I, like thousands of others in the world, choose to go the Planned Parenthood for my preferred method of contraception. It's cheap, it's easy, it's convenient, and it's necessary; rubbing my stomach and chanting "No baby, no baby, no baby" probably wouldn't be as effective as the pill.
This morning, I made my tri-yearly visit to the neighborhood Planned Parenthood to pick up the afore mentioned pills that I've been on since I was wee lass full of spritely spunk. In all these years, never have I ever had a problem doing this.
Today was different however, and I found myself dodging people trying to force their religion on me as I made my way inside to do nothing more than pick up a prescription. Retired women with nothing but time on their hands holding signs and their ridiculous male counterparts bee-lining towards me, propaganda clutched in their God-fearing fists, images of damnation for my harlot-like ways coming to life as they spoke.
Which brings me to my real topic: the rights and freedoms of the patient vs. the rights and freedoms of the peaceful protester.
I understand that protest is part of every American's constitutional right to free speech - I do. However, what I don't understand is how shoving propaganda in my hands, ears, and face is not harrassment. They're not just standing outside and chanting; they're not marching to get the word out - they're mentally and verbally attacking.
Granted, it's a public street and a public demonstration... but I'm a citizen and have rights too, don't I? A right to not have my personal space violated. A right to not feel threatened when going to the doctor's office. Certainly I have a right to keep my private life private.
Is the law protecting these people's rights or is it simply allowing them to violate mine?
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