"Legitimate" Sexism.... Pre-Life vs. Jagermeister?

I know it's been awhile since I poked my head out of my lovely cave, but, there's been some personal matters at home that have kept me from floating around the blogosphere lately.... I'm hoping to return full swing, but, I'm not sure when that will be----

In the meantime, I did poke my head out today and I'm beginning to wonder if I should have. It has definitely become a day of "huh's?"

While most of my fellow southern brethren have been bracing for Isaac's onslaught -- we've had some crazy wind and a bit of rain, but fortunately no loss of power-- I've enjoyed a lovely, albeit rather wet, day off of perusing the net and watching some t.v. with the hubby.

Normally I'm not so concerned with the state of things in the political world, and even less concerned for the realm of popular culture. But, today, the two merged to define--at least for me--some current views of women versus men in American society.  (Of course, I don't mean this literally, just found the timing of the two events "huh-inspiring").

I had heard of Congressman Todd Akin's comments on "legitimate rape", thinking little of it, as politicians-- democratic, republican, libertarian and the like-- are oft guilty of such misspoken gaffes (most taken out of context, and even intentionally misconstrued for opposing political purposes). In other words, it was just another human, acting like a stupid human.

But, then I heard about the Arizona Anti-Abortion Law , cloyingly called Women's Health and Safety Act, that went into effect this month that determined pregnancy begins 2 weeks before conception, which shortens the period of time that women in Arizona can legally have an abortion. If we start thinking of conception in its Pre-Life form, wouldn't it be fair to then say that every woman of child-bearing age is "legitimately" pregnant?

Now, I've always been Pro-Choice... (not because I would ever carry out an abortion myself, but, because I never felt I had the right to tell another woman what she was allowed to do to/with her own body). I know some would argue for the rights of the unborn child, but, isn't it kinder NOT to bring the child into a world where it might not be wanted? Isn't it easier to know the child would never have to endure the pain of being someone else's mistake?

Some might point out, "what if the child she aborted was the next Einstein?"

And, I would ask, "what if the child she aborted was the next Hitler?" Or, better still... "what if the child she would have aborted would have been the next Einstein, but because she carried him to term and brought into an emotionally painful world, he became the next Hitler?"

I know I'm ranting, and I know there are no clearly defined lines, and I know a lot of people will disagree with me... but, I am speaking as woman who has suffered a miscarriage, who currently has no children and who desperately wants children (not that that lends any credence to what I'm saying, just my view).

Then, tonight, I happened to catch the "new?" Jagermeister television ad showing the "manliest of men" bonding over their earned right to shoot Jager.

Personally, I know some far "manlier" men than the rock star, surfer and rodeo clown depicted in this commercial--- but they don't drink Jagermeister. Nor, do they need the state of their manliness to be justified by some shared drink in a walk-in cooler.  


I just couldn't shake the fact these "tough guys" were being lauded and handed an icy shot, while the "tough gals" have their rapes legitimized and are told what they are allowed to do to their bodies.