My Controversy

Time Magazine. "Conservatives Want...Removed From NPG" via Time.
August 21, 2015.

The controversy I chose to focus on and speak about is the controversy surrounding the Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood's founder, bust in the National Portrait Gallery. Many are protesting the representation of her in the gallery due to a combination of her racist views and her beliefs about eugenics, the controlled breeding of the human race to increase favorable characteristics.

 Planned Parenthood defends Margaret Sanger by saying that she may have flaws, but her work to give all women access to birth control outshines it. The National Portrait Gallery also said this is not the first time they have had to come to the defense of their exhibits, explaining that they once had to defend the Declaration of Independence because its author, Thomas Jefferson, bought and sold slaves.

This is a good issue to discuss because both sides of the argument can be defended. On one hand, her racist views could be combined to her belief in eugenics to say that she wanted to get rid of blacks, and many critics are insinuating that. Yet, on the other hand, Planned Parenthood is shielding themselves from critics with her achievements in terms of birth control access.

This article fascinates me because I am a firm believer of birth control and pro-choice, yet racism is something that should not be tolerated under any circumstances. There is a war within me, the woman who supports freedom of choice and the minority who has experienced hatred from others. I like the fact that I cannot make up my mind on the issue. The article is from TIME.

What are your thoughts?