Morality, Motherhood, and Misinformation

with maybe some music

The title for today’s post has been rumbling around in my brain for days. In fact, I’ve been composing things in my head as I lie in bed but of course I don’t jump up to immortalize the words. Let’s see how many of them have survived.

I know that in terms of morality, I want to make it clear that I personally do not include sexual activity in the moral range. I believe the pursuit of pleasure is something so personal that whatever floats your boat as we used to say is all right with me. So long as you are a consenting adult and not harming anyone in the process of course. And if your preference is solitary gratification, I certainly don’t think you should feel guilty and have to rig your phone to send a warning from your teenaged son. For me, the moral issue of life is whether or not we carry ourselves honestly in the wider world. Authenticity is the latest buzzword, so the important thing to me is finding myself and sticking to my own moral compass when others may disagree. Of course, that’s the difficult part and the issue which has plagued mankind and womankind through the ages, right? I, personally, find any firearm abhorrent but in reading the book about Medgar and Merlie Evers, I know that while they too disliked guns there came a time when they had a number of them in the house. By the way, I am still in awe of the book that Joy-Ann Reid has given us, particularly for those of us who, like me, graduated from high school during the Freedom Rides in the early 60’s. Talk about a moral issue—how could so many otherwise good people in America have countenanced the awful segregation in the Southern States which was still practiced for decades later.

Now on to motherhood, another term which is freighted with underlying meaning. First, let’s agree that only the female of our species can give birth (at least as of March 2024) so the term applies only to women. But of course not to all women because some of us choose not to procreate, while others are physically unable to do so. I do not believe that a human woman’s worth depends upon whether or not she can physically produce another human being. And the idea that motherhood is saintly makes me shudder. For some people getting pregnant is extremely easy, and while I know that birthing a baby can be painful, many women pop them out quite easily, over and over and over again. My daughter and I both had our babies somewhat later in life and both were definitely planned. Modern medicine now makes it possible for more people to create a baby when nature needs a helping hand. I’m definitely in favor of everything associated with reproductive health, including the right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. And I believe that there are other ways to motherhood as well, by adopting children, or becoming the den mother to a group of girl guides (which I was in England or girl scouts as they are in America). So do not use anything about my bodily functions to your political advantage. We worked so hard to bring Roe v. Wade to fruition to have it brought down by a Supreme Court with a woman voting to overturn it is unfathomable to me. And sorry, Amy Coney Barrett, your adoption of little black babies does not give you a pass.

And as I work myself into a rant, which I know willl not be good for my heart or your eyes, let me end this morning with the last “M” word—MISINFORMATION. Our good friend, David Pepper, has done a fabulous whiteboard this morning even though it is Sunday when he usually takes a break and gives us a beautiful painting (he does include one at the end of the post thank goodness) so I won’t spend too much time on this subject. Suffice it to say, there is a lot of incorrect information which various people present as FACTS. Don’s forget, folks, feelings are not facts. That preposterously ineffectual response from Katie Britt’s kitchen was rife with errors and David gives us the ammunition to refute the most disgusting lie she told. By the way, Jess Piper, another great writer in our company, has a hilarious take on the voice the Senator used to present her lies.  Someone suggested an Academy Award is in order.

So I will end my Sunday Substack with the thought that when in doubt, check it out. I know that we are all terribly busy these days, but honestly, it’s a hell of a lot easier to search online than it would have been years ago to trudge to the library or even search though your set of encyclopedias that the door-to-door salesman sold to your parents.

I’ve keyed up “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye to play on my phone as I proofread this presentation. I know you can find it for yourselves so I will stick to just words as usual. But that’s my musical suggestion for this Sunday—”we’ve got to find a way to bring some loving here today”!