My eyes were glued to the screen as author Margaret Atwood was interviewed about “Handmaid’s Tale” and her upcoming sequel “The Testament”. It wasn’t as if I didn’t know about the first book and the succeeding television series. I didn’t read the book and  I don’t get Hulu so I did not see the series.  Hearing Atwood talk about both made me understand the significance of them in light of what is happening in the U.S. today.  Part of me wants to think this fictitious tale could never come to pass (life imitating art), while part of me feels ill at the idea it just might be possible.

Think about it!  Trump has re-instituted the gag rule and has further restricted Title X Family Planning Funding.  Planned Parenthood has been forced to decline Title X funding because of the restrictions and is closing some of its’ clinics.  More and more states are passing legislation that drastically restricts abortions, if not virtually banning them altogether.  Everyday more and more women are losing access to abortion, family planning and even life-saving services like pap smears and mammograms.

It is a nightmare playing out before our very eyes.  It will only get worse unless we do something about it.  The next fourteen months may well be a true do or die situation.  We must focus every bit of time, energy and money we can spare into state legislative races, Congressional races and the presidential race. It won’t be easy but we need to make the sacrifice for ourselves, our families, our nation.  Whatever differences seem to divide us at the moment…PUT THEM ASIDE.  Stand shoulder to shoulder with your brothers and sisters and work for the common good! As Helen Ready said in her hit song I am Women: “Hear me roar in numbers too big to ignore”.