The Supreme Court is about to become imbalanced in a way that will most likely favor the government's increasing interference with our personal lives. I could of course be wrong, but I sincerely doubt it. It's not that I don't think Samuel Alito isn't a qualified candidate - I do. He's extremely qualified, one might even say he has been groomed for the position. But unlike Justice Roberts, Alito isn't a letter-of-the-law kind of guy: he's a dissenter and his court rulings speak volumes to me.
I am appalled, but not surprised that the Democrats aren't putting up more of a fight over this guy, but the sad truth is we are a country in transition, without direction and without a real sense of leadership. Democrats are fumbling all over themselves to find a course to take, and the core conservatives are only listening to an extreme margin of society.
What a poor time to test our laws.
This week marks the 33rd anniversary of the landmark Roe vs. Wade legal decision, a case more about privacy than abortion, but which set in motion what has been a unique time in our nation’s history, where women have had an actual say in their reproductive paths. Of course, since that time we have been a divided country on the issue of abortion. Regardless of the media hype, you don't have to be a religious fanatic to oppose abortion and you don't have to be a bleeding heart liberal to support reproductive rights. You can come from any and every walk of life and arrive at diametrically opposed views on this frought matter.
It's an issue of life for certain, but more specifically, I think it is an issue of the quality of life over quantity.
For as long as women have been able to conceive, women have sought control over their reproduction, and not just out of convenience. Before modern times, having too many children might have meant life or death to a woman or her other children. Whether the issue was a limit on the resources of food and shelter or her personal health, sometimes it just wasn't possible to have another child. That didn't mean she wasn't forced to acquiesce to the desires of man/men). Essentially, for some women, having control over this function was inherent to their survival.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Kit Jarrell
I'd have to disagree with you. Statistics put out by Planned Parenthood's own research firm states that only 1.5% of abortions stem from rape or incest. 47 million babies have been aborted since Roe, and 1.5% of 47 million is 705,000. This means that 46,295,000 babies were killed for reasons other than rape/incest.
The other reasons cited by women seeking abortions included "I'm not ready for a child," or "I can't afford a baby," or even that being pregnant interfered with their career. Whether we like to admit it or not, abortion is used primarily as a method of "after-the-fact" birth control.
I agree that women should be educated about options, but I think currently there are plenty of avenues for education and prevention of unwanted pregnancy. There are a number of birth control options, and most of them are free or extremely inexpensive.
The bottom line about abortion is that the "freedom to choose" begins before conception. A woman needs to make the correct choices before becoming pregnant, whether that choice be to use birth control consistently, or even to practice abstinence until they are in a position to raise a child.
It's a simple fact that if you have sex, you could become pregnant. We expect those who are HIV-positive to practice safe sex and to be responsible about their medical status, don't we? Why wouldn't we expect women to be responsible with their sexual practices as well?
Women do have choices. They can choose not to engage in unsafe behavior that could result in becoming pregnant. Once they have a child growing within them, they have involved another human life. At that point, the only choice should be to keep the child or give him up for adoption.
1.5% is not enough to justify 47 million deaths.
2 - Nelson
I don't mean to get off the subject, but it is still the subject about a human life (or anylife). When did you so called pro-life people start to care about life and death when their are tons of existing children in the world you can save right now? Or people out there which have not "sin" but deserve to live? Lets not just look at abortions soo critically without looking at the big picture of things here.
3 - Nelson
And of course my view is to let women and only women to decide this issue alone.(No politicians or Priests and such) They are not dumb enough to mess this up for you doubter's.
4 - Nick Kitamure
It is funny how the ultra conservations have got it into their head that that this “great” nation of ours was founded by a group of people seeking to escape religious persecution and who’s descendents later decided that this nation would be a safe haven for all religions, was founded on “Christian morals and should thus uphold them.” But how many Christian morals was our nation founded upon? Two, thou shall not murder, and thou shall not steal. Two UNIVERSAL laws. Christians are a MINORITY in this nation. Many great and wonderful cultures and religions make up the vast diversity of the American public. Why should we all be forced to amend to your doctrine? Why should we all be forced to accept your views? Only a fool would claim that that is not happening. Gay marriage has been outlawed on the bases that “marriage is a sacred bond.” But come on! Who are we kidding? In a nation who’s public spends their evenings watching fine television programs like, “who wants to marry a millionaire,” “Who wants to marry a midget,” “Trading Spouses,” “The bachelor.” In a nation where the divorce rate is sky rocketing. In this deprived nation there are actually fools who dare claim that marriage is scared?! Ha, marriage has never been sacred. Hell, for most of history all over the world marriage has been prearranged in exchange for a cow or two with no care as to the wedded couple’s wishes. The conservatives have an agenda to instill the narrow minded Christian morals in the hearts of Americas, and if they cannot do that, then they will just pass law forcing us to be like them for god forbid life be interesting, full of color and free choice. God forbid anyone enjoys themselves before their short time on this wretched planet is over. And this isn’t new, not at all. Look at the state laws that have been forgotten over the years due to the fact that they couldn’t be enforced "
Arizona, Cottonwood - It is illegal for a couple to have sex in a vehicle with flat wheels. The fine is doubled if the sex occurs in the back seat.
