To the editor:
Martin Jones’ local commentary regarding birth control (“Birth control mandate shows arrogance,” March 23) shows his strong religious views and his difficulty in accepting that our country has many religions which do not agree about birth control.
He criticizes President Obama’s health insurance to allow contraceptives. Obama as president has the responsibility to represent all of the people. The United States recognizes men and women as equals, but the Catholic Church and fundamentalist churches do not. Men continue to make the rules that leave women subordinate to men.
The war on women isn’t so much about insurance coverage. It is about women being able to use contraceptives.
As evidenced by state legislatures dominated by Tea Party Republicans, Planned Parenthood funds are being denied as an anti-abortion crusade, disguising their wide- ranging attack on women’s rights to control their reproductive lives.
If health insurance covers Viagra in order for men to enjoy sex, why shouldn’t health insurance cover women’s contraceptives for women to enjoy sex?
Gene Proctor,
West Bath
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