Relationships, Marriage, Purpose, Passions, Parenthood

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Decision '08 and Abortion: Let's talk about it


I got an email today from the McCain Campaigners and it made me want to go to the website and actually see what the man was about. Then I went to one of my big issues: Life. After reading McCain's ideas: the Roe vs. Wade decision is flawed, return the abortion decision to states, and advocate for adoption, I went to Obama's site. Under his Women tag he wrote that he supports a woman's right to choose and this is what led me to start this discussion.


I switched camps from pro-choice to pro-life while at Spelman. I am against legalized abortion because I consider abortion murder: the killing of an innocent person. I am passionate about this issue since it affects me personally. The dark secret is that an alarming percentage of Spelman students (and all students since those 18-24 receive the most abortions) are affected by federal and national policies on abortion. This issue should be considered very seriously.


I know why women who are for legalized abortion support this issue: they name death from illegal abortion, a woman's right to choose, and the so-called single parent-poverty link as their reasons. I believe these concerns are scapegoats. If the concern is about the number dead, then why can the growing child be disregarded so quickly; why isn't adoption advocated at a much higher rate? Many of us high achievers come from single parent families who know that where their is a will there is a way; so, why isn't overcoming the single parent-poverty stigma a mantra of the women's movement? As far as the right to choose goes, if women are truly for equal rights, then why are rights of the baby trumped? Some eco-feminists fight for the rights of animals, yet won't consider transferring these same rights (not to feel pain, or be used in research) to a growing human. Since some pro-choicers are also against capitalism, they should also consider the greed of abortionists and the industry as a whole, which overrules better judgment and health issues for the love of money.


I think it's time that we address this issue for real. Those who support legalized abortion should at least acknowledge the failure of the abortion industry and advocates to call abortion what it is and to focus efforts on prevention in serious ways. The right to choose should include the right to make an educated decision. Deal with the reality of abortion in sex-ed . Name the surgical abortion procedures (they literally tear babies apart), show ultra-sonic videos of an abortion in progress (the child in the womb actually tries to avoid/get away from the vacuum which sucks it out). This education was in part what brought me to my decision to be pro-life.


While this is one of the issues I consider when voting, I believe that change comes from the grassroots level. As people begin to disapprove of something, that change is seen in legistation.


I know that any woman or man who has experienced abortion personally has to deal with a great sense of loss and failure, but I know these feelings can be placed in the proper perspective: that was the past; What can I do today to show that I'm changed? If the answer is only "Get an IUD," then the cycle is not broken. A "real" so-called pro-choicer can be active in prevention in so many critical areas other than "safe sex" in the same way that I am for having a Correctional Facility, but I do all I can to discourage those in my sphere of influence from breaking the law and going to jail.


I would like those of us in this community to make a commitment to stop making excuses for ourselves and deal with this issue in our community as seriously as we deal with others.