In 1939 five women gathered on their front lawns. They met, not to gossip about their social circles, but with a purpose: to help disadvantaged women access to family planning. They quickly became officially organized, and in 1942, the Maternal Health Clinic joined with Planned Parenthood, becoming Planned Parenthood of San Antonio.
It is audacious to say that Planned Parenthood contributed to the strengthening of America. But I believe it is true. I invite you to listen to these stories. While the people and the specific events I discuss are fiction, the facts-and emotions-are true.
It's 1954. Jane and Sam have just gotten married. Sam has a good job working in an office, with high hopes for promotion. He hopes, one day, that he will be able to provide well for his family. But right now the money that Jane brings in is really important for them. They are saving to buy a house.
It's 1955. Jane doesn't work any more; Nathaniel was born just a few months ago. Although unbelievably joyous, the financial strain of his birth has put off their dreams of buying that house. In fact, they will have to keep the car going another year, because they can't afford to get a new one.
It's 1956. Nathaniel's brother, Jacob, is as cute as a button. Sam can't believe how beautiful he is. But, as he gets off the bus, and enters their small apartment, it means that the car and the house dreams have gone. He doesn't even know if college will be in their future. We just had kids too early in our relationship, he thought. I just can't get ahead, and make things better for them the way I dreamed.
For Jane and Sam, the ability to have chosen when to have children would have made all the difference in their financial future-and likely for the education of their children as well. The Center for Disease Control reports that Family Planning is one of the ten greatest achievements for the progression of economic society. Planned Parenthood has strengthened American because it provides women and families the opportunity to emerge from the burden of poverty through family planning.
Today, Planned Parenthood provides thousands of people, with important information. I want to introduce you to Elisabeth. Elisabeth, while listening to a Planned Parenthood presenter, decided that she should go to the clinic. She had already decided that she was going to have sex with her boyfriend. Nothing could change that. She was the only virgin in her group of friends, after all. But she better be on the safe side. . . she didn't want to be like Simone, who'd just had a baby. . . . or that girl everyone was talking about that had some disgusting disease from having sex. . .
Planned Parenthood provides age appropriate family planning and sexual health information, in both Spanish and English. Working with a wide range of people-from teenagers to married couples to detained men and women at the Bexar County Jail, Planned Parenthood makes a difference in their lives.
Planned Parenthood strengthens America because it provides for teenagers, of whome80% become sexually active by the age of 19 access to information on contraception and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Planned Parenthood strengthens America because it works every day to help teens delay sexual activity and postpone pregnancy.
The third story is a glimpse into the life of Jasmine. Jasmine is 40. She just lost her job. She is ok financially-for a few months. But with the loss of her job, so, too, went her health insurance. She's worried, because she knows she really should get her annual exam and a pap smear. She knows how important it is. But there is no way she can pay for it out of pocket.
It's 2004. Jasmine has a job. With great health insurance. She is so lucky-because of her job and her health insurance, they'll be able to help her survive cervical cancer. She just can't get over what her doctor. said, though, about early detection. It just took one year of missing a pap smear . . .
Planned Parenthood strengthens the community because it offers, on a sliding scale, excellent health care. More and more women are finding themselves without access to health insurance, making the clinics vital. In today's health care crisis, the services that Planned Parenthood offers are invaluable. Understanding that many women may not have access to a primary care physician, Planned Parenthood has made the commitment to helping women assess if they are in any type of high risk profile. If Jasmine had made an appointment at the clinic, she not only would have received her annual exam and a pap smear, she would have been screened for: cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension. Because she would have been carefully evaluated, she would have been referred to the Special Cases clinic, where her pre-cancerous cells could have been removed in a simple procedure. Planned Parenthood strengthens America because women of all ages, educational levels, and stations in life, have the opportunity to stay healthy-or get healthy.
Our last snapshot is of Maria. Maria relies on Planned Parenthood's clinic for her annual exams as well as contraception. She's been coming to Planned Parenthood for years, and has recently begun to become active as a volunteer. She's worried, because she's learned about some disturbing legislation that may pass this year in Texas. This legislation would cut funding to any clinics that also provide abortion services, even if none of the government money is used for abortion care. Maria is so glad that she's gotten involved in helping Planned Parenthood; she knows that the Government Action Council can help advocate against this damaging legislation.
Knowledge is power. Planned Parenthood is not only about providing health care and information, it is also about arming people with knowledge -of the law, of their bodies, of their choices. Planned Parenthood advocates for women, and men, to have equal access to all forms of reproductive health care and health care information and does so at the local, state and national level. Planned Parenthood contributes to the strengthening of America because it helps our voices be heard.
I've only given you a few snapshots of how Planned Parenthood has helped make a difference. The four stories are only a microcosm of the incredible work of Planned Parenthood. Last year Planned Parenthood served more than 27,000 men and women. Multiplying this by the many years that Planned Parenthood has educated, healed and served, Planned Parenthood has contributed to our nation's strength. Through professional health care, access to important reproductive information, and continuous advocacy, Planned Parenthoods' 64 year legacy has, indeed, strengthened America.
E-mail Rabbi Bergman Vann
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