Letters: Hands off my uterus, Iowa Republicans

Hands off my uterus

How is it that elected officials have the sheer audacity to weigh in on what’s going on in my uterus?

Gov. Kim Reynolds claims she is the advocate for the “unborn child.” This is an absolutely and utterly absurd flag to fly. The best advocate is the female who is carrying a child in utero. Both women have agency, but only the woman carrying in utero has agency over all that is in her body.

How is it that elected officials have the sheer audacity to weigh in on what’s going on in my uterus? That’s my business as your uterus is your business. If you don’t have a uterus, then what business do you have trying to control mine?

Why are Christian values being forced on all the people? It is not only wrong, it should be weeded out whenever its head appears. I keep my religious beliefs to myself. As legislators, you should too. Religion has no place in government.

Please do not support any legislation that controls whatever happens in my individual uterus. That’s my business, as your uterus is your business. If you don’t have a uterus, then what business do you have trying to control mine?

— Janice Hawkins, Pleasant Hill

More: 'Do you have somewhere you need to be?' Opponents balk as GOP pushes ahead on abortion ban

Don’t call it a heartbeat

Fetal electrical impulse bill — not as catchy as “fetal heartbeat,” but more accurate. Heartbeat is meant to be warm and fuzzy, make a cluster of cells seem like a person. Except the fetus, at six weeks, hasn’t had time to develop a heart. Ironic that a bunch of cells without a heart can have a heartbeat, but a bunch of living, breathing legislators with hearts can heartlessly restrict a woman’s right to choose.

— Lance Rygh, Thompson

Prevent pregnancies, address overpopulation

Republicans and Democrats should work together to make birth control freely available to males and females, so the issue of abortion is no longer an issue. Preventing unwanted pregnancies is a must to help all societies reduce the overpopulation problem that is contributing to many social and environmental woes.

Fewer people, fewer problems.

My mother frequently told me she wished she never had children. Growing up beaten and unwanted has haunted me for over 68 years.

Some people argue, let unwanted babies be adopted by infertile couples.

My mom was adopted. Adoption, unwanted babies and abortion are not as desirable as the prevention of unwanted pregnancies.

Please stop all the fighting and think globally of how to solve unwanted pregnancies and overpopulation. All the hate from the battle of the political parties is affecting our mental health. Please. Just. Stop.

— Lillian Penne, Independence

Lack of guidance on books reflects poorly on lawmakers

The July 9 Register featured a story highlighting the difficult position school administrators, teachers, and school librarians are currently experiencing. Recent legislation has made certain books featuring sexual language illicit. The problem now facing schools is lack of guidance in how to proceed with this new legislation. No communication has been shared with schools on steps they need to take to comply with new law.

It appears state legislators accomplished their goal. They got their headlines to pass laws a minority of Iowans and out-of-state interests hollered about, but when it’s time to actually put the work in on their laws, it’s radio silence.

Was this really about the “innocence of our children,” or was it about the headline grab?

— Andrea Reser, Urbandale

More: Iowa schools are pleading for state guidance on ban on books with sex. Will it come too late?

Private school statistics vindicate critics

How surprising! Over half of the applications for state aid to private schools are from people who had already made their choice and sent their children to private schools. The other families who have applied may or may not get in. It is the school’s choice, not the parents’. So the private schools get to cherry-pick the “easy” or “good” students, and the rest will return to the public schools.

To reiterate what has been said from the beginning: This is not about parental choice. It is about feeding public money into the private (and often religious) sector. It also continues the Republican Party’s agenda of making it more difficult for the public schools and their teachers to succeed at their task. Iowa has fallen far from our once-proud position of first in the nation in public education. I question the motives of the state government that has supported the means that have brought us to this locus.

— Barbara Persoon, Pleasantville

More: More than 29,000 Iowa students have applied for an education savings account, Kim Reynolds says

My joy for July 11 evaporates

Every July 11 since 1964, I have recognized that date as the anniversary of mine and my mother and sister's arrival in the United States as immigrants from West Germany. My father preceded us a couple of months earlier.

This date, July 11 meant that we began a new life with freedom and liberties that the rest of the world was envious of. We were welcomed with open arms by the men and women who just two decades previously had defeated the Nazi regime.

Neither the people of Iowa nor their elected officials demanded that we were treated differently, nor did they restrict women’s rights as is what our current governor is trying to accomplish.

This July 11, the 59th anniversary of coming to this country will not be a celebratory one, but rather a sad day for women’s rights in the state of Iowa.

— Hans K Trousil, West Burlington

Looking forward to new RAGBRAI memories, 50 years on

There have been lots of changes in 50 years. That first Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa had about 400 riders who rolled into our city on a beautiful midweek morning. They gathered in and around the city square. There were no food stands to welcome the riders, but the tavern was open.

In 1973 I was a 25-year-old in our family business, the Polk City Savings Bank, which was on the square. We hooked up the hose and turned the water on for the thirsty bikers. I remember running over to the grocery on the other side of the square and buying them out of cookies, which we distributed to the bikers. John Karras and Donald Kaul were there, and I enjoyed chatting with them.

Over the years RAGBRAI has come through Polk City several times. There have been many more riders, food stands and even the year the ever-popular Broken Arrow served many a biker. There have been a lot of changes to RAGBRAI and to Polk City, but the city square will be there to host the thousands of bikers. Have fun!

— Bob Miller, Johnston

Iowa-produced bioethanol is key to improving air quality

Improving our air quality, decarbonizing transportation, and protecting human health are core missions of Iowa’s bioethanol industry. That’s why it was disappointing to read Nate Holdren’s July 9 essay in the Register incorrectly suggesting that “Iowa-produced ethanol is a part of the problem.” Sound science tells a different story. In fact, biofuels, like plant-based bioethanol, can immediately lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce harmful air toxins.