And:
It is illegal for unmarried persons to have sex. The penalty is three years in prison.
Arkansas - Adultery is punishable by a $20 to $100 fine.
California - Adultery is punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or one year in prison.
And:
Husbands and wives are prohibited from having oral sex.
Connecticut - "Private sexual behavior between consenting adults" is still illegal.
Florida - Oral sex is punishable by a 20-year prison term.
Indiana - It is illegal to entice someone under 21 to masturbate.
And hundreds more…
What right does the government or anyone else have to tell individuals what they can and can’t do in the privacy of their own homes! It does not hurt anyone if me and by lover, hetero or homosexual, are having anal/oral/constant consensual sex, it is our business, it is our bodies, for ****s sake stay out of it!
Mark my words. Gay marriage, abortion, just the first of our rights to be stripped away. Gorge Orwell, Ann Rand and countless others wrote about it. It is just a matter of time until the technology and will is there. Those laws went out of practice because there was no way to enforce them. But, is that true today?
5 - Kit Jarrell
I'm not using the word "sin" at all, and I agree there are many, many children that need help. However, what you're basically saying is that because there are 'already enough children who need help,' that somehow killing off some helps.
As for the "women and only women" idea: I am a woman, I am a rape victim, and I chose to keep the child born of that rape. Therefore, I think I'm in a decent position to debate the topic.
6 - Acke
im not pro-life or pro-choice yet but from what i see Kit Jarrel makes a viable argument. Women should make the choice before they have sex because EVERYONE knows if u have sex without condoms or such you will get pregnant... women want to have they cake and eat it. Also in my opinion there is the male point of view... once a woman gets pregnant the man is helpless... he has no say in the matter... if they want to have a baby at that time its up to them and if they dont they dont have to... women have a choice but men are basically forced to live after how the woman decides. A man is left with all the responsibilities but none of the benefits if u get what i mean. At the very least the man should get a say in the matter because he is after all bound to the choice she makes for the rest of his life.
Personally i hate the primitive direction America is takin. I mean there are alot of things suggesting America is becoming the next extremist religious country... what with the terry schivo case and the president getting to elect 2 supreme court judges that are problably gonna rule in the favor of the christian base that pulls his strings.
7 - Kit Jarrell
Nick,
I never said you needed to conform to my religion, and I never mentioned gay marriage, either.
I also can't speak to the antiquated laws that in this day and age are obviously outdated and borderline ridiculous.
I never said women--or men--can't enjoy themselves. I simply said that if you choose to engage in behavior that can result in conception, you should either be willing to accept that risk or take steps to prevent it. That's all.
8 - Earl
Its again a question whether the unborn child has the inherent right to live or it is up to the person who shares the body as a medium for the child’s survival to decide. I personally believe that the child has no basic right unless the child has the ability to breath in its own in this world. And I also believe a person must be the master of his/her own body. If someone wants to interfere with that, that interfering person must provide the necessary compensation " for every pain, productivity loss, treatments, etc of the person he or she is trying to control. And if that person doesnt want too, then that person just should keep quiet and mind his/her own body, ah business I mean...
9 - Acke
Oh yeah... i still belive women should be able to get abortions under certain conditions... like when they get raped and if the baby will suffer from drug addiction and birth abnormalities and such.
10 - Kit Jarrell
Earl,
If a baby has no rights until it breathes on its own, how do you justify one baby being born prematurely at 6 months, and another being aborted at 7? Viability is no longer a cut and dry thing. Medical advances have made it possible for babies to live outside the womb far earlier than ever before, and there is no reason to think those advances won't continue. At what point is the line?
11 - Earl
kit,
then if someone asserts that that baby can live in his/her own, then that person should provide the monetary compesation/treatment to get the child out of the mother and will provide the child the proper healthcare that the child needs. if not, then i still believe its still the decision of the mother. i just believe if someone wants to take away ur rights, they must be willing to shoulder the responsibility for it.
12 - Robert S.
I am amazed at the reasoning on this issue. Once RvW is overturned and sent back to the states, each state will decide what it wants to do and let the people vote on it. After the people have voted, then the issue is over. That is why the UK doesn't have all the self-flaggalation over this issue. Any issue where 5 people in robes decides for the whole country what is law, and not the elected officials, then you will have this problem. Let the people decide it.
13 - Kit Jarrell
Earl,
That's a perfect case for father's rights, wouldn't you say? If a mother wants to abort and the father is financially able and willing to care for the child, shouldn't he have the right to stop the abortion and keep the child?
