(no subject)

The New Abortionists

Posting in part so I can close that tab... but I really like this article, and how they discuss both the movement to reintegrate abortion back into medicine, but also the compromises people make on the ground (both in terms of "I don't want to be shot at!" and figuring out ways to work with people with different opinions).

I was surprised when talking to one of my students that she "didn't believe in abortion" and yet if she got pregnant at this point in her life she would abort. I don't think, in our current climate, that that is exactly hypocrisy. One is bombarded with disinformation about what abortionists are like, and the reasons and circumstances under which people seek abortion... and it's easy, I suspect, to decide that that all is wrong, even when you know that in your own life and circumstances it would be the best thing to do. (I think she has a growing awareness that the reasons most women would choose to have abortions are fairly like the ones she has now. But there are also family pressures.) I think people who are a little closer to the times when abortion was not legal, and have more of a sense of what that means are likely to view the legal question differently.

One Sangha

So cadmus whom some of you know has been grousing for a while that there isn't a good non denominational Buddhist site. In response he's started One Sangha, which seems pretty cool, though new and not yet highly populated. I know there are various folks who are Buddhist* or interested in Buddhism who read this blog, and I'd recommend it. (Especially since I'd enjoy hearing from y'all over there.)

* Honestly, I'd probably still not be identifying as Buddhist but after several years as a member of a Chan order I figure that's just silly.