so i was driving home yesterday when it came time for the usual 5.00 news break on wxpn. first i listened to some random general say that, although american troops have not yet attempted to reenter falluja, it would be "incorrect" to say that american troops are not "in control" there.

stupid, but i could handle it.

then, however, i had the misfortune of being subjected to a portion of bush's remarks on the signing of the dubiously titled "unborn victims of violence act." it was doubly unfortunate in that i was stopped at a light at the time, so that my yelling and dashboard-pounding attracted the attention of many startled jersey commuters. i imagined them glancing back and forth between my license plate and my face, mentally crossing "minnesota nice" off their list of viable cultural stereotypes.

anyway, about the bill: oh my GOD, is this ever a REALLY BAD IDEA. note that bush *began* his speech by saying, "The Unborn Victims of Violence Act provides that, under federal law, any person who causes death or injury to a child in the womb shall be charged with a separate offense, in addition to any charges relating to the mother." and while he went on to wax poetic about laci peterson, "a beautiful young woman who was joyfully awaiting the arrival of a new son," it was clear that bush (or at least his handlers) intended to send a clear message to reproductive rights advocates -- that message being, essentially, that this is yet another small step in a process designed to create fetuses as rights-bearing individuals and women as fetus-bearing nothings.

scott peterson, who [it is alleged] killed laci (and, yes, the fetus *she* *intended* to carry to term), was not primarily engaged in fetus-killing. he was an abusive spouse. he was engaged in spousal abuse. spousal abuse is nearly always gendered. he was committing violence against a woman. he was asserting his power and control, and her powerlessness and lack of status. and now bush and his minions have recast the crime as "about" the fetus, effectively placing laci in the same position she occupied as a victim in a violent marriage.

all the more reason to get your ass in a car or on a train and show up at the march for women's lives. it's in DC on the 25th. anybody in philly need a ride?