14 - nixon
no not just woman's choice... its also man's !!
i think new rules should be this...
other then rape or whatever, abortion should not allow... unles they can't afford one then give a birth and give it away to the government...
abortion is same as killing ! not murder but killing...
so abortion should not allow unless rape...
otherwise if womans are not careful , tahts their problem, cause abortion isn't a joke...
and another thing is that for sure if waht i said will happen , then i bet u there will a fake rape... just to abort, women will lie that their husband or boyfriend raped them, so tahts another issue but for now , I think abortion should not allow.
i am not saying this as religion or politician.... It jsut not right...
15 - Jake Jacobsen
In Rome there was a law, Pater Familias. The upshot of this law was that the father could, in essence, kill his family if they displeased him. It wasn't invoked much, but it was the law.
I'm sure that strikes everyone as appropriately barbaric, yes? What precisely is the difference between that and abortion? Except now women have become the killers of the innocent.
I find it extraordinary in this day and age where contraception is cheap, plentiful and handed out like candy in schools among many other places that abortion is still so prevalent.
If we're all agreed that abortion is not to be taken lightly why are so many still happening? Does it not seem a contradiction in terms to talk about abortion being "safe and rare" and yet they still occur wholesale?
I look forward to your responses.
16 - Robert
Wemon do not have to justife there reasons for haveing an abortion to any person or group (free country) and any who would consider taking that right away then I would say make each and every one of you Care for 46,295,000 babies. Not the State not welfare not some Orginazation that smacks of Perversion in the name of any god and then is covered up, BUT YOU! What would the impact of 46,295,000 babies born to families who were not ready, mature, or just plain Wanted, be to our country. Oh and Life begins at the Celular Level remember that the Next time you dessinfect your counter tops. It is the the most painfull thing to do to have an abortion to make that Choise lets not make it even harder for them
lets support them by makeing sure that when they do make it that the Procedure is Safe and done with careing people. (Stem Cell reasearch will insure that Life will continue form that Chosie)
17 - Earl
Kit,
Yes, you could say that. If someone wants to stand up and shoulder the responsibility then it should be okay, provided the mother and that person comes to a mutual agreement of the terms. The mother’s permission is very important bec. some things are not so black and white. Like rape cases wherein if the mother would think her child would be a reflection of the tragedy or if the mother is scared of dying and she views that having a child would be the end of her, or whatever reason she may have no matter how ridiculous it may seem to us. I believe the mother must not be obligated to give birth but just to convince her if she doesn’t want to. After all, it is her body we’re talking about. I believe giving birth is a sacrifice and not an obligation, and let’s just say some ppl don’t want to, no matter how illogical they may seem, its their right.
On a side note, why I do believe that the unborn child really has no basic right to live… its because he/she has no choice about it. That is one of the things as humans we have no choice (aside from having no choice who are real parents). Some people may have wished that they were better off not being born at all bec. of the life they have lived… but sorry.. in that case… life is just unfair. This is just a case where one’s right overshadows another. Its quite sad but that’s reality.. and if someone wants to change that, bear the responsibility of it.
18 - Nick Kitamure
Kit Jarrell, I wasn’t speaking directly to you or anyone for that matter, but just putting my thoughts to paper (sorta?) In fact, when I wrote that you had not posted yet and I just ended up posting after you. But I agree, if people are going to have casual sex they need to realize there are consequences, however... should a "pure and innocent child" be an instrument of punishment? In my opinion, it should be up to the individuals involved and those affected as how to deal with unwanted pregnancy.
19 - Nick Kitamure
Farther more on the subject. Me and my girlfriend do indulge in the pleasures of the flesh quite often (everyday, many times, lunch breaks and every other option we get. Being separated three thousand miles for two years and then finally being reunited will do that to a couple.) However, knowing that we both had a great deal of lust for one another, and taking in account the fact that we do not want children, I got a vasectomy much before we began our sexual relationship. If only people would be responsible and reasonable this issue would be nonexistent. It is unfortunate we live in a world populated by rapists, people who engage in casual thoughtless sex, children/teenagers who foolish experiment with sex because it makes them fell cool/adult/mature or whatever BS, and so many other sad pathetic examples of why I will not shed a tear if and when the cruel reign of man comes to an end.
20 - Nelson
What is the basis for right or wrong? Bad or Good? Life or Death? If you think their is a basis then it is about time to change your believes. You can keep defending your believes but science (of all kinds) is about to change everything. You just have to realize it....I m daring all people to go out there and do some research. All I know is that life can NOT be run by rules along.
21 - paul
leave out the concepts of good and bad, right and wrong or moral and immoral. A woman can decide to abort because it's not the "right time" to have a child and walk away from her responsibility, but if a man decides it's not the "right time" and walks away the courts will put him in jail for at least not providing financial support. If you are going to have abortions being done as frequently as they are then the man should be able to just walk away also.
