The Republican primaries and why I’m starting to feel good about Poland

I spent a few wonderful years in America as a child and have a lot of fondness for the country. All these years later you could wake me up in the middle of the night and I’d recite the whole Pledge of Allegiance from memory without even properly waking up. I’m a fan of a lot things American – literature, attitude to life, belief in “try and you will succeed” and the ridiculously huge selection of breakfast cereals. Partially out of sentiment and mostly because America is still a major international player, I follow American politics pretty closely. Frankly, I know next to nothing about the economy and taxes, so really by politics I mostly mean the reproductive rights situation.

Earlier this week pro-choicers around the world celebrated the 39th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. This was particularly meaningful to me, because in my home country – Poland – we still haven’t come as far as to clearly and loudly say that a woman’s uterus is her own effing business and no one else’s. In fact, we’re actually pretty darn awful when it comes to reproductive rights. But I have to say, following what the Republican presidential candidates have been saying about abortion and contraception lately I have trouble believing what I’m reading. I’m starting to think that although the laws are worse in Poland, the attitude of major politicians might just be better.

And this is actually saying a lot as I come from a country where (and I kid you not), we are continually debating the issue of formally enthroning Jesus Christ so that he will join his mother (yes, the Virgin Mary is officially named the queen of Poland) in some sick, incestuous, royal coupling in a supposedly secular country. Abortion is practically illegal, there’s no real sex education in schools and contraceptives are relatively difficult to get and expensive. And I could just keep them coming… So trust me, it’s pretty bad back home, but I’m starting to think that even our right-wing politicians have more common sense than the future president of the US will, if he happens to be Republican (and now that’s real nightmare material!). And here’s why I think so – if the winner of the Republican primaries wins the National election he will most likely:   

• Seriously support the notion that a fetus is an actual person.
• Believe contraception is “the overlooked” problem the new American president should really crack on with (and just so that we’re clear – these guys think using contraception is an issue, not lack of access to it).
• Think pregnancies which are the result of rape are actually a “gift from God”
• Sign into law all anti-abortion bills that Congress has been drafting like there’s no tomorrow, with a huge self-righteous grin on his face when they land on the presidential desk.
• And let’s not forget that all presidential candidates are currently trying to outdo themselves in a cute little game called “Who hates porn the most”? Who needs a president capable of leading a nation through economically turbulent times, when it’s really enough to know that he opposes adults watching other consenting adults having sex for money? One should really get one’s priorities straight…

Can someone please knock some sense into these people?! It’s not like the average American is actually as interested in these issues as could have been assumed by the fact that all candidates simply can’t shut up about the murder of unborn babies. As a matter of fact – most don’t even agree with them. It IS the economy, stupid!

I just really think America is in a bit of a weird spot if Polish politics is looking sane with regards to reproductive rights…