Arguments from the Highest Court in the Land determined abortion to be legal on this day 40 years ago. So why are we still discussing legality and ethics?
Because we live in a democracy. And in a democracy, discussion and debate should never end.
Sometimes, though, we need to move on.
In this case, we need to face the truth, which is that abortions will happen no matter what, even if it is illegal.
In South America, women used anti-ulcer pills to give themselves abortions — so often that some governments decided to take the pills off pharmacy shelves, according to an article published by the Associated Press in 2003.
Imagine yourself, a South American woman just having found out you will bring a new life into the world, but you’re already living below the poverty line, the potential child is the product of incest or rape or you’ve been told by a doctor that another pregnancy will kill you.
Terrifying, right? You’re currently contemplating your own death or a sub-par life and potential death for the child, and there’s no safe way out.
How about in India, where women are allowed abortions, but if the child is a female, abortions are all but forced, taking away any female right to choose.
Or in Ireland, where abortion is only allowed when the mother could die, and a mother did in 2012 when conclusive evidence could not be reached.
Come back to the U.S.
Every time you head to the clinic, you pass picket lines of righteous women and men, wasting their time, trying to convince you life is the only way.
I’m just going to make an assumption here that the vast majority of women planning on having an abortion are not swayed by marches for life or other protest.
You’ve already weighed your options.
Let’s say you’re a rape survivor. You go to Baton Rouge’s Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response Center for assistance.
Executive director Racheal Hebert said the center stresses choice.
No one will force an abortion on you. There isn’t someone standing at the door handing out pamphlets on how to best kill this growing fetus.
In fact, the center won’t dole out information unless asked, Hebert said.
Hebert said the center does not take a stance, but would help a woman find someone who could give them the necessary information.
What I’m arguing here is not that every woman should have an abortion, or that it should be the first thought when considering what to do with one’s inner cell union.
Condoms and birth control don’t always work, and no matter what, people will have sex.
The choice of abortion should be legal, available and safe.
We do not live in the Middle Ages. Our technology has advanced beyond the discovery of the plow.
One of the main problems, and a reason women cite when choosing abortion, is that our views on womanhood have not evolved along with farming implements.
A Guttmacher study asking women for their reasons for obtaining abortions show a quarter of women responded they “did not want people to know I had sex or got pregnant.”
Scarlet letter, much?
We haven’t moved past our far right deeply Christian roots. Don’t worry, you’re keeping that alive and kicking.
Maybe if society could move past the stigma of a single-parent home, or beyond the slut-shaming so prevalent in modern society, abortion rates could diminish.
Otherwise, outlawing won’t do anything but force women to have unsafe abortions.
Legality is our only option.
It’s is a decision that can’t be made under a nationwide umbrella. Each woman needs to make for herself.
Will some regret it? Yes.
Will it increase the quality of life for others, and potentially make them better future parents? Again, the answer is yes.
The nation needs to move past this issue. It has been decided, and as valuable as the forums of democracy are, we have more timely fish to fry.
Equal marriage rights, anyone? Actual discussion of drones? Our constantly failing budget? Hell, how about what’s going on in Mali right now? Or Syria?
Put it to rest, gentlemen.