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Feb. 28, 2006 Abortion. The thought brings no joy to the minds of many in this world. In fact, I daresay no woman in her right mind would say "I got pregnant so I could have an abortion." But now South Dakota has entered ideology into politics and has banned all but one, the life of the mother, abortions and is gearing up to take on the Supreme Court. As if we Minnesotans didn't think you were backward enough as a state, now we finally see why no one wants to live there. Abortion is between a woman and her doctor. It is not an easy choice and it is not the first choice for many. But, as far as economics are concerned, it is a choice that can keep an unwanted child out of poverty or a woman off welfare. Economics aside, it is a choice that is for the person getting the abortion and not for a group of anyone to decide. Up until this past half century, it was unsafe to get an abortion but it was the right of a woman to do with her body as she pleased. Then people, others who have no business telling woman what and how they should treat their reproductive rights, entered the fray. Why? God only knows. I mean, it doesn't make any sense that someone comes into your home, into your life and into your body and tells you what and how you can do things. I mean, no one is stopping women from getting implants or guys from taking erection drugs. Where is the outrage for the single mothers who have to raise these children? If anything, those yelling the loudest about abortion stop short of supporting that woman or that child. They give nothing to help the cause other than to yell about abortions. Like I said, abortions are not the first or best option but it is none of our business to regulate someone else's body. The Republicans, who scream the loudest about it, seem to be so damned concerned about taxation and property rights and rights to pray in school and rights to own a gun but want to tell woman that they have no right to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy. If South Dakotans don't want to have an abortion, then don't have one. It is not as if, because it is allowed that every woman will get rid of the fetus. And don't pretend that the doctor is removing a baby. A fetus is not a baby just like an egg is not a chicken. When most abortions happen, it is a collection of cells with a tail and the beginnings of a body. It is not a diapered baby with cooing and personality. You can pretend it is all you want to make yourself feel like it is child murder but it isn't. Get over it. I hope now that South Dakota has successfully turned back the clock on progress and redefined women's rights that the smart people will finally leave the state altogether and we can just kiss it off the map. As of the last census, the state is considered the 46th largest and has an almost stagnant growth rate. Rhode Island, the smallest state, has more people for crying out loud. Someday, when conservative types pretend that abstinence-only education and telling children not to have sex will prevent it (like if ignoring the problem means it's not there), then we won't have abortions anymore because responsibility (and contraceptives) will become the fashion. Peace. ------------ About the author: Nicholas Olson is a long-time journalist who has been a columnist at his college newspaper and is currently a military journalist. Email: nicholasjolson@yahoo.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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