I was reading The New York Times online today and noticed an article about female prisoners giving birth. There are approximately 2000 babies born each year for women who are in prison, and many of them have to go through the labour shackled. Yes! Shackled! I just couldn't believe my eyes when I read the article. Only two states, Illinois and California have laws forbidding the cruel practice. Some lady in Arkansas said that because they are convicted felons they can get violent and hurt the hospital staff it's better that they are shackled to the bed...I can't even imagine such a monsterwoman, attacking the midwives and doctors and then escaping the hospital while the baby is on it's way...
This makes me think, once again, about USA. I think I have some kind of a "love-hate"-relationship to the country, I must admit that there are probably more reasons to hate than love. I know it's boring to write about politics but I really dislike their president Bush and his views on death penalty and abortion, for example. It was in the news earlier this week that in South Dakota they made the law even more strict; only if the mother is in real danger can the abortion be done. If you get raped and pregnant it's not a reason to get an abortion! I know it's not an issue to be taken lightly, and I do respect anyone's point of view, I just strongly feel like a woman should be able to make decisions about her life and her body, and use contraceptives if she doesn't want to have children. It's not difficult, and some of them even protects from the STD's.
Oh I wish New York City was in Europe! LOL
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Well, I understand your point of view, Lilie. It's just that the shackles can actually damage the baby, the mother can't move her body, adjust herself to the pain. In the article it said that the women are already held in a closed hospital ward with armed guards, isn't that enough?
But yes, prison is not a vacation. Here in Finland the prisoners are, in many of people's opinion, doing "too well". They play their Playstations in the cell and watch tv, they are being taken to expensive spa's (two men escaped so I guess they don't do it anymore). Here in Finland they don't have to be in the prison for a long time, "life" actually means something like 14 years and if it's your first time and you behave well it's half of it, 7 years.
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