rebuttal to: you have the right to remain alive…
by Cameron Contois
Published: February 11, 2008
McKell Myers’ original article: “you have the right to remain alive…“
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Old male politicians like Mike Huckabee are ready to go to holy war to protect the unborn from the evil legions of the pro-choice. It’s always baffled me that some men feel they have authority over women’s reproductive organs. Now one may argue that I, as a male, have no right getting involved. I might even agree, although there’s one reason I feel I should have a little say: I’m adopted. If my biological mother had chosen abortion, you might not be reading this article right now. And I am passionately pro-choice.
Pro-lifers claim their cause is noble; they protect the unborn soul that magically appears inside the mother the moment of conception. Their ultimate goal: overturning Roe vs. Wade.
The truth is, overturning Roe vs. Wade won’t “protect life” or stop abortion. Furthermore, the pro life agenda is often motivated by people who are anti- women’s rights.
Making abortions illegal will not stop them. According to Planned Parenthood, in the 20 years before abortions became legal, one million women still got “underground” abortions. Thousands were killed; tens of thousands were maimed (”Five Ways to End Abortions (And One Way They Won’t)“) Pro-life indeed. Banning abortions discriminates against poor women. A rich woman can go to other countries where abortion remains legal; a poor woman’s only option: a rusty clothe hanger in a trashy hotel room somewhere in Detroit.
Adoption is a one size fits all solution for those opposed to abortion. This logic is flawed. Would every teen forced into keeping an unwanted pregnancy quit drinking or smoking? Would she get proper health care? If she’s poor, could she even afford it? Without proper care, the resulting child can develop mental illness, fetal alcohol syndrome and problems bonding with an adoptive parent. In one worst-case scenario, Peggy Hilt became overwhelmed by an adopted child who would not bond with her. She descended into depression and alcoholism. One day she snapped and beat her child to death. Her case is rare, but hardly unique. (Wingert, Pat. “When Adoption Goes Wrong.” Newsweek. 17th Dec 2007.)
What about rape and incest victims? Surely they should be allowed an abortion. Not according to Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Willke, whose book Why Can’t We Love Them Both can be found on Catholic.net. The victim should be forced to carry her rapist’s baby because “most of the trauma has already occurred.” What? She’s pregnant because someone forced his bodily fluids into her and now she must bear his child… and that’s not traumatic?
The Willkes state that pregnancy from rape barely ever happens. This echoes a statement by Judge James Leon Holmes’s, a U.S. district court judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas. As he so elegantly put it, a woman gets pregnant by rape as often as it snows in Miami. Not only is this appalling, it’s simply not true. Planned Parenthood reports that 250,000 women get pregnant from rape each year. (”James Leon Holmes Appointed To Eastern District Of Arkansas“) Even if there was only one rape victim in the history of the universe that got pregnant, that’s enough to justify abortion for rape victims.
Holmes also wrote that “the woman is to place herself under the authority of the man.” (Lewis, Neil A. “G.O.P. Fails in Bid to End Filibuster Against Texas Judge.” New York Times. 2nd May 2003.) This reveals a pro-lifer’s idea of women’s rights.
The Willkes claim incest pregnancy is way for the victim to “stop the incest.” They write that pregnancy will unite the victim with her mother, thus stopping the abuse. If nothing else, it’s an excuse to get out of the house. “Most incestuous pregnancies, if not pressured, will not get abortions.” In fact, “as socially inappropriate as incest and incestuous pregnancies are, their harmful effects depend largely upon reaction of others.” In other words, let’s force the 12-year-old girl whose dad raped her to carry the baby because secretly she wants to. That’s sick.
The Willkes’ book defends capital punishment. Apparently, for the Christians at Catholic.net, “Thou shall not kill” is negotiable but the lesser known commandment “Thou shall not get an abortion ever” is set in stone. Yes, pro-life indeed.
If one does not like abortion, then don’t have one. Educate others about adoption and birth control. But keep your hands off of other women’s bodies!
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Read McKell Myers’ original article: “you have the right to remain alive…“
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