Conservative states seem to be trying to out do each other as to who can pass the most restrictive abortion laws. They seek to return us to the “glory days” of the 1950’s. The 1950’s, when women stayed at home and raised the children, there was no equality of civil rights, and white, Christian men ruled.
Abortion is a Last Resort
Abortion is complicated and emotional for everyone. No one really chooses to have an abortion but rather they are forced into it. Everyone agrees that averting an unwanted pregnancy is preferable to an abortion. Why is that? Because there is a discomfort with abortion even among those who passionately believe in a women’s right to choose. The discomfort stems from the ambiguity of when life begins.
When Life and Personhood Begins are Impossible Questions to Answer DEFINITELY
The fundamental issue at the heart of the abortion debate is when does life begin and the fetus is a person. If you follow a Christian answer, then many say life, and personhood, begin at conception. This answer is actually a relatively modern one that is informed by science. It is only in the past 100 years that we have come to understand and be able to observe how a fetus develops from the point of fertilization. Prior to modern medicine, pregnancies were typically confirmed around 20 weeks, when the mother could feel the fetus move (Wired). Modern medicine has moved the start time to conception. From this follows the argument that the moment the egg is fertilized that potential human being has all the same rights as a living person. But this is just one interpretation of when personhood begins.
I do not know the answer to the question of when life and personhood begin, but I do know that personhood does not begin at conception. Science tells us that at conception the fertilized egg is nothing more than a single cell. Over the first couple days it divided into multiple cells but that is all it is at that point, lump of cells. It will die if it does not successfully attach to the uterus and get nourished. In fact a large number of fertilized eggs get washed out of the body, never going beyond being a cluster of cells. I think the most reasonable definition of when personhood begins is when the fetus can live outside the mother’s body on its own.
legislating a religious BELIEF
So at the heart of the fight over abortion are unanswerable philosophical questions regarding when life and more importantly, personhood, begin. Those that follow follow the Christian view that life and personhood begins at conception, seek to force their religious beliefs on others and outlaw abortion. They do not see that their view that abortion is murder stems from their religious belief that personhood begins with conception and codifying this in law is forcing one’s religious beliefs on others.
The First Amendment of the Constitution says,
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The first amendment protects religious freedom by prohibiting the establishment of an official or exclusive religion. The establishment clause prevents the government from creating a church, endorsing religion in general, or favoring one set of religious beliefs over another. As the U.S. Supreme Court decided in 1947 in Everson v. Board of Education of Ewing Township, the establishment clause was intended to erect “a wall of separation between church and state,” (Const,center)
Conservatives see an opportunity
With Donald Trump’s appointment of two conservative Supreme Court justices, abortion foes see an opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade. Perhaps they may go even further in restricting abortion and thrusting their religious beliefs on all of us. Abortion may become illegal or even criminal, as it is under the new Mississippi law.
What is at RIsk?
What does this mean for the country? Religion is being inserted into secular life, which is a violation of the first amendment but those in power do not care and do not respect the concept of the separation of church and state.
In terms of daily life, this will greatly impact the lives of women, Women will be forced to have children they do not want. Most will be young women. Rich women will go abroad to get an abortion while poor women will be forced to have an unwanted child. If they keep the child, they are likely signing up for a life of poverty or at least serious financial struggles. If they give the child up, they still will have had their lives turned upside down. Also, adoption is not simple and there are many associated problems. There will be a flood of children put up for adoption that will likely outpace demand. Demand for social services will rise. However, those that want to outlaw abortion do not want to pay to help take care of poor children. They also typically do not support providing free contraception for poor women.
The ability to bring life into this world will once again be a double edged sword for women. A gift that can also chain one down, divert one from school, and shift one’s financial pathway downward. The responsibility of raising a child alone with limited resources robs women of power and subjugates them to second class citizens. All because a minority of Americans want to force their Christian views on all of us.
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