Although I appreciate Vice President Joe Biden's support for pro-choice rights, the decision should not be made between two men.
I never fully realized that the debate about abortion was so
personal to me, that although it is a broad subject for a specific group of
women (pregnant women, regardless of how she became pregnant) it does encroach
on the rights and liberties of women as a whole. The fact that something so
personal is a political debate says so much about the power the government
tries to wield in the lives of ordinary citizens, women in specific. I had
originally understood that abortion policies were based on personal preference,
guided by personal beliefs and morals, but I never questioned or looked into
the individuals who created these policies.
While it is an important subject I was not truly invested in
finding out more about it because it was not an issue that directly affected, I
have not been pregnant and have not had the need to answer questions about it.
Thankfully though with the recent readings, my understanding of the subject has
broadened, has seen the complete picture. It does not make sense for men to make
decisions about a subject that does not affect them so personally. In proper
judgment you can only teach what you know, you can only explain what you
understand.
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| Nickanderson, a political cartoonist |
While looking up information about this topic, most images
(still and moving) on the Internet used against abortion are emotionally fueled
and not fact based. The pregnant women are put on a guilt trip and then
condemned for it, “And of course I am afraid, because the transformation of silence
into language and action is an act of self-revelation, and that always seems
fraught with danger,” (Silence into Action, Lorde, p42). While Audre Lorde was
talking about her fear-induced silence about everything she ever thought about,
this can apply to the same fear that women feel when they try to or want to
articulate their thoughts and needs about helpful abortion policies but are
ashamed or afraid to seek birth control because of what other people will say. More
than amusing it is extremely disheartening that the leaders and elected
representatives of this country will not even consider giving birth control
pills to couples who are already married because they consider birth control as
an “extension of abortion”.
 |
| tumblr.com |
My high school did not have a sex education class; instead
we had physical education where sex education was a part of it. The lesson was
brief but it was concise. My teacher did talk about birth control options
(condoms were offered in the nurses office) and sexually transmitted diseases
were briefly touched upon, while the human anatomy was also briefly explained.
There were no opinions given or partiality given with advice. We were simply
told the facts.
The double standards imbedded in politics that affect half
of the nation’s population makes it difficult for this government to move
forward and provide help to those who need it. Republicans seem to conveniently
argue one minor aspect of abortion for their favor and not address the topic of
abortion in its entirety. This of course leads to misinformation and propagation
of the mistaken opinions rather than factual information.
The minor headway that we as a society achieved with Roe v.
Wade is slowly chipped away with more recent legislation with Planned Parenthood v. Casey. In this
case the Court introduced the concept of viability and in this stance
overturning the trimester approach in Roe
v. Wade.
Legislation, on women’s rights, should be passed by the
people most capable of understanding its benefits and by who will benefit the
most from them: women.
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| naturalabortion.org |
Works Cited
http://www.salon.com/2014/12/01/why_sex_education_in_the_u_s_is_an_unmitigted_disaster_partner/
http://uspolitics.about.com/od/electionissues/i/abortion.htm
Torregrosa, Luisita L. "The Issue of Abortion Returns to Center Stage in US Politics." The NY Times [New York City] 19 Apr. 2011: n. pag. Web.
Lorde, Audre. "The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action." p40-44.
Harris, Perry. "Crooked Room." Sister Citizen. p28-39.
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