Margaret Sanger’s history is coming up for slaughter in a new documentary put together by the “right.” Even Planned Parenthood is running scared and trying to step away from their founding mother rather than taking a stand for history and the person who created their organization. You cannot erase the past and it is important to respect the reasons people had for their beliefs, as this was a different time and in fact a desperate time for women.

“Margaret Sanger founded Planned Parenthood in 1942, evolving from her earlier work in the birth control movement and the American Birth Control League, which she established in 1921. Sanger was instrumental in advocating for women’s reproductive rights and access to contraceptives throughout her life.” PBS.

The sole purpose of Ms. Sanger’s beliefs was to protect women and educate others about the atrocities of child birth at that time. She was a nurse, an activist, an educator, a pioneer for her time. She gave up her own rights, putting herself and family secondary, to bring us to where we are today in modern reproductive rights.

In her time period we did not have modern science, proper hygiene, waste and sewer, toilets, washing machines/dryers, dishwashers, baths all the things that we take for granted today (whether we are rich or poor). There was extreme poverty, poor houses: and no welfare, WIC, Medicaid, food banks, Head Start etc… as was created later. Instead there was lice, disease, rats, trash, and filth. Through this all, women were shoving out – literally – as they didn’t have proper hospitals for the poor, only midwives and elder women, a dozen or more children and sometimes either the mother or baby would die – if not both. Many men were left to care for the kids, which meant the eldest daughter had to be the mother and the sons had to work with the father. He might split the children up between relatives or worse, just abandon them to the streets. He might be an alcoholic or a gambler or a batterer. These were not easy times for the poor.

Yes, Ms. Sanger believed in Eugenics, why not? It made sense and was a very popular concept, just as slavery once was – ending 19 years prior to her birth. I imagine it made so much sense to this well-educated woman, who was tired of seeing the plight of disadvantaged families. What happened to those who were “insane” or had mental retardation? They were carted off to asylums and treated quite inhumanely. Did this make sense?

I celebrate Planned Parenthood, for their founder and for her ethics and respect for women and children. I have no concern for her values and beliefs as I know that if she were born in the year I was, she might think a little differently. And, if I had been born and educated in the year as she, I would probably think the same. History happened and I do not condemn it, I don’t necessarily agree with things, but I don’t worry so much as it is over. What is more important is how we handle today. The choices we make right now.

Historical documentaries and historical fiction, should be made to make us aware of who people were and why they thought the way they did. I object to historical monuments and names being whisked away because it is denial of the past. It is ignorance and fear that we might look fondly at that person. History and fashion are not original, they are constantly repeated. People have a right to their opinions whether you like it or not. If you want to live in a cave, go right ahead. If you want to learn and grow, read a history book and begin to look at how you would like to make change in this world.