As a child I remember going to Pro-Life events with my mom and my church. We marched through the streets of downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana with signs and t-shirts. I’ll get to the point, I don’t believe God supports doctors doing abortions, so I don’t either. However, I feel women should not be restricted by law when making decisions regarding their own body. And, women should be free to make decisions regarding their pregnancy. Even God gave Adam and Eve the freedom to choose… if you read the Bible.
Ok, so last week, on May 15th, 2019, Governor Kay Ivey (a female governor, if that means anything) signed into law the Alabama Human Life Protection Act. After this bill was signed the country went into a literal uproar. With many people condemning the bill before reading it, even though there are many state residents who support it. Governor Kay Ivey tweeted “… the legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious & that every life is a sacred gift from God.“
One article I read in Time magazine stated that this legislation is “…one of the most aggressive anti-abortion laws in recent American history.” And, if enforced, it would essentially ban abortion at every stage of pregnancy, with exceptions only if the mother’s life is threatened.
Now this is the most important thing I want people to grasp… though the legislation was signed into law, it still CANNOT be legally enforced because of the previous Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade.
So, if you don’t know what Roe vs. Wade is… in 1973, a woman named Norma McCorvey (aka “Jane Roe”) filed a case against Dallas County District Attorney Henry Wade, who represented the State of Texas. She won. It was a landmark court decision that went to the U.S. Supreme Court, where they ruled that all individual state laws banning abortion were unconstitutional.
Now everyone has their own opinions on abortion. It has now become more of a political debate than a debate on protecting the lives or rights of unborn babies. I feel Republicans want to use this to create a political debate that will sway voters for the next election.
Even well-known televangelist Pat Robertson, who is obviously Pro-Life, was critical of this bill. He basically said that it was too restrictive and extreme; and, that it ultimately could never stand up against Roe vs. Wade. Another thing is almost every recognized political leader, or anyone who is willing to speak their opinions about this bill publicly… opposes this bill.
This law has set out to criminalize doctors for performing certain abortions, equal to a conviction of rape and murder. But, ultimately I feel it will be more successful at creating division within our country by creating more heated arguments between friends & men and women.
Now, anyone who has seen a horrific image of the mutilated body of an aborted baby, or the bloody images of the babies that somehow survived, knows that no normal woman who has knowledge of all the associated risks that come with aborting a baby will make that decision easily.
Being a parent is difficult all by itself. And, we all probably know of someone who got pregnant and thought about getting an abortion. I do. So I’m empathetic towards women who get abortions. I know pregnancy can either be a wonderful experience (even if it was planned and everything goes well), or it can be a very traumatic experience. And, I won’t even talk about how women used to stick clothes hangers up their vagina in the “old days“.
I feel very few women desire to have an abortion, or go through complications in pregnancy… even if it is an unwanted pregnancy. As there are health-related issues for the mother, plus the surgical procedures are very expensive with many risks.
As a man, I feel weird even discussing this topic, as I have never had a monthly period nor had to take birth control. You know what? I don’t have a universal legal solution for abortion, if you are looking for one… but I do feel this conversation has to start with compassion.
A few years ago, I was in a situation where I impregnated my son’s mother. When I first learned she was pregnant I was distraught. I had so many questions and thoughts, and in my heart I honestly questioned if she should get an abortion. Think what you want. I didn’t know what to do… but after I prayed about it I recognized my own ignorance and selfishness.
I decided to help her throughout her pregnancy not even knowing if she was in fact pregnant with my child. After all that has transpired from then until now… I couldn’t think of my life without my son.
The love I felt when I held him at birth, the joy seeing his beautiful smile, the innocence in his eyes… it makes tears come to eyes thinking of all the children that are aborted because of unplanned pregnancies. I understand no one is perfect, myself included. I’m in no place to judge any man/woman for their choices. Everyone knows abortion is a complicated women’s health issue with political undertones, sprinkled with moral/religious beliefs. My perspective.