I don't usually do politics in my blog, because there are enough political bloggers out there, and because my politics are my business, and no one else's. The people who know me know where I stand on the important things – and, more importantly – I know where I stand. I've always believed that being at peace with oneself is more important than defending one's view for the world.

Today, I'm getting political. If you've been following the story at all, you know that Mike Rounds, Governor of the state of South Dakota, signed into law a bill that bans all abortions in that state, except in the case where the mother's life is threatened. There are no provisions for rape, or for incest. None.

What you may NOT know is Cecilia Fire Thunder, who is President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. which reservation lies geographically in Dakota, has promised to establish a Planned Parenthood clinic on Indian land.

But she needs help.

The following is the text of a livejournal post by KathrynT, which I found while reading the livejournal of the very cool author Martha Wells. Go buy her books, but not until after you help Ms. Fire Thunder.

Ms. Fire Thunder and the Oglala Sioux Planned Parenthood
I called the Office of the President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of Pine Ridge, and spoke with Ms. Fire Thunder herself. (In case you haven't seen it, this is in reference to http://www.indianz.com/News/2006/013061.asp)

If you want to mail donations to the reservation, you may do so at:

Oglala Sioux Tribe
ATTN: President Fire Thunder
P. O. Box 2070
Pine Ridge, SD 57770

OR: and this may be preferred, due to mail volume:

ATTN: PRESIDENT FIRE THUNDER
PO BOX 990
Martin, SD 57751

Enclose a letter voicing your support and explaining the purpose of the donation. Bear in mind, the Pine Ridge Res is not exactly dripping with disposeable income, so do consider donating funds directly to the tribe as well as specifically for this effort.

ETA: Make checks out to OST Planned Parenthood Cecelia Fire Thunder. This will ensure that the funds get routed properly.

For email contact, you can contact the president at:

firethunder_president AT NOSPAM yahoo DOT com
cc:vbush AT NOSPAM oglala DOT org

That is Ms. Fire Thunder's personal email address; I have received permission to post it here. For the sake of record keeping, do cc: the listed address on all correspondence; that's her official secretary.

She was frankly kind of surprised that a white girl from Seattle was calling to express support, and even more surprised that the news had spread so far so fast. She's likely to get deluged with screaming hate mail soon, so get your support in fast. Send email with good thoughts if you can't send money.

ETA: Yes, please, dear God, link it anywhere and everywhere!

This post is NOT to be construed as an invitation to debate abortion or reproductive rights. My views are not going to change. If you're not pro-choice, nothing I say is going to alter that. If you disagree with any of this, have the graciousness to just move along to a different entry, please.