Sonograms are not solutions.

Rachel Farris is a public relations director and political activist, who writes for the Huffington Post, has worked with the Texas Observer, and has spoken at several major Texas colleges, but a recent post in her blog, Mean Rachel, touches on a more personal level.  In response to the approval of the sonogram bill, Rachel criticizes the legislature, calling them “tone-deaf to the needs of their own state” and suggests that they should be focusing on “those who are here now.” She points out that protecting unborn fetuses shouldn’t take precedence when there are so many children out there already that helplessly suffer from poverty or neglect.  Rather than spout off statistics, Rachel instead relates a story of personal experience that is meant to engage the readers’ basic sense of human compassion, Democrats and Republicans alike.  Emotion, though not always the road to truth, is often a very strong method of getting someone to see your point of view.  Her story is also easy to relate to for anyone who has ever lived in or near a low-income neighborhood, as I currently do.  Where I live, there are several low-income housing projects, a plethora of shabby, too-small houses with children playing in the yard, and an elementary school which has had problems with drugs in the past.  Rachel believes that our government is putting all their focus into the wrong place, blind to the real issues, and I agree with her.  They put so much effort into conserving lives that have yet to be brought into the world, but don’t seem to be worried about whether or not it will or can be cared for after it is born, and many of us see proof of that every day.  They need to focus on the big picture and help ensure better lives for today's youth, so that they are less likely to end up in the position that lawmakers are so worried about in the fist place.