However, since I’m past the child-bearing age, I look at it from the perspective of a mom to two girls in their 20s. It takes away women’s rights to make decisions over their bodies and gives it to the states where they live, making them subject to the political positions and moral opinions of others vs. their own values. I also can’t help but think about when there are medical issues (either the woman or her unborn child) that could be lessened if abortion was still an option. It makes me want to both cry and scream. I feel like we’ve taken a step backward, 50 years to be precise, rather than moving forward. |
| When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, I wondered if the future of a wide range of rights already provided would be at risk of being taken away (such as women’s rights to vote, Civil Rights legislation, etc.). It made me question the integrity of the highest court in our nation. The supposed “logic” of allowing states to decide abortion rights is very different from allowing voters to decide. (Why not make it a separate referendum?) Now 25 million women live in states with tighter restrictions on abortions or total bans because of laws changed by elected officials (and interpreted by judges), many of whom were elected when abortion was a non-issue since it was protected by the Constitution. Some states now have almost draconian laws, such as the six-week abortion ban (most women do not even know they are pregnant at that point) or no exceptions for rape or incest. Given how old I am, I was often the “token woman” as I moved up to management in male-dominated industries (or even when I raced Ferraris), so have faced many challenges being a woman. But, I never felt like a second-class citizen … until now. |
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Black
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| Are you kidding?! I'm a cookie-baking carpool mom, and although we had just published a book based on my "crisis", we didn't even think of ourselves as authors. (My sister saved our emails and Instant Messages, and has never told me if she taped our phone conversations!) And the book was supposed to be the basis of a sitcom! We had literally done one speaking engagement and now were being asked to get in front of classrooms full of high school seniors for a semester-long course. During their LAST semester! Surprised? "Shocked" might be a better word. Or, maybe "panicked." |
| My immediate reaction was, "Sure, not a problem." Then, while Red was busy panicking, I focused on how to get it done. The request was in keeping with KIPP's approach to looking for non-traditional methods of educating students, so they agreed when I asked for a task force of students to help us develop the program. (I knew it had to be relevant or there was no point in doing it.) And, it was the students who suggested we use our book as a textbook, calling it a "reality show in a book" … which, at least, validated my idea that the book could be the basis of a sitcom. |
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Image on screen is from "What I Learned About Life When My Husband Got Fired!"
| Oh, there are more days than I'd care to admit that I'd be grateful if it were just my desk that had too much paper on it, as I've been known to use my floor as a filing system. Really! And I've been known to complain about feeling like I'm drowning in paper on way more than one occasion. So, what do I do? Well, after kicking myself for letting things (once again) get out of hand instead of keeping on top of the paper clutter, I take a deep breath and remember the advice that Black gave me years ago. And although I initially resisted following her advice, once I gave in, I found it was the perfect (and easiest) way to turn mountains of paper into manageable stacks. But since it's her "system", I'll let her explain it to you. |
| All those words and Red provided only empathy — but no real advice. However, she raises a good point in that paper will always accumulate, and we should strive to keep it from getting out of control … versus trying to control it "perfectly". Now, in terms of the advice I gave Red, our accountants would suggest I refer you to our book, but I hate when people do that. Instead, we put the relevant excerpt on this site: Too Much Paper — Not Enough Time. But, here is a short version ("short" in terms of explanation, not the time it will take to make the piles shrink): take a handful of papers and begin sorting them into piles based on priority — immediate, this week, next week, next month, next lifetime. You will quickly realize that the majority of the items will be very low priority, such as reading, filing, or shredding. And, separating out the highest-priority items will not only help you focus on them, but will also reduce the stress of wondering if there is something important you are forgetting to do. |