The latest studies by the University of California-Riverside confirmed yet again that bioethanol blends reduce toxic emissions, including lowering ozone forming potential and significant reductions of harmful particulates that contribute to smog. At the same time, bioethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 46% compared with gasoline. As a result, transitioning to higher biofuel blends like E15, a 15% bioethanol blend, would reduce CO2 emissions by 17.62 million tons, equivalent to removing 3.85 million cars from the road.

Fortunately, the Biden administration, Gov. Kim Reynolds, and Iowa’s congressional delegation recognize the importance of biofuels for cleaner air. If we want to make even greater progress on air quality, we need to make sure E15 is permanently available year-round.

— Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy

Require licenses for bicycles

With all the money that the state and cities are spending on the bike trails and paths, the city bike lanes and everything else that cater to bicyclists, isn’t it about time that the bicyclists start spending a little money to help? Let’s make them get licenses for their bicycles. I think it only fair since you have to license all other recreational equipment.

— David Clemens, Pleasant Hill

Protect the Des Moines River

"Everyone crossing the bridge over the Des Moines River is struck with the clearness and pureness of the water below. The smallest pebble on the bottom of the stream can be seen from the bridge with perfect distinctness. It is like looking through plate glass." That’s from the Iowa State Register on Nov. 8, 1873.

When I came to Des Moines in 1972 I met a guy in front of the YMCA carrying a stringer of walleye pike. I asked him where he got them. “Right out of the Des Moines River,” he said. I was impressed. One can still catch walleyes in the Des Moines River. That is good. Saylorville reservoir catches a lot of soil and chemicals from farm fields up river. The Des Moines River should be pretty healthy. The storm water work in Des Moines will improve the river. Farmers could do better up in the watershed especially by not over-applying and misapplying their hog manure. Why waste phosphorus?

— Mike Delaney, Windsor Heights

Young Iowans can’t wait to get away

I was disappointed to hear our legislative leaders voted to approve a six-week ban on abortion. Several of our presidential candidates agree on abortion up to 15 to 20 weeks, as do the majority of Iowans and Americans. On a personal note, when I hear or read of Iowa’s “brain drain,” I think of two of my nieces who have moved out of state largely in part to our political environment.

One received a graduate degree from the University of Iowa, and the other had a full presidential scholarship at the University of Iowa. I believe both have the potential to accomplish great things – in another state.

— K. Aaron Berryhill, North Liberty

Rape ‘exception’ won’t help victims

The abortion bill that was passed at the Capitol late Tuesday will perpetuate the traumatic experience so many survivors of sexual assault face. The bill states there is an exception for rape, but only if the incident is reported within 45 days to law enforcement or a medical facility. As someone who has been a sexual assault advocate for five years, the majority of survivors I helped obtain a safe and legal abortion did not know they were assaulted until they found out they were pregnant. Can you imagine the nightmare these survivors will never be able to wake up from? Pro-life individuals may ask how someone could not know they were sexually assaulted, and that is because so many people experience sexual violence by being drugged. These drugs are made and purposefully used so there is no recollection and no evidence of the drug ever being in someone’s system.

By the time someone in this situation realizes they are pregnant, it will be too late for this “exception” to apply to them. Symptoms of feeling off or sick will likely be contributed to having the flu or some other common malady, when in reality they are symptoms of a pregnancy the person would have never thought was possible. This likelihood would have never crossed their mind. Even if a pregnancy is confirmed within 45 days, what kind of evidence does a survivor have to bring to law enforcement or health care professionals? I have seen firsthand how our justice system fails so many survivors of sexual violence, and this will be no exception.

— Abby Michael, Robins

In Iowa, no consideration for babies after birth

Gov. Kim Reynolds and her Republican colleagues have zero compassion, no integrity and are a selfish bunch masquerading as caring human beings.

On Tuesday, while they rushed to condemn women and be the judge and jury when it comes to their own bodies, they pretended to care about children. It was all show and no substance.

They are simply pro-birthers. Once the child is born, you are on your own. Look no further than the theft from public schools, the privatization of Medicaid, food insecurity and lack of resources for housing.

Iowans must wake up and get involved if we truly care about the direction of the state.

Reynolds is simply doing the bidding of ALEC, the Koch brothers and other conservative groups. If she truly cared about all Iowans, she would begin listening to all and engage with everyone, showing she understands that she is a public servant.

— Deb McMahon, Des Moines

Iowa does not value women’s lives

All females of child-bearing age in Iowa should now gather information to understand how abortion bans could threaten their lives. Necessary maternity care for pregnant females who develop complications is going to deteriorate.

Women now have to decide if they want to risk their life by getting pregnant. This is of course a tragedy for those who have an unwanted pregnancy that is forced to continue because of abortion bans. Assuming that treatment can be allowed to save a mother’s life does not work. With pregnancy complications, many women will experience trauma, torture, and inhumane treatment until something is done.

Will doctors have to wait until a female is dying or about ready to die before they can provide any treatment? Three of the major people involved in destroying Roe v. Wade in this country are men who have been accused of sexual assault or harassment. Two of them are, unbelievably, on the Supreme Court. Donald Trump has been accused of rape by many females and he has admitted that he physically attacks them. Tragically, so many times the criminal that commits rape and incest goes unpunished.

There are still some states that value females’ lives such as Minnesota and Illinois. Iowa is no longer one of them.

— Norma Lindeen, Swedesburg

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Letters: Hands off my uterus, Iowa Republicans weighing abortion ban