On this Day of Independence, I refer you to a letter (link immediately below)....
https://www.denverpost.com/2021/12/08/byron-white-roe-wade-supreme-court/
that summarizes my view.
Though the prevailing opinion is that Congress could not, would not reach consensus on contraceptives, abortion, homosexuality or many other subjects, still, I think we fell down a slippery slope when the idea of privacy came to include subjects such as the above. To me, these are inalienable rights.
Also, you'll note, the above decisions involve couples. The right to abortion has, historically, been allocated to woman. This seems, to me, an abuse of patriarchal power hiding behind solicitousness. By "giving" the right to women, men are absolved of their role in pregnancy. I consider this not only disingenuous, but an example of the worst misogynism. I mean, what gave THEM the right?
Additionally, doesn't it strike you as extreme the culture's willingness to embrace abortion as a means of birth control? I don't KNOW, but it seems bizarre to consider the procedure is undergone with the equanimity we've (we men?) been acculturated to believe it is. But maybe I'm wrong. Regardless, in this article about abortion in Florida, which has the highest rate of abortions, it says,
"About 75,000 of the 80,000 abortions reported by the state in 2021 came during the first trimester, meaning the vast majority of procedures will still be allowed under the new state law. Historically, Florida ranks among the states with the most abortions per capita annually, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation."
It also says most were in the first trimester. So I have to wonder, why aren't the women taking more precautions?....not to blame them, but what is it that gives them to feel, as Jane Roe apparently did when she wanted to abort her THIRD pregnancy, that abortion is an easy option?
And WHERE is, one would think people would ask, the COMPLETELY OVERLOOKED QUESTION of mens' role in this decision? WHY aren't men taking umbrage at being excluded from what is considered, at least by the pro-lifers, as something sacrosanct? WHY aren't they shouldering in and demanding equal responsibility? What misogynist so successfully skewed the idea that women "bought into" being solely responsible for deciding whether and/or when to abort? And not only that, but skewed it so successfully that an entire nation thinks of it as a RIGHT.....rather than recognizing it as something that should, wouldn't YOU think, be A FREEDOM that couldn't be controlled by a government? Why has Congress been willing to hide behind (the kilts of?) The Supreme Court?
These are issues I think were sidestepped when Roe vs Wade was first passed. Or, over the decades, have been purposely ignored. We're long past due to give more thought to this issue. I mean, WHY hasn't the Equal Rights Amendment passed? But then, are WE (men) so all-powerful that we can provide (to you little women in the kitchen) an AMENDMENT to assert womens' equality? But wouldn't the "right" to abortion be more appropriately enshrined under THAT misogynistic amendment?
And finally, I consider the pro-lifers as biased as anyone. Why haven't THEY gotten behind a movement to acknowledge mens' role in pregnancy? Hmmm?
Your lengthy post warrants a longer response. It's late and that won't occur now. Women need choices. Men's responsibility or 'rights' is complex. The current Supreme Court is pathetic.
ReplyDeleteMy mom got pregnant on the pill.
ReplyDeleteShe chose to give birth to that child and raise it... I am that child. My cousin got pregnant with an IUD in. She chose to give birth to her baby and raise it, and got married shortly thereafter - but not to the baby's father. That baby had a horrible childhood, and to this day has emotional issues. My aunt gave a baby up for adoption. That baby's life went well and she had a good childhood. Today she is a scientist. All of these things were choices made by the mother of the babies. I do not agree that abortion should ever be used as a form of birth control. I have a really good friend that had an ectopic pregnancy and she had to have an abortion or she would have died. So many different facets to all of this...
> why aren't the women taking more precautions
ReplyDeleteUnder this narrative of parallel responsibility, where is men's role in taking these precautions?
The woman is the only one guaranteed to be there when the baby arrives. If she knows she wont have the means to support the baby, should the dude that blew his load in her get to dictate that she not have an abortion then disappear third-trimester? What if she is in an abusive relationship? What if the dude lied about wearing a condom? Or took it off and didn't tell her.
Finally, what happens when the two disagree. Indeed that is the only time the idea of bringing men into the decision would be relevant.
Keep half the baby?
I'm sure men have plenty of say in situations where a couple in a healthy relationship have an accidental pregnancy. They might talk about it together and make a decision together.
But ultimately, it's the woman's body. Their choice.
The idea that somebody else would own something inside of my body - even partially - is terrifying.
Jake
(Met ya on some BLM land outside of Albuquerque)
Jake,
DeleteYour points are excellent and I agree that ultimately the decision should be the woman's. But I'm astounded by Florida's "numbers" and the implication that abortion is as popular as drunk driving.
It's true, I'm totally out of touch.