I do not like writing about politics on this blog and even though I have ranted from time to time, I have deleted those posts because the crisis had passed, or they weren’t relevant anymore. However, women’s rights is an ongoing issue and shouldn’t be political. It applies to all women no matter their political stance.
Millions of women’s hearts were shattered when SCOTUS tanked the Roe vs Wade decision. Now, young women in many states will be left without needed health care. It was decided by four right-leaning older men and one fundamentalist woman. The decision does not reflect the 61% majority opinion of people in the United States to uphold it, including many conservative women, according to Pew Research.
What went wrong?
I’ve been following Maria Shriver on Twitter because I believe she is reasonable, educated, and fair. She remarked:
This is a devastating day – in a woman’s right to choose, in history, in human rights. This day sets up back. It sets us back in every way. Make no mistake, we can’t talk about women’s health if we’re not seen, if we’re not cared for, if we’re not protected by this country.
Maria Shriver
I was 19 and in college when Roe vs Wade was decided and remember stories about women who used coat hangers or bled out on the floor of shady abortion clinics. Since the decision over 50 years ago, there have been 35% fewer abortions in the United States because of organizations like Planned Parenthood. They offer education, birth control, and gynecological services to women of every class, particularly the poor.
I directed a production of “A Doll’s House” in 1974 at my college inspired by the women’s rights movement. I was given the opportunity by my theatre arts professor to mount it on the main stage, which, as far as I knew was never done by a student before. He believed in my abilities even though I was terrified.
The play involves a married woman named Nora who finds herself trapped as a mother and housewife in a male-dominated world. It was a success and got excellent reviews in the local papers. Most of the audience members had no idea a 20-year-old female student directed it.
Okay, so you are pro-life, I get it
Having an abortion is the most difficult decision any woman can make and it is excruciating. If you are fervently pro-life don’t have one but don’t impose your views on other women who do. I’m also Jewish and we believe life begins at birth. If a woman’s life is in danger because of a pregnancy, her life must come first.
Religion should not be a factor in Supreme Court decisions but fundamental Christians do not see it that way.
Leaving it to the states is a cop-out
The Court decided that states should make healthcare decisions for women and not the Federal government. That means women in states banning abortion have ZERO rights. The day after the decision, hundreds of women who had appointments for the next day were left with nowhere to go. Wealthy people can fly their mistresses to other states, but poor women, who do not need another mouth to feed, must suffer. How stupid is that?
There will now be more unwanted and homeless babies on the street who could be abused and neglected. Is that pro-life? I don’t think so.
A girl who has been raped at 12 years old by her demented uncle will now have to endure the pregnancy even though her body is too young to handle it. Is that pro-life? Give me a break!
Amy Coney Barrett’s response was, “The babies can be adopted.” That means women must carry those fetuses who may even be dead to term which could affect their jobs, relationships, and health.
Men who feel they have the right to determine a woman’s healthcare can choose to walk away from a pregnancy any time they want. Women cannot. Is that fair?
We shouldn’t have to dramatize extreme cases of why women choose to have an abortion. If she feels it is not the right time to have a child, she should be able to have control over that without question.
This decision will affect other human rights as well
Clarence Thomas, who I believe is not right in the head, is proposing to take away other human rights as well including Gay Marriage and contraception. Seriously????? He left out interracial marriage. I wonder why?
I’m sorry, but I am really pissed about this. If you are deeply religious, I hope you are not offended but CHOICE is the keyword here.
Millions of women have taken to the streets to protest numerous times for several years but have been completely ignored. It’s as if they didn’t exist. How can that be?
It is time to be heard and taken seriously.
My grandmother died from one of these illegal abortions. She was 23 years and my father was 4. This is what they have in mind for our daughters and granddaughters. I am so angry.
That’s horrible, Rena. Sadly, many of the women who are applauding this decision have no idea of what it was like before.
Oh Rebecca, so sad over this whole thing. Don’t know where it all ends, but will affect this country in big ways.
Huge ways. They say they are against big government. How ironic.
We are officially back in 1910, Rebecca. And we had come so far…
It’s insane. And so unnecessary.
We’ve gone back in time and in a horrible way.
It’s hard to get over the shock, that’s for sure.
For a country that’s supposed to separate church and state, we truly seem to have forgotten that and are now run by Christian Fundamentalists. So sad at the demise of our country.
Thanks, Jennifer, I agree. It is truly frightening.