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Is Roe v. Wade on the Way Out?

Posted 16 months ago|16 comments|823 views
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Written by
Leah Healthnut
San Jose, CA
"We cannot diminish the value of one category of human life — the unborn — without diminishing the value of all human life." --Ronald Reagan

Twenty seven years ago, Ronald Reagan dubbed this day (the 3rd Sunday in January), National Sanctity of Life Day. This day was chosen in commemoration of the Roe v. Wade decision that has since unleashed a maelstrom of debate, rhetoric, protests and bloodshed in America.

In his speech announcing this recognition, Reagan said, "Make no mistake, abortion-on-demand is not a right granted by the Constitution. No serious scholar, including one disposed to agree with the Court's result, has argued that the framers of the Constitution intended to create such a right."

Both the 5th and 14th amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America declare that the right to life is an inalienable right, and that no person should be denied it. How have we, three centuries later, come to the point that we declare a law that prohibits the killing of a human child unconstitutional? And how can it, after more than 30 years, still stand?

Yesterday a Walk For Life was hosted in San Francisco, California: arguably the most liberal and self-indulgent city in the world. Over 40,000 people were in attendance. Many of these people were local youth (under 30), spurring comments that the tide of opinion may be turning in this issue in America.

http://bit.ly/hA5F4A

One public voice in the issue of abortion is Abby Johnson, author of the book Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey across the Life Line. In her book, Abby tells the story of why she decided to leave her job as director of a Planned Parenthood clinic and crossed the line into the pro-life camp. "As a business," Johnson said, "Planned Parenthood was primarily focused on providing its most profitable service –abortion– as often as possible." She spoke of an experience in which she assisted in an abortion and saw the carnage for herself: a turning point in her life.

http://amzn.to/hCl12H

Even Norma McCorvey, aka "Jane Roe" of Roe v. Wade, has come to realize the value of life and the devastation of of abortion:

"All those years I was wrong. Signing that affidavit, I was wrong. Working in an abortion clinic, I was wrong. No more of this first trimester, second trimester, third trimester stuff. Abortion — at any point — was wrong. It was so clear. Painfully clear."

She has also written a book about her experience and the turning point when she realized the sanctity of life: Won by Love: Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe of Roe V. Wade, Speaks Out for the Unborn As She Shares Her New Conviction for Life.

For those in the pro-life camp, this issue is about so much more than a law or a choice. The devaluing of human life in any context is demoralizing to society as a whole, and the willful extermination of the weakest and most dependent members of our society is a travesty unbearable to those who recognize it for what it is. Trivializing abortion with terms such as "personal choice" and "women's rights" is an attempt to deceive young, desperate girls so they will believe they have an option that will absolve them of taking responsibility for their actions.

I'll just leave you with a few questions:

If an unborn child is a "fetus," and not yet considered a human baby, why do doctors refer to them as patients?

How can the law regard abortion as acceptable and at the same time refer to the murder of a pregnant woman a "double homicide?"

What is the difference between a baby just before birth and a baby just after birth? How can a difference of 5 minutes be the difference between acceptable abortion and murder?
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COMMENTS
16 months ago: Thanks for using your voice, on behalf of silent victims.
Leah Healthnut
Leah Healthnut
San Jose, CA
16 months ago: You as well, sir.
16 months ago: The fact is law or not abortions go on. Millions of women were mutilated or died when they were forced to see some back alley butcher to do the job. We as a society have already denied parents the right to raie their children. We no longer provide them a sound education, and unwanted fetuses turn into unwanted humans.

I am as anti abortion as a man can be. It disgusts me. But I recognize the reasons for the actions are valid. And I am damn tired of the debate. We settled this. I dont think it should be reversed anymore then I think brown V board of education should be reversed.
Leah Healthnut
Leah Healthnut
San Jose, CA
16 months ago: Sure, abortions will happen anyway, but why make it easy? We might see 5%, maybe up to 20% of the abortions we see now. Even at the high end, that would be an 80% decrease. I'm not sure, but I think "millions" might be an exaggeration. And you fail to take into consideration: before 1973 women were under enormous societal pressure to be married before getting pregnant. There is not nearly such a stigma today. Why not teach our girls (and boys) to be responsible adults and take the consequences for their actions, rather than giving them a free pass to do whatever their hormones ask? Is there no such thing as the virtue of self-restraint? Our kids will have to learn it some time down the line.

What is a human life worth?
16 months ago: Slim, "as anti abortion as a man can be" ??

