Susan G. Komen is my enemy No. 1. The reason? It’s a two-parter, so bear with me: 1) The politicizing of abortion has nothing to do with breast cancer research and finding a cure. 2) The sexualization of breasts and women in general is exploited by this non-profit organization.
So why hate them so much that they are enemy No. 1? Well, my mother passed away after a one-year, 10-month battle with breast cancer. Here is the link to her obituary, which I wrote. She completely supported the mission of organizations like Planned Parenthood and the idea that each woman should be able to make their own choice when it came to abortions.
As for the sexualization of breasts being exploited by Susan G. Komen, that is something that appalled my mother. She never really liked the organization. She told me cancer did not define her life; and I know from my experiences with her that she was absolutely right. The non-profit that will no longer be named (see Harry Potter‘s lack of mentioning Voldemort) decided to profit from the sexualization of breasts in particular. This is eerie when discussing a disease that affects so many women. Do creeps get off on giving money to Susan G. Komen of Southern Arizona in hopes of protecting boobs?!
The reason for this post stems from a drive today along Park Road south of 22nd Street. There was a large billboard that read “Nothing beats a pair, don’t fold to cancer.”
I was disappointed to see this sign. When the public outcry over Susan G. Komen’s decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood reached a fever-pitch I honestly rejoiced and said, “Good, they deserve what they got.”
Honestly I am a big believer in karma, fate and “reaping what you sow.”
Now in the essence of “balanced” journalism I am including a link to an an editorial that was written by Jaimie Leopold. This article was posted to the Arizona Daily Star‘s website on March 07, 2012.
Further reading on this topic:
‘Women ponder how they became a campaign issue’
http://tinyurl.com/7qvy696
‘Komen Race for the Cure’
http://tinyurl.com/86ratdp
‘7,217 join Reid Park walk for money to fight cancer’
http://tinyurl.com/6rcren9
‘Komen race donation drop in S. Ariz. is called ‘crisis’
Planned Parenthood controversy is cited as part of the reason’ (Read the story at:
http://tinyurl.com/6tgc2e3
Let’s keep breast- and cervical-cancer patients from taking the wrong door
http://tinyurl.com/c8xuke2
This article appears in May 17-23, 2012.
wow you got issues…..
Hey,I’d miss my ma also…..can’t blame him…..he is right that its a load of political crap..
Komen is a private charitable organization and they can do whatever they want with their money. Isn’t it enough that liberal organizations bullied and cowed them on your behalf? No, I guess I not! You liberals want to annihilate anything you don’t like! Women’s breasts are a natural part of our sexuality, so get over yourself!
I find it interesting that when different view points are made that is considered a problem and the individual must be mentally unstable (Zombie). I wholeheartedly support and agree with Mathew on this. I too am dealing with Breast Cancer (for the third time) and notice that this sexualization with breasts is rampant. Ask what is does to the woman who had to have hers removed to save her life only to live in fear that the Cancer will return. Ask her how it feels to walk out in public newly disfigured.
All of this “Save the Boobie” “save the TaTa’s” How does that feel to a woman that no longer has them? Don’t tell someone they have issues until you have walked in their shoes or the shoes of the woman they loved!
Please accept my deepest sympathy on the loss of your mom. She sounds like an awesome lady.
@fariba, no one is saying that women’s breasts are not a part of our sexuality, HOWEVER, comments like the one on the billboard make it EVEN MORE DIFFICULT for women to feel beautiful when fighting breast cancer. My boss fought breast cancer for 6 years, from radiation to chemo to masectomy to reconstructive surgery. She had NO use for Komen, no use for cutesy pie slogans. The ONLY reason she even had the reconstructive surgery for her husband, who left her anyway.
Liberal organizations actually had very little to do with Komen’s situation. Regular people like me, my sisters, my friends were the ones who got on FB & other sites to spread the word that Nancy Brinker & her cronies were not that interested in a cure. Just as an FYI, in the 30 years since Komen was founded, despite millions of dollars raised, they are no closer to a cure & treatment options are just about the same. What have they truly accomplished?
The writer’s opinions seem based on his mother’s opinions and those of others who developed issues with the Komen Foundation after they decided to withdraw funding from Planned Parenthood. There is no evidence that he researched the topic thoroughly and objectively.
