I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view…

Thank you so much for the link to hear Bryan Kemper. I was at the rally, but missed most of his message thanks to our wonderful police who kept shuffling us from one spot to another under "orders from above". I just listened and was moved by his passion for life. We do need to stay strong and fight this battle on our knees until the end of legalized and sanctioned abortion in America.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=e8xIp0dHUbY - Part 1
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uqBlvKP4e1U - Part 2

I am horrified by the websites they promote to teenagers.

I am horrified by Melissa's lack of knowledge about pp's real agenda.

I am horrified by the comments that have been made both on this discussion blog and the flyer I received, and the accusations that are made towards Planned Parenthood and the way the "facts" were miscontrued. I am a public health worker, a young female, and a fellow pro-lifer, but wow! get the facts and the knowledge straight before sending misconstrued uneducational information to the homes of many.

"Facts" and the REAL FACTS:
**Flyer: "Recommends sexually explicit materials for children as young as nine years old. Provides sex-ed materials to children that are far too graphic to be described here. Strongly opposes proven-effective abstinence education programs. Distributes condoms, birth control pills and abortion drugs to teens…"

**REAL FACTS: Do you know why PP does these above mentioned things? Ladies how old were you when you had your first menstrual cycle? Parents, have you ever seen a nine or ten year old pregnant? Families, have you ever seen the news about a child being raped or sexually abused? Parents have you talked to your child about sex? Parents, how often do your children remember everything you tell them? Parents, have you ever made a decision your parent's wouldn't approve of? Families, have you ever been a victim of peer pressure? Social Pressure? And I know I might strike a bunch of chords with this question….but parents how would you react if your son or daughter told you that they were gay/lesbian? Do you know how to properly educate them on safe sex? Did you know that LGBT teens have the highest rates of suicide, STDs, and cancer? Because your religions, moral, or personal beliefs might not agree with your son or daughters sexual preferences….what then? ignore the situation? persuade them to change? let them fall victim to peer pressure, suicide, STDs. Maybe not pregnancy…but other issues related to sex that PP also plays part in educating and providing options for children that are not accepted or welcome by their families.
Answers: I was nine when I had my first menstrual cycle, old enough to get pregnant, yet not quite old enough to know what sex was or what the consequences of actions were. And if you haven't seen young pregnant children, I HAVE seen multiple pregnant children under the age of eleven. Upon questioning, these children had no idea what the consequences of their actions were or what they were even doing. I see these children in my hospital (I'm a social worker) and help them find medical assistance to treat themselves and their baby, educational opportunities during and after pregnancy, and help them apply for medical cards. If we can't get teenagers to stop having sex, let's at least educate them on safety and give them preventative measures to use instead of ignoring the situation. Let's fight the real battle…stopping these pregnancies before they start….What about EDUCATION and PREVENTION?! Trying to teach children about what sex is, what are the consequences, and what you can do to protect oneself. As a society we can not ignore that sexual relations are increasing and STDs and teen pregnancy rates are rising. What about the media and its protrayals of sex? These "explicit" materials provided by PP are the materials that make a child stop and think about their actions…especially when tv and movies and peers make sex look so good. I remember going to the health museum at ten years old and seeing a picture of a blackened lung from smoking cigarettes, I vowed then that I would never let that happen to me…same goes for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. Also, in a society that lacks affordable options for health care, PP provides an affordable option to get contraceptives and condoms, which is beneficial for children that are afraid to talk to their parents about their choices or are afraid to talk to their parents about their sexual preferences, but still need protection. (for me, I work in a Catholic hospital and my insurance doesn't pay for my birth control methods, but Planned Parenthood does so affordably)

Instead of fighting against Planned Parenthood, why don't you fight to reduce unwanted pregnancy, sex education in school aimed at prevention and education? Or fight to get affordable medical treatment for everyone? Through HARM REDUCTION and EDUCATION and PREVENTION Planned Parenthood is starting this fight…….Lets stop the TRUE cause of unwanted pregnancy and abortions!! PP doesn't cause pregancy!what have you personally done to stop unwanted pregnancies? Let's fight the right battle.

Melissa
MPH Candidate
Outreach Social Worker

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen