This past February, CNN carried the tragic story of Vieques, a dramatically beautiful Puerto Rican island. For almost 60 years, it was used as target practice by the American Navy. It was easier to carry out such exercises in an economically challenged commonwealth, than in any of the 50 states. Certainly, no human beings were the actual targets of these military practices. Yet, there have been unintended consequences. "Poisoned Paradise" explains how multiple health difficulties are the legacy for many of the island's residents. Parts of Vieques have had to be designated a superfund cleanup site.
Puerto Rico has been exploited for other reasons. As per Annette B. Ramirez de Arellano and Conrad Seipp,
- "Puerto Rico served as a staging area for many apostles of what has come to be characterized as the `medical model' of population control. The answer was seen in the technological fix; its guidance was to be entrusted to a combination social engineer and marketing specialist" (p. 180).
- "To many birth controllers, an apirin like pill that would be unrelated to sexual intercourse and would `immunize' against pregnancy seemed to be the ideal method of birth control" (p. 105).
- Margaret "Sanger was...successful in obtaining the financing required by the scientists. In January of 1952 she had met with Katherine Dexter McCormick to discuss the prospects of contraceptive research....researchers were looking for possible ways to confirm their preliminary findings on a larger group of human subjects. In McCormick's words, it was necessary to find `a "cage" of ovulating females' who would submit themselves to clinical experimentation....Dr. [John] Rock agreed that as soon as they were confident of their results, they `should attempt in Puerto Rico certain experiments which would be difficult in this country'" (pp. 105 - 108).
Availability of "The Pill" is celebrating an ominous 50th birthday. As per Dr. Suzanne Fields, "When the Pill gave women the freedom to join men in their sexual rebellion, cultural attitudes shifted radically. Junk sex was no better than junk food, but millions of men and women greedily devoured the empty calories." The changes in sexual behavior have indeed been dramatic. In fact, a mere look at data from the Centers for Disease Control reveals that there are 56 times more new STD infections each year, than overall STD infections in the pre-Pill world. Yes, I said that correctly – 56 times more new infections each year, than there were overall infections a half century ago.
While “The Pill” is almost universally referred to as a “contraceptive,” Planned Parenthood readily acknowledges that “The hormones also thin the lining of the uterus. In theory, this could prevent pregnancy by keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.” In other words, “The Pill” can prevent implantation of the fertilized egg in a new mom’s uterus. With this possibility of early abortion, just calling it a “contraceptive” is mere balm for the conscience. It would be a discomforting truth for a multibillion dollar industry to bring out of denial.
Aside from its abortifacient potential, what have been the physical side effects to the women of Puerto Rico and elsewhere from a half century of availability of “The Pill.” Even Planned Parenthood acknowledges risks of
- heart attack,
- stroke,
- blood clots,
- high blood pressure,
- liver tumors,
- gallstones,
- jaundice, &
- death
Earning $136 million each year from “contraceptives,” Planned Parenthood is not a disinterested party. Dr. Chris Kahlenborn maintains that "oral contraceptive use, especially at a young age, markedly increase[s] a woman's risk for developing breast cancer" (p. 257).
There are medically safe and morally acceptable alternatives to contraceptives. Methods of Natural Family Planning involve fertility awareness and abstinence during fertile times (if looking to avoid pregnancy). These methods are as “effective” in avoiding pregnancy as the Pill. One big difference is that its users have a 0 to 4% divorce rate! Oh, and by the way, Planned Parenthood (and pharmacies hawking contraceptives) receive absolutely no remuneration from couples who utilize Natural Family Planning!
On the afternoon of Sunday, Jul 25th, Holy Trinity in Morrisville will host a free presentation on the Creighton Model of Fertility Care. Please contact http://us.mc840.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=NFP2009@verizon.net for additional information.
References
- Centers for Disease Control, Cases of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Reported by State Health Departments and Rates Per 100,000 Civilian Population: United States, 1941-1993 http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/STD/OSTD3202/Table_1.html>
- Centers for Disease Control, STDs Today www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/std/std.asp>
- CNN, Poisoned Paradise, part 1 www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXh5JoJo3kE>
- CNN, Poisoned Paradise, part 2 www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjubkB4PZig&NR=1
- Commercial Insight: Hormonal Contraceptives - Look Beyond Oral Contraception for a Competitive Edge, Datamonitor, October 2009
- Suzanne Fields, Yearning for a Glimpse of Shocking Stocking www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/fields121503.asp
- Chris Kahlenborn, M.D., Breast Cancer: Its Link to Abortion and the Birth Control Pill, One More Soul, 2001
- Planned Parenthood, Birth Control Pill www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/birth-control-pill-4228.htm
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Annual Report 2006-2007 www.plannedparenthood.org/files/AR_2007_vFinal.pdf
- Ramirez de Arellano, Annette & Seipp, Conrad, Colonialism, Catholicism, and Contraception, University of North Carolina Press, 1983