The Komen Foundation was the most public organization to make people aware that breast cancer is not just a women’s disease but that men are vulnerable, too. At the last Race for the Cure I attended a male breast cancer survivor spoke, thanking the organization for their awareness campaign which he felt saved his life. Men have two, also, and while their treatment/ surgery aren’t as obvious, the fact that they are aware of it now has saved many men’s lives.
Komen also stresses early detection which may have saved Susan Komen’s life if she’d known, but the educational facet of PP chooses not to spend their funds in educationing the public about this menace.
I’ve found it very enlightening, when talking to a number of educated people, that despite all of the good the Susan G. Komen Foundation has done to educate the public and fund research, the fact that they would decide to quit donating to PP is the single issue that matters to them.
It’s very interesting that the ads at the bottom of the ‘Add a comment, (comments policy)’ were for a strip joint and a place with ‘Hot babes’. Now THAT’S objectifying women’s breasts and this writer chooses to allign himself with a news organization that does the very thing he accuses of Komen.
I hope next time the writer addreses an issue he’ll have the strength and open-mindedness to research objectively both sides of the story. It’s obvious that PP and their abortion services are the sword he’ll fall on. If everyone who so ardently supports PP with comments would donationin allign with their beliefs, PP wouldn’t need government funding and donations from organizations that aren’t in total blind agreement with them.
I think we should be mad at Planned Parenthood, who has a much larger budget for their failure to educate people about STDs, SDIs, and safe sex being condom plus contraceptive.
So you would rather see other women die of breast cancer and not have this company here at all helping in the fight against it. Hmm. Breast ARE sexual. Any kind of appeal that brings in funds to help the fight is a good thing. If that’s the only way to get men to help, then do it. Sure, not everything they do is going to fit into everyone’s way of thinking but I think overall they have helped many more than they’ve hurt wouldn’t you agree? You really need to just shut it and find something else to do.
How many people are unaware of breast cancer? Only those who have been living under a rock. The simple truth is that Komen decided to cut PP for one reason only, the right wing policies of Nancy Brinker & Susan Handel. What is truly sad is that many of the local Komen affiliates did NOT support the national board’s decision, but they are the ones who are dealing with the fallout of that decision.
What disturbed most people was the fact that so little money goes to actual research. Less than 20% of the millions of dollars raised goes to true research. No wonder Komen is no closer to a cure.
I saw that billboard – thought it was clever. I stopped supporting Komen MANY years ago… don’t recall anymore exactly why, but it was most likely something in their fund raising offended me. I DO staunchly support Planned Parenthood.
I do agree that Planned Parenthood serves a purpose in our community, however, Komen’s decision to withhold all funds because they also did “abortions” was just plain short sighted and most certainly politically oriented.
Komen cut off their nose to spite their face , in essence.
I like boobs
But I am an ass man
Well to be honest, I saw the sign too but didn’t think ‘oh my god! It’s referencing women’s breasts!’. It says “nothing beats a pair”. Men have a breast area too, but since they don’t they don’t get to bear children, the need for their ‘breasts’ don’t have to grow as opposed to a woman’s pair.
So when I saw the sign, I did not think of a woman’s fun bags. I simply thought it was bringing the issue of breast cancer to sight again.
You do know men can get breast cancer too right?
seriously matty, I have lost multiple family members to this disease, and I feel for you, but you need to lighten up bro
The writer clearly does not know much about the organization, either at the national or local level. And further he demonstrates his ignorance about PP too! Best to do your homework Matthew.
Komen saved my mother’s life when she couldnt afford treatment. As far as I am concerned I hope these haters do something with their lives that is as meaningful as the work Komen is doing every single day around the country. God bless them.
Is this a JOKE? PLEASE. Susan G. Komen has done so much to help so many poor and at risk men and women. I’m one example of millions who are VERY grateful for the impact they have made in our community, in our country and in the WORLD. Who else is doing as much as Komen for breast cancer??? We live in a great country where every citizen can have opinions. The other side of that is I don’t have to agree…with one persons STUPID illogical OPINON.
There are so many wonderful organizations that educate, support research, create awareness and so much more. You just need to look outside the Komen box. Susan Love/Army of Women matches women to clinical research. Susan Love is a breast surgeon who wrote what should be every woman’s bible “The Breast Book”. BreastCancer.org, Breast Cancer Action, Gilda’s Club, American Cancer Society, just to name a few. Also remember that there are many other cancer’s that do not have the support and recognition to the same degree as Breast Cancer. We are losing many women, men and children to so many different cancers that to focus on one is unfair. But again…..I still believe that you need to research any organization that you wish to give money or time.