The so-called “free birth control” provision of the Affordable Care Act kicked in on Wednesday, even though there isn’t really anything “free” about it. It’s not like women with health insurance won’t have to pay their premiums. It’s just that they won’t be getting hit with a co-pay charge when they get birth control. That’s not splitting hairs or anything. It’s the truth.
This is the part of the ACA that led to that infamous hearing, which Darrel Issa probably thought would make him look pious and devout, but instead made him look about as tone deaf as an early stages American Idol contestant.
The point of the hearing was to let it be known far and wide that this not-at-all-free birth control provision infuriated a lot of religious conservatives, who don’t like the idea of their premium dollars going to things that they find morally objectionable.
It must have been quite tough for them to be forced to go against their own consciences and common sense. For instance, Don McElroy, the young Earth creationist who was put in charge of choosing the science textbooks for the entire state of Texas in 2010, is probably pretty upset about the idea of religious people being forced to do things that they don’t want to do.
It’s profoundly disconcerting that an evangelical charity might have to pay for a monthly stash of Yaz for their receptionist, which is a total intrusion into their beliefs. I’ll have to ask all the public school kids in Tennessee and Kentucky who are being taught that creationism is just as valid a scientific theory as evolution what they think about this state of affairs. I’m sure they will be outraged.
So will China, Canada, Finland, Japan and every other country that is handing us our own hind-ends when it comes to science education.
I’ll bet that my buddy Jenn, who is currently being prevented from marrying her girlfriend of six years due to reasons that are based on the Old Testament and not the United States Constitution, will be spitting mad over this unprecedented intrusion into the religious beliefs of our fellow citizens. “That’s simply infuriating!” I can just imagine her saying, as the clerk at City Hall tells her and her girlfriend to go pound sand. “What can I do to help?”
I’m sure that all the young, unready mothers all over America, who were told that condoms just flat out don’t work by the evangelical activists who were paid to teach taxpayer-funded, abstinence-only sex education programs probably view this birth control provision as the basest violation of their religious rights.
And what about all of those elected officials on Capitol Hill who believe that the earth is 6,000 years old, each of whom have more of a say about how the United States spends its science dollars than anyone doing cutting-edge research at M.I.T? They must be quite frightened over the prospect of the government disregarding the spirituality of Americans to achieve their own twisted ends.
I’m going to punch way above my weight class for a second and quote H.L. Mencken: “We must respect the other fellow’s religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his belief that his wife is beautiful, or his children smart.”
This is absolutely true. You should respect the religious beliefs of everyone, but only up to a point. If Mencken’s “other fellow” tries to make it mandatory for everyone to fawn over his wife or to praise the brain power of his dirt-eating nine year old, mandatory respect is no longer required.
It’s hard for me to get really worked up over American policy becoming inconvenient to religious beliefs, particularly when the religious beliefs of others are quite often cheerfully inserted into the lives of Americans, whether we want them there or not, or whether they are good for us or not. If evangelicals and the folks at the Catholic diocese are upset about this intrusion into their consciences, then please allow me to point out that the non-religious feel the intrusion of the religious by way of government regulations all the damn time. Welcome to the neighborhood. How does it feel?
Adam Dawson has lived and worked in and around Washington, D.C. for most of his life. He does communications work for law firms and advocacy groups and writes freelance contributions for law firms and advocacy groups. He lives right over the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia.
You can follow him on Twitter @AdamDawson9681
Comments [7]
I was going to say, before 'Aurora' said it herself ... You'll note that Aurora did not force her belief on anyone, she simply stated it. She believes that their will be consequences for the positions we are taking now and that humans are inept at ruling themselves.
Well there are consequences and there's plenty of ineptness from where I am sitting. The references she makes also gives her away as a JW which means she is politically neutral (as she stated) - not asserting that government should restrict or push anything in particular (that actually makes it funny that she chose to visit and comment).
When I hear a religious point of view, I don't feel that there's a need to be automatically reactionary. Though the point of view may be strong, it may not fit into a 2 dimensional paradigm every time.
'Aurora' mentions Nazis - interesting again because of the intense persecution of JWs under the Nazi regime. Historically, minimizing intrusions on people's desire to perform life activities (like work) without having to make personal moral compromises or others who assert rights that conflict with the exercise of individual conscience has led to broader issues. The current 'modern' world is trending and trespassing into many roads already taken rather hastily.
Jeff, I'm sorry you feel so strongly about my comment. I believe there is a misunderstanding. I was just stating the obvious; not forcing anything on anybody. I am politically neutral and do not advocate religion being in government. I was just merely stating my observation upon humanity and its ineptitude toward directing others. It's true that I am God-fearing and, maybe no one cares :), but this is not Nazi Germany and people(at this time anyway) can voice their statements/opinions without feeling that they will be oppressed for it, right? The world is full of people with hate and hostility...why nurture it anymore? Peace, mildness of temper, agape, and humility...that's key.
We are not a Christian nation;nothing in the U.S. Constitution states we must live under the tyranny of one religious faith. We are not obliged to live according to the precepts of whatever faith is being shoved down our throats. If a Catholic hospital does not want to cover birth control for its employees, it should notify all job seekers that this is their policy, and they can choose workers from their own flock. And as a potential patient of such hospitals, I am free not to patronize them. The only difference between those who want us to believe as they do and Al Qaeda is that no one is chopping off heads here...at least not yet.
Really Aurora? You are doing EXACTLY what this article is written about. No one cares if you worship God, or whoever, it's when you force it down everyones throat that it becomes an issue. Religion does NOT belong in government, period. If that's what you want, there are plenty of countries that are founded on religious principles. This one, the USA, was not.
Thanks, Aurora. I'll keep that in mind.
I have a couple of things to say in regards to your very emotionally charged article:
1. "I, well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." Jeremiah 10:23
2. "he (God) has set a day in which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness" Acts 17:31
3. According to the Bible, the earth is not 6,000 years old. "Day" in the Bible can mean a 24-hour day, a thousand years, or a very long period of time (i.e. millions of years) depending on the context.
Whether a person is an atheist, agnostic, or religious, every human on this planet will have to answer to the Creator at Armageddon. He destroyed wicked humans worldwide once before, He tells us He will rid the earth of wickedness again. A burning hell is a false belief made up from the ancient city of Babel; the punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). By the way, I have noticed the more "educated" a person gets, the more ignorant he becomes. All his learning has made him arrogant and puffed up, the opposite of humility and meekness.
A core issue is the disrespect of those who believe, those who think they carry the edicts of their god to be pushed onto everyone. I support CHOICE, on all aspects of life - for the things I like and those that I disagree. I cannot and will not live someone else's life, hence I discourage anyone thinking they can save me from going any further than voicing their opinion. ** Belief is the death of intelligence **(Robert Anton Wilson)
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