22 - Silver
Here is my take:
Women do have choices: Not to have sex, to be protected DURING sex and to give the baby up for adoption.
There are many MANY parents only too willing to adopt. I see NO need for abortion what so ever.
A lot of babies are born to parents who can't financially support them. Guess what, we have a system for that: ADOPTION.
If a woman doesn't want to go through the pain of giving birth, then THEY shouldnt' have sex, or protect themselves during sex. If THEY are not careful, then THEY should live with the consequences. Just like anything. Take responsbilitity for your own actions.
A lot of children are aborted just because it 'inconviences' the mother. WELL TOO BAD is what I say. If they are not willing or able to deal with the consequences, then simple, don't have sex, or protect yourself. That isn'r rocket science.
If a man can't legally walk away from his child because he doesn't want to support it, then neither should a woman. That is 100% fair.
The ONLY way I can see abortion being justified is if there is a medical reason for it and there is no other medical alternative to solve the problem.
For me, life begins at conception. If a girl doesn't want a child, they should take steps to avoid it. If a mistake happens? their fault, and they shouldn't run to medical technology to solve it. They should deal with it like a decent human being and not kill a child. Cause that is exactly what abortion is..killing and murder.
23 - Flushingcomic
First of all I am Male
Second of all, What right does anyone have over someone elses body.
My Mother Raised me and always chose what was best for me, and i Respect her decision, if it was in my best interest to never be born, i would not have been.
Abortion is Nessasary, theres are the figures i get for failure rate of contracpetives when i just google it.
* Implants and injectables
2-4%
* Oral contraceptives
9%
* Diaphragm and cervical cap
13%
* Male condom
15%
* Periodic abstinence
22%
* Withdrawal
26%
* Spermicides
28%
so the two biggest used contraceptives, the condom, and the Pill, have a average of 12% failure, Meaning 12% of all pregnacies were an acident.
When abortion rates go above 12% of all pregnacies than ill start to worry.
so, using the first posters number 700,000 people had an abortion because of Rape and Incest. That is an Aweful Lot of rapes. and you say 65 million people had an abortion on top of that. I say good. You people are sick, thinking that you should have any control over another person(and just think of it this way, less gay people because you care so much about sex you want to control every aspect of it)
Abortion Is NOT a political Issue it IS NOT a Religious Issue, It is NOT an Issue at all
How many Children are waiting to be adopted, now add the 65 million from abortions, thats got to be over 100 million children, and lets say at least 50 million were in foster care at the same time? that would be a 1/6 of the popluation of the US w/o parents do you think that is fair?
If i had to live in foster care from the day i was born to the day i turned 18, i would kill myself.
I believe the rules are currently fair, about first and second trimester abortions, and they shouldnt be changed.
What Happened to Freedom in America, We are forgetting we founded this country to get away from oppression. so Stop oppressing people
Leave the decision of abortion to parents, There should be some kind of balance between the decision of abortion though, if my Girlfriend and I got Pregnant lets say, The decision should be between us, I dont believe i am ready for a child, and neiter does she, but if one of us thought we should have it, we should have it. I will not become like my father, an Alcoholic and Spousual abuster, if she wanted to have it, i would.
What has happened to the place where i grew up.
by the way, My step mother had an abortion 3 years ago, after having 4 children with 2 men, the aborted would have been with the 5th man, currently the father of the supposed child is in Jail for Armed Robbery, She made the right decision, if you father is a felon, its just not right.
24 - Eric Olsen
very reasonable and sensible Dawn, I agree with your perspective entirely. Both extremes are neither viable (sorry) nor moral, I believe, for a society to impose on itself, which is what we are talking about with the law
25 - Dawn
Funny thing this post, compared to so many inflammatory ones on the same subject, it still provokes the same response from the right: there is never EVER, EVER a reason to have an abortion, so I am going to impose my moral imperative onto your body and life.
To those who think that women make such decisions so cavalierly and without considering, weighing or accepting the moral implications of their decision allow me to be the first to set you straight: bullshit to that argument.
Now, as for no rules on abortion - I am not for that either. I really felt that my article was to seek out a consensus that MOST, not all, but MOST could accept.
Everyone wants fewer abortions, we all want fewer children in foster care, fewer children (zero would be nice) suffering at the hands of abuse, neglect and just plain old poverty.
The key to this is PREVENTION. Oh, and to those who say that reliable contraception is just being handed out like candy, I say again: bullshit. Until drug companies and the government can make 100% effective birth control free for all who need it, abortions should and must be available - within reason.
This isn't hard and this isn't an unfair proposal.
I do know that the pro-Life people have their hearts in the right place, it's their reasoning I worry about.