Really, I guess I must be a little bit more... it's not settled!
If you are tired of the debate, then take another nap.

Norma McCorvey, the Texas woman whose pregnancy led to the court's landmark 1973 decision legalizing abortion... had a change of heart... America should too!
16 months ago: "Take another nap" did you have to work on this response long?

In that same vein I'd like to say. You have no dog in this fight. Your religious views while very commendable have no bearing on this countries legal system. I applaud your efforts to lead people away from abortion and wish you every success. But your beliefs are not mine. And even if they were you have no right to inflict them upon anyone ever.

As to Leah's last question. A human life is worthless if that human does not have the freedom to live it.
16 months ago: First I was responding to your claim that you were really anti abortion; if you were anti racist, regardless of your religious beliefs you would do everything possible in your fight against it. You are really are in denial if you think religion has no bearing on the politics that make and change laws or enforce those laws.

As to my opinion, you are correct... they have no bearing what so ever on your country's legal system or anything south of the border... but my solitary voice, like yours has the power to effect change, even global change. Otherwise we would not be writing.
Leah Healthnut
Leah Healthnut
San Jose, CA
16 months ago: Public opinion in fact does have a large influence on how laws are made (and repealed) in this country, even if that particular law is never put up for a vote. That's what democracy means. And the main point of the post was actually to point out that the tide of opinion on this issue may in fact be turning, based on what I am observing in young people today and how they are taking a stand with this issue. My "dog in this fight" is my voice, and I will use it in any way I can. Enough of us raise our voices together, and we will be heard, and change will come.
Leah Healthnut
Leah Healthnut
San Jose, CA
16 months ago: What really gets me is that anyone would have the right to deem someone else's life worthless. Who is so arrogant that they would make that decision for someone else? With any type of murder I constantly ask myself this question: what makes a murderer think that his life is any more valuable than the one he is taking? It is beyond my comprehension that a person could be so blind to their own self-absorption that they would decide when another person's life is worthless.
16 months ago: Trying to stop abortions "across the board" will forever prove to be a futile effort. Just as people who want guns WILL get them -- even if it is illegal to do so -- so will there be women who deem their unborn child unwanted, for whatever reasons they concoct, and will do whatever they have to do to terminate their pregnancy.

Perhaps the elephant in the room here is 'state-sponsored' abortions. Should the rest of us -- no matter how much we may be idologically opposed to abortion -- be FORCED to pay for a "doctor" visit to kill YOUR unborn baby?

Leah Healthnut
Leah Healthnut
San Jose, CA
16 months ago: Just like stopping murder or drug running "across the board" will never happen. Does that mean we should stop fighting it? Making something illegal is a huge deterrent. I prefer not to focus on the exceptions but on the general rule.
16 months ago: I'm not suggesting that anybody do anything...if anything I was agreeing with you. The "pro-life camp" gets pretty stuck in dogmatic fervor whenever this subject is discussed, and that is THE biggest problem in their "strategy".

The "pro-choice camp" loves to throw red herrings at the other side because they know they will probably fall for it.

Both sides are seeking 'big government' approval for their point of view. This is a 'BIG' mistake on the side of the "pro-life camp", in case you haven't noticed. That was basically my point.


Leah Healthnut
Leah Healthnut
San Jose, CA
16 months ago: I'd rather the government stay out of the issue, and I think that what most "pro-lifers" think, since this issue was inflamed when the government stepped in and decided they would mandate legal abortion (deeming a state's right to outlaw it unconstitutional).
16 months ago: Unfortunately for the "pro-life camp", most people just don't care about the issue that much. Over the long term, this has worked in favor of the "pro-choice" camp.

If the pro-lifers want to be successful then they need start controlling the debate in the eyes of the "indifferents" because right now the other side is very easily controlling the debate. You need more numbers, so you need to intellectually incentivise these people to agree, and fight for your cause. In my opinion, this would not be that hard...especially in this economy. People don't want to hear that they are paying for anything extra right now. Focus on fighting "state-sponsored" abortion first, and the rest will follow.
16 months ago: I am sorry that "back-ally" abortions cause pain and suffering for those who seek them, but I feel more for the lives that are ended because of selfish choices.
Leah Healthnut
Leah Healthnut
San Jose, CA
16 months ago: There will always be those who deem their own lives more valuable than the lives of others, regardless of how irrational that belief is. When people suffer because of their own inane choices, there is a sort of justice in that. But when an innocent suffers because of another's selfish choice? It's egregious.

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