Once again, state and federal legislators want to tell WOMEN what they can and cannot do with their own bodies! Tell me, when was the last time you heard of a state legislature that wanted to tell MEN when they HAD to get or that they could NOT get a vasectomy? Never! Why? Most of those legislators are men, living in a hazy and very unrealistic past - idealized, in fact, beyond reality for their own nefarious reasons. The reason lies in the specific beliefs of one specific segment of the religious community.
The legalized medical procedure is one step along the path that ancient wise women and medicine women practiced - coming up with potions that would abort unwanted pregnancies. Women down through time have had reasons not to carry fetuses to full term, and they have always found those who would help them. Only in our more modern time did this practice take the deadly turn it did back in the 50-70's. News stories abounded of women found dead in dumpsters, because of botched back alley abortions performed in non-sterile and often dangerous manners - such as sticking a straightened out coat hanger into a woman in order to kill the fetus and cause and miscarriage. When society revolted against this and legalized the procedure, the radical fringe modified their theology to make it not only acceptable, but even virtuous to kill providers, their staffs, their guards and some of their client-patients.
The latest of these was the murderer who walked into a Wichita, Kansas church on a Sunday morning, pulled a gun and shot Dr. George Tiller, an abortion provider already targeted unsuccessfully, though he was shot in both arms by a woman who also belongs to that radical fringe.
It is my belief, that until we in America can move to the point where freedom of speech and freedom of religion are not freedom to make your own laws, we will continue to vacillate one issues like abortion, birth control, sex education and true appreciation of the religious similarities and differences of various religious systems. When we can get to a point where we appreciate other faith stances for their uniqueness, their similarities and their contributions to societies, we will be able to offer to everyone various religious beliefs and allow them to find the system that works for them. And we will understand, as I was told in my youth, your freedom of speech or religion ends where my nose (life) begins. We already recognize this in connection to racial bias, but seem completely unwilling to hold that true in other areas of life - such ass a woman's right to control her own body and what happens to it.
Some will argue this doesn't apply to the abortion argument, because it takes two to make a baby. Well, then why do we still allow men to impregnate women against their will, then walk away from the responsibility? Why do we still punish the rape victim, even more than the "convicted" rapist is, because of the stigma attached to them? Why do men legislate what happens to women, but no one legislates what men can and cannot do to their bodies? Why do we perpetuate a myth that all those aborted fetuses would be adopted by people who want them?
I know, from past experience, that last IS NOT true! We have thousands if not millions of children who are available for adoption, and never get adopted - because they aren't cute cuddly babies without health problems. Give the beautiful baby dark skin, a mental or physical challenge such as deafness, cleft pallet, Downs Syndrome - ooh, NO, we don't want that one! Ah, you see? Not everyone one is truly desired! Myth busted!!
Think about it? No, we've done enough thinking! It's time to set this one to bed for good! A woman is as much in control of her body as a man is his - and we set ourselves against God's own love when we deny it.
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