Nobody Messes With Judy Blume
Posted by: Amelia McDonell-Parry
Filed in:
news
8:45AM, Thursday May 7th 2009
This week, Planned Parenthood’s mailing list included an email from Judy Blume. Here’s a snippet:
If you are the daughter whose mom had the guts to give you the answers to questions you couldn’t quite figure out how to ask… If you know a mother who is struggling to raise strong, independent, and confident children in the face of unbelievable odds… Say thanks. Say thanks this Mother’s Day with a gift that honors her courage by making a donation to Planned Parenthood in her name.
Turns out, that call for donations to Planned Parenthood has angered anti-choicers because, in addition to providing general health care for women, some Planned Parenthood clinics offer abortion procedures and administer the morning after pill. PP representative Cecile Richards says that since writing the letter, Blume has been inundated with nasty phone calls, emails, and letters.
I’m not surprised. This is the same woman who wrote Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret? and Forever—only to see copies yanked from school library bookshelves. Conservative religious groups didn’t approve of the book’s discussion of “mature” subjects, like menstruation and masturbation, or that she acknowledged that teenage girls experience sexual desire. So why would they be OK with Blume endorsing an organization that provides women with sex education, birth control, and medical procedures to which they are opposed? Also not surprising: the bullying tactics they’re using in an attempt to silence her. Unfortunately for them, Blume’s fans are spread far and wide and are loud and proud with their own message—no one f**ks with Judy Blume. [WowWowWow]
- Why Are Abortion-Rights Activists Sending Coat Hangers To Politicians?
- Today’s Lady News: FBI Had Been Warned About Abortion Doctor Killer
- Republican National Committee’s Health Insurance Plan Covered Abortion
- Nicole Richie is Hospitalized! (Us Weekly)
- Sneak Peak at Brad & Angelina on Date Night (PopEater)
TheFrisky.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network
Erin G
wrote on May 7 2009 @ 09:07 am: [report]
I can see exactly what Judy Blume means. My mother was there for me and never once discouraged me or spoke negatively of me when I had to use Planned Parenthood services.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on May 7 2009 @ 09:14 am: [report]
I didn’t get this email….I’m only on the NJ PP list. :(
MissChaotic
wrote on May 7 2009 @ 10:17 am: [report]
You know what stinks? Pro-lifers trying to force their ideals and beliefs on everybody who doesn’t necessarily agree with them. And sadly, these are the same people who aren’t reaching out to adopt those children that nobody else wants, or those who don’t want to pay for octo-mom.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on May 7 2009 @ 10:20 am: [report]
@misschaotic: I don’t want to pay for Octo-Mom on the principal that she is as wrong as a human being can go when dealing with motherhood. Jeez, now she’s getting sued for exploiting her kids.
subpar
wrote on May 7 2009 @ 11:37 am: [report]
This is terrible. A month or two ago, I was going to PP to get results from a cancer screening when I was ambushed by a senior citizen wielding an anti-abortion sandwich board. We actually got into it pretty bad… he told me I would be judged for supporting PP, and I calmly (at first) tried to explain to him that this was the only insurance I had, and that my visit, while none of his business, was unrelated to his cause. He continued to berate me, asking me if money was more important than the innocent fetus. I told gramps that I was really greatful that money is no object to him, and that I would gladly accept his help in paying for a new health insurance provider. Then, he could tell me exactly where to go to the doctor. Our conversation ended on that note.
resullins
wrote on May 7 2009 @ 12:22 pm: [report]
@MissChaotic: I have to agree with at least the first part of your post. I find it amusing that the same people that want to abolish abortion are the ones that have 6 kids and a picket fence, and have NEVER seen the inside of an orphanage… or what a crack addicted baby looks like. I think that if you’re going to berate other people for not bringing an unwanted child into the world, you should have look at all the unwanted children that are already here.
bbpickles
wrote on May 7 2009 @ 12:32 pm: [report]
@ subpar- Good for you! PP offers services to woman who can’t afford things like PAP’s, STD testing, condoms, and birth control. While none of that is an old man’s business, I am sure he would be happy woman are taking the steps to stay healthy!
retro chic
wrote on May 7 2009 @ 12:44 pm: [report]
Amelia, as you said, this is not surprising and totally par. In fact, it endears me to these “groups” even more if all the ammo they’ve got to carry out god’s work is by spamming “enemy” e-mailboxes. Hecklers only made more dangerous if we let them. And we won’t. Seriously, tho, they are genius at taking things to the street. We need to do the same in general. That’s when people/gov’t take real notice…
subpar
wrote on May 7 2009 @ 04:06 pm: [report]
@bbpickles
Thanks, I TRIED to tell him that PP was not just a “butcher shop”, as he called it, but it was a one-sided “discussion” as far as he was concerned. I said what I had to, but it probably went in one ear and out of the other, and it wasn’t easy nor expected to have such a personal dialogue about my health, finances, etc. in the middle of a sidewalk at 8 in the morning.
The fact is, getting educated about/screened for STIs, HIV, cervical cancer, etc. is expensive and I’m happy that places like PP exist to aid with that, because without them I’d be #&@$%. No matter what your stance is on abortion, it’s completely irresponsible to discourage people from getting medical care that they need.
mountaingrrl
wrote on May 8 2009 @ 07:41 am: [report]
i LOVE judy blume, her books were great for me during that awkward teenage stage. kudos to subpar for standing your ground! i used pp for years before i got a job that gave me health insurance, so i know where you’re coming from. either way i don’t appreciate it when a crusty old man thinks he can make decisions for me regarding MY body. stand your ground ladies, we obviously have a long road still ahead of us!