Mag asked:
"I read today  about two cases in Florida where mentally challenged women
are having abortions after being raped. Gov. Jeb bush signed these orders.
What do you think ought to be done in cases like this? He is also ordering
them to be sterilized. "

This is a really tough question, and an awful situation to have to deal
with.  I feel like the women should be the ones who decide whether they want
to continue the pregnancy, care for the child, give it up for adoption, or
have an abortion.  If they aren't competent enough to make the decision,
their guardian (is this the right term?) should make it for them.  Or is the
state actually their legal guardian?  If so, it should be one of the people
who was involved with their day to day care, who knows their abilities and
what would be best for their physical and mental health, who makes such a
huge decision, not the governor.

I find it ironic and slightly hypocritical that Bush, who opposes abortion
so strongly, would sign these orders.  If you think that abortion is wrong,
why is it okay when the mother is mentally challenged?

In my opinion, the sterilization order is absolutely reprehensible.  I agree
with Kat here... It seems like some sort of a punishment for being raped.
No one, no matter how "disabled" they are, should be sterilized unless they
choose it, after being given information that they can understand about the
consequences and other options for avoiding pregnancy.  It's a very slippery
slope.  Once we say that sterilizing those with severe mental retardation is
okay, it could lead to people with CP, then people with impaired vision...
until we end up with some kind of master race, where only those who are
absolutely "perfect" are allowed to reproduce.

Thanks to everyone who offered their congratulations about my job, by the
way!

~Joy~