By Semperpapa
Roe v. Wade is the law of the land and I am not about to pass judgment on the legal aspect of the issue of abortion. I believe that the issue is more one of morality than anything.
One aspect of abortion that is of shocking value to me is that of pure numbers.
According to a fact sheet recently published by Planned Parenthood, in 2009 the organization performed a total of 332,278 abortions. Quick math gives a startling context: one abortion every minute and a half.
At this rate, in the time it will take me to finish this piece and publish it on my blog, approximately 12 lives will have been terminated.
I am sure that being a man I will be told that I have no right to even have an opinion on the subject, moreover that being a conservative, my hidden desire is for women to die and whatever else, but I do not understand how such a statistical number game can be seen as a proof of “women’s freedom”.
For some people, these are just numbers, mentioned only in reference to a specific political agenda. To me, with the exception of a small percentage necessary for medical and other moral issues, they only translate into an offensive violation of the importance of human life.
No politics here, just great sadness.
Just my thoughts!
Posts
Roe v. Wade is NOT (and never was) about abortion - abortion was just the battleground topic.
ReplyDeleteIt was and is about medical *privacy* and our rights to it. Perhaps you are unaware that until the mid-1800s, abortion was NOT illegal. Abortions have existed as long as pregnancy has existed, and prior to the mid-1800s, midwives dealt with abortifacients discretely. It was never about a "man's opinion" but a woman's autonomy. I have stacks and stacks of books on the historical aspects of this topic.
The subject of medical privacy is not a matter of "conservative" versus "liberal" because prior to 1973? The biggest coalition of compassionate people helping women were nuns, ministers, and physicians - at great risk to themselves - to help women seek necessary medical attention in times of crisis, at risk of going to jail for that attention.
If we REALLY want to see abortion numbers DROP, then we need to get back to common sense sex education and drain funding to the glorified propaganda that is AOUM and abstinence-based education...which is *proven statistically* to be utterly ineffective (at best) and potentially disastrous at worst.
Planned Parenthood and other clinics of its kind - only THREE PERCENT of their entire service goes toward abortion, and thanks to the Hyde Amendment, abortions are NOT paid for by ANY tax dollars. That has ALSO been the law of the land for more than 30 years. In other words, this "budget breaker" -- the topic of PPFA is approximately 1/10th of ONE PERCENT of the ENTIRE budget...and NINETY-SEVEN PERCENT of what PPFA does is *NOT* about abortion, but about education and prevention.
SP, I know a LOT about this topic, and I am more than happy to provide you with any bit of scholastic citation to back up what I'm asserting here. My feeling about abortion is that, for those who believe it's WRONG...very simple. Don't get one. But DO NOT tell others what they "can" or "cannot" do with THEIR bodies...do NOT dictate morality...which is what the war is ALL about. It's a morality war, pushed by religious ideologies. *nod* And it has NO place in political debate. Rather than strip funding to Title X, perhaps we should take a realistic look at the funding to Title V. Seriously. :)
I agree! Do NOT tell others what to do with their bodies, do NOT dictate morality!
ReplyDeleteSo if I want to eat a damn Big Mac or I want to put salt in my food, it should be my freedom, right?
Or if I want to smoke, why should I be penalized with extra taxation?
Or if I want to carry a concealed weapon for my own protection, why should that be any business of the government to tell me I can or I cannot if I legally qualify?
And why should I be fiscally penalized so that the government can pay for illegal aliens and criminals?
The point of my post was not political, but if we are addressing the issue of certain entities trying to impose their views, there are infinite examples in every aspect of our society.
Abortion is a legal procedure. Period.
And you are right: if you think it is wrong, don't have one.
I know personally of one 16 year old who got pregnant and, once the sperm donor took off, decided to bring the pregnancy to term and let a family adopt the child. I am glad that was the decision, as I am very happy that child is my son-in-law today.
How many of those 330K plus lives could have been someone's husband or son-in-law?
Just sad :(
SP out!
It is sad, I agree...abortion is never a happy choice - but it MUST remain a choice. You will *never* see a woman traipse merrily into an abortion clinic - doesn't happen.
ReplyDeleteHow many of those 330K lives could have been the next Hitler or Stalin (that argument works both ways - and we have to remember that not every acorn becomes a mighty oak).
This is a super hot-button topic for me, because it is an integral component of my dissertation research, and much as I strive to remain neutral (as a researcher, I have to look at all sides of this debate objectively and honestly), it is admittedly tough, because as a *woman*, I know that Planned Parenthood was there for me when I needed them...and no, not for abortion (I've never had one), but for basic services like a Pap smear and breast exam and contraception. For millions of actual women (and men, too!), Planned Parenthood is their ONLY health provider...and they're being targeted because of a *legal* service (and often medically necessary) that is less than 3% of the overall services they provide.
I'm more about stripping funding from Title V, and getting our future generations properly educated on how to *protect* themselves against contracting an STI or getting pregnant in the first place. An ounce of prevention and all that...
*sends virtual hugs* ~ this is why I hesitated in the other thread when I mentioned the book recommendations...because I know how sensitive this subject is, and I strive to be sensitive to others' feelings about it, since it's something that truly does affect ALL of us.
:)