MY BODY - I CHOOSE
The Senate Confirmation Hearings for John Roberts are underway. I've been watching it for a bit (man, polititians sure do love to hear themselves speak). Committee member, Diane Feinstein (Dem Sen from CA), set the stage for the Roe v Wade showdown in her opening remarks, even warning Roberts' family it could get ugly. And well it should. This is a law that spells disaster if it's overturned.
Bush has made it very clear that he doesn't support abortion. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. Fine. And everyone has the right to support or hold opposition to abortion based on their own personal reasons. Fine again. But that does not give anyone other than each individual woman the right to to make decisions concerning her own body and reproductive system.
A woman's right to choose, it just that. End of story.
posted by Sar at 1:45 PM
12 Comments:
She (Feinstein) better not chicken out, either!
I voted for her, and she needs to keep the fire to their feet. That's her job.
I'm not saying she should be disrespectful, but it needs to be thorough, not just a rubber stamp for the prez to get this guy in.
Thank you Sar! Your last 2 sentences were fantastic! I am thankful to live in Canada where abortion is legal and is more (not completely) morally accepted than in our neighbouring country.
Indeed... I don't think middle-aged male government functionaries should be anywhere in the abortion rights equation.
Mike V - She struck me as a woman on a mission. I watched only a bit more after her, then I turned it off. I can only listen to so much of their monotone, robotic political blah, blah, blah, before I'm bored. Now when grilling starts, then I anticipate it'll get interesting again. Coke can anyone?
Hey thanks, Laura! Canada just keeps looking better & better. It's amazing that it's considered a moral issue isn't it? It's a legal and personal act afterall.
Mad Pigeon! Good to see you again. :)
Right on. So, what's the latest and greatest endeavor you've got going on these days on Ebay? You auctioned your ethics, you auctioned yourself. What's the next item up for bid? Come on down! Sorry The Price Is Right popped into my head. It's late.
I agree with you totally.
Maybe this sounds harsh, but isn't it better to not have a child if it is unwanted, than to bring that child into the world. God knows ther are enough unwanted children in this world. Surely if you think you cannot be a fit parent (or cope with being one) it is the kindest thing to do.
TS - I both agree and respectfully disagree with you. I fundamentally agree unwanted or ill-timed pregnancies are problematic and a woman should have the right to choose how to handle it based on her personal beliefs, preferences, and circumstances. And no one else has the right to supercede her in that decision, especially, as Mad Pigeon said, "middle-aged male government functionaries".
However, in my personal opinion, I believe adoption is the greatest gift that can be offered for an unwanted or ill-timed pregnancy. Think of the sacrifice the birth mother made, carrying that child, feeling it's life grow inside her yet knowing she would not be able to /get to keep that child. That is a tremendous sacrifice and therefore gift. And think of the gift that child receives in turn. A life and with a family who wanted and was able to have that child.
I don't begrude anyone who chooses abortion. For many women it's the most appropriate answer for their individual circumstance. But that's exactly why I support a woman's "right to choose".
So the "everyone who is entitled to their own opinion" doesn't really include everyone then, right? (Only those of us who are fortunate to survive long enough to make it to our births.)
Just needed a clarification... I hope I understood it correctly.
Araider - I love it when you're that passionate and on my side!
TLM - I'm assuming you're implying the right of the fetus to its own opinion. Proove to me a fetus is capable of a higher thought process, sophisticated enough to enable it to assess and formulate an opinion in utero, and I'll buy your argument. Until then, if you want to consider a fetus a living being akin to a child, you must also recognize it would therefore be subject to the will of its mother, (as like any child subsequent to its birth!), including how, when, and even if they are born.
Indeed. I hate the thought of this right being taken away.
Men shold have no control over what a women decided to do with her body and that is all there is to it.
I don't advocate abortion just feel one should have that right.
When men have babies ripping open their penises than they can have the right to choose.
You bet, Araider.
Alice - Er, interesting visual, but you know what, I couldn't have said it better myself!
sar- Hmm.. Do you think that the God/Supreme Being/whatever (I'm not a religious guy, so don't lump me in with those wackos... :)) that gave you this right to choose would be happy with the concept of abortion? I guess I have the right to choose to do naked back flips down the street, but I'd like to think I'm capable of making good choices.
Even so, I'm not all that judgmental about people getting abortions. It's not my thing, but I've actually driven a friend (200+ miles out of the bible belt!) to get one. To be honest, it's the preachy "right to choose" angle that offends me most of all. Especially since most of the ignorant fools who claim it (including some misguided Supreme Court justices of the past) have no clue where it comes from.
So, I'll grudgingly give your woman's choice argument...
...But NOT that bullshit that araider and alice say about men not giving birth, or your argument about fetuses not being capable of higher thought!!! You have kids... I'm sure you're well aware that they spend most of their first days drooling and staring at any object that passes in front of their eyes. Babies are cute and all, but they don't have much more than instinct to go on, until all those brain connections form later. :)
TLM - Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Seems to me the same simplistic complexity applies to abortion. If "God/Supreme Being/whatever" didn't want abortion he wouldn't have allowed for the ability. Similarly, why do miscarriages, still borns, birth deformaties occur to helpless fetuses/newborns? Freewill and faith are very abstract and not something I'm able to fully comprehend or defend, honestly. (I was merely countering your counter about everyone being entitled to their own opinion previously.)
Abortion is not for me personally either. After carrying and delivering my children I just couldn't do it. Not that I necessarily could before, but my experience solidified my stance. But, like you demonstrated by generously helping your friend, I can't begrudge another the choice.
Men having babies. No way. My experience tells me that men have nowhere near the threshold and tollerance for pain that women have. But there are some that think they do and know better. I had a male nurse tell me that my contractions couldn't be as painful as I said they were because the reading on his nifty little machine said so. If I could've physically reached him, I would've introduced him to that level of pain at that moment.
As for naked back flips down the street, I'd imagine that'd be rather challenging for a lobster. :)
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