So Just Say No!
A short article on the Toronto Star Web site today states that U.S. Supreme Court Nominee John Roberts won't talk about the possibility of overturning the historical Roe vs. Wade decision by the Supreme Court in 1973, though has stated in the past the decision to legalize abortion was wrong. You can read the piece here.
Abortion for me is an issue along the lines of gay marriage or even being allowed to use birth control. Many religious groups have "issue" with these issues, and personally my feeling is that if you're morally opposed, don't do it, but don't you dare tell me what I can or cannot do with or to my own body.
This is not to say that I'm pro-abortion, merely pro-choice. I've never been pregnant and therefore have no idea what I would or would not do if I found myself with child. What I do know is I'd want the freedom to choose what to do about it without a bunch of religious right-wingers deciding for me. Many anti-choice advocates who cloak themselves with the self-righteous "pro-life" banner tend to wrongly believe that because I am pro-choice I would have an abortion. I've had numerous debates over the years with people on this one. I may never have one, but that doesn't mean I would deny a 15-year-old rape victim the right to terminate her pregnancy, or the university student who misses a pill or even the mother of three kids who accidentally finds that her regular birth control method failed. Who am I to say what another woman can do with her body?
With so many cases of unplanned and unwanted kids out there who wind up the victims of child abuse (one of my fave arguments has always been "you'll grow to love your child." Uh-huh.) why shouldn't abortion be an option? Ideally if all forms of preventative birth control were 100% fail-proof this wouldn't be an issue, but the reality is shit happens and so do unwanted pregnancies. I don't believe that a foetus is an individual at conception. That said I don't think abortions should be allowed at any point during a pregnancy. Once the foetus medically reaches the stage where it could be considered a person, then that's where the line should be drawn.
But that's just my two cents ...
Abortion for me is an issue along the lines of gay marriage or even being allowed to use birth control. Many religious groups have "issue" with these issues, and personally my feeling is that if you're morally opposed, don't do it, but don't you dare tell me what I can or cannot do with or to my own body.
This is not to say that I'm pro-abortion, merely pro-choice. I've never been pregnant and therefore have no idea what I would or would not do if I found myself with child. What I do know is I'd want the freedom to choose what to do about it without a bunch of religious right-wingers deciding for me. Many anti-choice advocates who cloak themselves with the self-righteous "pro-life" banner tend to wrongly believe that because I am pro-choice I would have an abortion. I've had numerous debates over the years with people on this one. I may never have one, but that doesn't mean I would deny a 15-year-old rape victim the right to terminate her pregnancy, or the university student who misses a pill or even the mother of three kids who accidentally finds that her regular birth control method failed. Who am I to say what another woman can do with her body?
With so many cases of unplanned and unwanted kids out there who wind up the victims of child abuse (one of my fave arguments has always been "you'll grow to love your child." Uh-huh.) why shouldn't abortion be an option? Ideally if all forms of preventative birth control were 100% fail-proof this wouldn't be an issue, but the reality is shit happens and so do unwanted pregnancies. I don't believe that a foetus is an individual at conception. That said I don't think abortions should be allowed at any point during a pregnancy. Once the foetus medically reaches the stage where it could be considered a person, then that's where the line should be drawn.
But that's just my two cents ...
posted by Sister Staceypatrick at
3:30 PM
11 Comments:
Here, here. I can think of few things more presumptuous than believing you have the right to tell someone else what to do with her body and her future. The thought of someone critisizing another under the umbrella of morals makes me crazy. Now I admit this is probably due to the fact that the Religious Right scares the crap outa me, and that I live in an urban environment where I am lucky enough to have options should I need them. It is mighty scary to think those options might someday disappear. And another thing: there are millions of unwanted children in the world suffering and in need of homes. Maybe those people interested in saving children's lives should try to help THEM before they spend time "saving" the unborn.
By
Susan as herself, at 4:20 PM
I'm glad to hear you make the distinctive argument between pro-choice and pro-abortion. They are 2 different things. great post sistah!
By
epicurist, at 4:24 PM
My thoughts exactly!
It's funny how most cannot tell the difference between pro-CHOICE and pro-ABORTION.
I'd find it heartbreaking if my partner had one, but I know many women that have and I fully respect their decision and right.
By
St. Dickeybird, at 8:43 AM
I have never been opposed to abortion I for one know the value of never forcing my opinions on a woman. But the arguements pro and con are never quite convincing.
As for being told what to do with ones body, in the case of an abortion, you're not really doing it to your own body you're getting someone to do it for you. In there lies the problem
The other problem is if a woman decides to keep a baby she has a legal right to force the father for support but if she decides to have an abortion the father has no or little say.
so it can get very complicated.
Either way my heart goes out to those poor women that have to go through one.
By
Mr_Mystic, at 11:33 AM
A very timely post. There are attacks on access to birth control as well starting in the US which shows the Religious Right's true agenda.
By
Snooze, at 2:04 PM
Susan - It would be a step backwards, wouldn't it, when one religious group gets to decide the law for everyone else in the country.
Epi - Thanks. I think it's an important distinction to make.
Dickey - I'm actually not sure what The Good Father would think. I guess that's something we'd have to discuss. If he was violently opposed to the idea I don't know that I could have one, and since it at the moment would be the child of someone I love, it would not be an easy decission to make. Hopefully I'll never have to!
Mr. Mystic - Very valid points! I would say that any doctor should have the right to refuse to perform an abortion if it went against their beliefs, and true about the father issue. I don't think a man should be able to force a woman to stay pregnant, but I don't think they should have no say since they're half the reason it happened!
Snooze - That's what got me thinking about it. It scares me to think that it could become illegal again in the U.S. What would happen in Canada? Would birth control become illegal? How about getting your tubes tied?!
By
Sister Staceypatrick, at 2:24 PM
I agree with you. Rather than spend the effort to help the kids that are here, are born, they'd rather beat this abortion horse to death.
I got into a big discussion with a christian guy at work who opposes abortion. I asked him rather than spend your time and money and effort opposing a woman's right to make decisions about own body, he'd be better off being a Big Brother to one of the many less fortunate kids that are already on this planet.
And to think that the Supreme Court gets to decide AGAIN about this issue, wtf. They already decided once, and it should be a non-issue now. They all make me sick sick sick.
As a side note : Funny thing with this hurricane, Bush is having to do the thing he hates the most HELPING POOR PEOPLE. HA.
By
CoffeeDog, at 10:33 PM
yup. you said it.
By
mainja, at 12:11 AM
CoffeeDog - What a marvelous suggestion! I'm guessing though he didn't bite?
Sigh - poor Bush. How does he sleep at night? ;)
Mainja - Thanks!
By
Sister Staceypatrick, at 2:02 PM
The issue becomes even more gray if you speak to a man whose girlfriend had an abortion and told him about it after the fact. That's completely unfair in my opinion. This decision devastated him and their relationship. He never quite got over it.
Ironically, her name was Katrina.
By
lisa, at 4:34 PM
Lisa - I agree, that wasn't fair. He had a part in creating the situation and therefore he had a part in the final outcome. While I don't think a man should be able to force a woman to carry a child to term if she doesn't want to, he should at least be a part of the process and be allowed to have his say beforehand. If she did have it and told him after, that says a lot about what she thought about this guy and what she really must have thought about the relationship!
By
Sister Staceypatrick, at 5:59 PM
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