South Dakothangers in the News Again + Tales From Nepal

Update below.

Women Seeking Abortions in South Dakota to (must) Get Anti-Abortion Advice

The sign out front advertises free pregnancy tests, information about abortion and testing for sexually transmitted diseases. But it is not an abortion clinic — it is home to the Alpha Center, an organization in Sioux Falls, S.D., dedicated to encouraging women to bring their babies to term.

A law signed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard on Tuesday makes the state the first to require women who are seeking abortions to first attend a consultation at such “pregnancy help centers,” to learn what assistance is available “to help the mother keep and care for her child.”

The legislation, which passed easily in a state Legislature where Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than 3 to 1, also establishes the nation’s longest waiting period — three days — after an initial visit with an abortion provider before the procedure can be done. It makes exceptions for medical emergencies, but not for rape or incest.....

.....Peggy Gibson, a Democratic state representative who voted against the measure, said the law amounted to “government intrusion into people’s medical decisions.”

“South Dakota women should not need to submit to an in-person lecture from an unqualified, noncertified, faith-based counselor or volunteer at an anti-choice crisis pregnancy center,” Ms. Gibson said.

“They’re not licensed, they’re not regulated, they’re not accredited and they’re openly ideological,” Ms. Stoesz said. more NYT

I hummed and arred over running with this next story, finally passing it over to a colleague. In light of the above, I have to go with it now. Check out yer man's attitude towards women in the clip. I think he might be from South Dakota.

Centuries-Old Nepal Banishment Ritual Endangers Girls and Women


The centuries old practice of chhaupadi in Nepal can cause prolonged depression in girls and women. In extreme cases it can also cause death.

Chhaupadi pratha, or ritual practice, places Nepali women and girls in a limbo of isolation. In history it is a practice that has been largely accepted. The word chhaupadi, translates in the Achham local Raute dialect as ‘chhau’ which means menstruation and ‘padi’ – woman.

Today the ritual of banishment surrounding chhaupadi still affects girls and women on all levels of Nepali society.

This dangerous practice also isolates woman during and after childbirth as they are banished for up to eleven days away from family members, causing critical danger and increasing complications that can, and do, lead to maternal and child mortality due to the possibility of excessive bleeding and asepsis following labour.

A chhaupadi shed or hut, also called chhaupadi goth, is a rudimentary stone, grass or stick shelter. Most shelters, many which are also commonly used as cow or goat sheds, have dirt floors and no windows. Many sheds have no water. Habitation by humans in these sheds can create dangerous situations as structures can reach below freezing temperatures in the winter and sweltering temperatures in the summer.

The January 2010 death of forty year old Belu Damai is a case in point. Damai was found dead on January 3rd in a chhaupadi (menstrual) shed in Bhairabsthan (VDC-8) in Nepal’s remote western district of Achham.

Damai’s death was part of a larger event. Cold temperatures in Northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh caused the death of over 165 people in the South Asia region from January 3rd through January 6th. Those who were the most vulnerable were those suffering from severe poverty. more

Update here.

South Dakota! Where's My Batshit Crazy Folder?

And to think it was only the other day I was trying to impart to a reader just how backward and batshit they all are in South Dakota. Or to use a newly discovered word that I have added to my dictionary, the Talibangelical. It's a craaacker Moister Paisley!

And to say nothing of being able to delve into my Dakotas folder and up some little treasures, and not one of 'em me own. For the occasional Kansas graphic that I feature, still read South Dakota, there are after all, no borders in hell.

South Dakota in Turmoil over a Bill to Call Killing Abortion Doctors “Justifiable Homicide”
Thursday, February 17, 2011

Conservative lawmakers in the South Dakota legislature want to expand the definition of “justifiable homicide” to include killings that seek to protect the life of a fetus. Abortion rights advocates claim the legislation has been crafted to make it legal to kill doctors who perform the controversial procedures.

“The bill in South Dakota is an invitation to murder abortion providers,” Vicki Saporta, president of the National Abortion Federation, told Mother Jones.

House Bill 1171’s author, Republican Representative Phil Jensen, who opposes abortion, says his legislation has nothing to do with abortion, and that he merely is trying to “bring consistency to South Dakota statute as it relates to justifiable homicide.” However, the bill’s wording says that, “homicide is justifiable if committed by any person in the lawful defense of such person, or of his or her husband, wife, parent, child, master, mistress, or servant, or the unborn child of any such enumerated person.” More and what could turn out to be quite an interesting site. AllGov

You know it must be really batshit when People For The American Way come out against it.

PFAW Condemns Abortion Provider Murder Bill

South Dakota’s House of Representatives is expected to vote soon on a bill that would legalize the killing of abortion providers. The bill, reported today in Mother Jones, would expand the state’s definition of “justifiable homicide” to include killings meant to protect the life of a fetus. This is not a hypothetical issue: according to Mother Jones, eight abortion providers have been assassinated in the United States since 1993, and 17 more have suffered assassination attempts.

The South Dakota bill is part of a nationwide effort by anti-choice extremists to all but eliminate access to abortion services by asserting the “personhood” of fetuses. One such bill, introduced in the Ohio legislature, would make it illegal for women to seek abortions as soon as 18 days after conception—all but eliminating the constitutional right to access abortion services.

Michael Keegan, President of People For the American Way, said:

“This bill is an appalling attempt to further restrict the reproductive rights of women in South Dakota, while forcing abortion providers to risk their lives to provide care.

“The attempt to legalize the murder of abortion providers exposes the uncompromising zealotry of the anti-choice movement. A real ‘pro-life’ movement would respect the rights and judgment of women and certainly would not enable the murder of health care providers. I urge South Dakota legislators to examine their consciences before voting on a bill that would force women to seek illegal and unsafe abortions, and endanger the lives of health care providers.” PFAW

Brownback, Is He Representative?

In any sane society Brownback's admission, along with Huckabee and Tancredo, that he disbelieved evolution should have rung a death knell for his Presidential hopes, but alas we are not talking of sane societies.

I am no great admirer of polls, as I have said in the past they are too easily manipulated, but Gallup is a respectable enough outfit and produces some interesting results, interesting enough to show us why Brownback's campaign is still alive.

And then we come to this latest example of pandering to the righteous right, can't help but read into that little lot that he's advocating church and state control of women's womb's.
I have left a link at the end of this article, the Rude Pundit's take on these sanctimonious pro life control freaks.

TAYLORS, S.C. — Sen. Sam Brownback, campaigning for president on Saturday before the National Catholic Men's Conference, questioned whether rape victims should get abortions.

"Rape is terrible. Rape is awful. Is it made any better by killing an innocent child? Does it solve the problem for the woman that's been raped?" the Kansas Republican asked at the St. Joseph's Covenant Keepers gathering.

"We need to protect innocent life. Period," Brownback said, bringing the crowd of about 500 to its feet. more


The Solution For South Dakota: More Fucking: Rude Pundit.