Abortion
Well, it’s January 22nd, yet another anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v Wade which legalized abortion in this country and started a controversy that will never subside. Please note that I say the Court “legalized” abortion – I didn’t say that they invented abortion.
I live about 8 miles south of Washington, D.C. and I’ve already noticed a number of buses pouring into town with their pro-life signs hanging from their sides. Indeed, as I write this tens of thousands of anti-abortion advocates are standing in the freezing rain listening to the same speeches that they’ve been listening to for years. They will hold their rallies then very soon start their march up Constitution Avenue to the U.S. Supreme Court. They’ll be more rallies, bullhorns, prayer vigils, speak outs, women who all of a sudden “regret” their abortions. You name it, there’s something for everyone.
Abortion
Meanwhile, in much smaller numbers there will be the usual pro-choice “counter” events that are designed to make sure that in tomorrow’s newspapers or tonight’s news shows, there will be a pro-choice presence as well. Also, there will be the inevitable debate not about the issue but about how many people attended the rallies.
Around and around it goes, and for all of these years practically nothing has changed. The only thing for certain is that the number of abortions has gone down for a number of years and it is practically impossible to say why. Personally, I just have to believe that it’s because women, particularly younger ones, are simply more educated when it comes to birth control. But, yes, another reason may be that there continues to be an abortion stigma and single parenthood seems more acceptable these days.
Abortion
One thing that pro-choicers will cite is the constant legislative “attacks” on a woman’s right to have an abortion. And, yes, the pro-lifers are taking advantage of the more conservative climate in many state legislatures but a lot of those laws deal with “informing” women of the “humanity” of the fetus, making them look at silly pictures. These laws do not seem to really have much of an impact. Then, there are a few clinics that have actually closed, mainly because as the number of patients decrease, some clinics are hurt and find they cannot pay the rent, equipment leases, and payroll. Like all businesses, they are affected by the number of “customers.”
Abortion Pill
And then, as Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank recently pointed out, organizations on both sides continue their decades-long pursuit of dollars. It seems that both sides always feel a need to send out fundraising letters with large, red lettering and lots of exclamation points. The now famous “personhood bill” is a good example. We’re gonna see the proposal in a number of states but, really folks, if it didn’t pass in Mississippi, what state will pass the damn thing?
The bottom line is 39 years later, (less) women are still getting abortions and the clinics stand ready to serve them.
Bravo.
Related articles
- Formerly Pro-Choice Romney Attacks Roe V. Wade On 39th Anniversary (alan.com)
- Why is it Always Men Advancing the Pro-Life Position? (galileounchained.com)
- 39 years of Roe v. Wade (feministconscience.wordpress.com)
- Why is it Always Men Advancing the Pro-Life Position? (crossexaminedblog.com)
- Conn. To Mark Anniversary Of Roe Vs. Wade Decision (connecticut.cbslocal.com)
Abortion - Abortion Clinics, Abortion Pill, Abortion Information 
January 22, 2012 at 9:23 pm
The crucial factor is not the number of abortions, but the birth rate. If the number of abortions has gone down and the birth rate has gone up, that’s bad for families and children.
Of course, the comparison should be fine-tuned for the Bible thumpers and the Mormons and the fundamentalist non-Christian sects rather than the population as a whole…..
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January 23, 2012 at 10:09 am
But, Charles, if the birth rate went up, how can you generalize that that is “bad” for families and children? Are you assuming that those newer babies are in bad situations?
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January 23, 2012 at 5:45 pm
I put it rather simply, Pat, because there are more variables, but it is reasonable to say that a woman who wants an abortion knows that it will overstress her life, which means someone is not going to get the care they need. She might mean well when she chooses to yield to the force and frauds of the so-called “pro-lifers,” but usually somebody pays dearly. I say “usually,” because there are always exceptions to the rule, but there are markers that can predict fairly well which kids are going to be screwed for life. The biggest ones are prenatal malnutrition, substance abuse and alcoholism. Lesser ones include excessive religiosity, social class, race and educational level.
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January 23, 2012 at 5:46 pm
“It” in the above should have been written, “parenting an unwanted child”
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January 24, 2012 at 8:36 am
I hear ya, Charles. And, yes, you’re right about how unwanted children might wind up. I always had the feeling that if it were really unwanted, then the mother (and perhaps the father) would kind of “resent” it as it was growing up. And I’ll betcha that the kid can “feel” that in their bones. Very sad….
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January 23, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Happy Anniversary R v W!
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January 24, 2012 at 8:38 am
True, Seth. I like that you are saying this day is a “celebration.” Unfortunately, the pro-lifers have co-opted the day as “theirs.” It seems to me that across the country pro-choicers are out there on this day as a “counter” protest to the anti’s main one. How did it become “their” day???
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January 15, 2013 at 5:27 pm
Thank you!! This is something that has alyaws bothered me, and as much as I liked Juno, the fact that the abortion story was pushed under the radar (and lets the Chinese girl get the better of her) felt unrealistic and a cop-out to me. I hate pregnancy storylines, because they are almost never well done. The only one I’ve liked in recent memory (and this is going back aways, when you consider original airdate) is Miranda’s on Sex and the City, where it’s also revealed that Carrie and Samantha have had the procedure. Like you said, pregnancy storylines on TV are unrealistic and poorly written. I’d add fake pregnancy to that list, too.
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January 16, 2013 at 9:10 am
Did you like Cider House Rules?
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January 17, 2013 at 9:35 am
Never say CH Rules! But it was about an illegal abortionist, right?
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January 17, 2013 at 9:34 am
Yeah, Hollywood stays far away from this issue. “IF these walls could talk” was pretty good, though, except I wished they did a segment just showing a woman getting pregnant, talking to whoever and then having the abortion. Then two years later she has a kid. But I guess that would be too boring!
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January 23, 2012 at 1:04 pm
An incredible Day.
Access to Abortion is a right women must have globally.
Soon we will enter the Fifth decade of Roe v Wade.
That means entering the decade, at its ending, will be half a century of established law.
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January 24, 2012 at 8:39 am
It’s actually amazing when you think about it, i.e., that Roe has basically stood the test of time. But if Obama does not get re-elected, it might be a different ballgame on the Supreme Court…
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January 23, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Even though i don’t agree or disagree totally with both sides, i don’t think that the pro-lifers will ever be able to change what we have it today. I believe that people in general now in days are more aware of what they can do it and the power they have it.
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January 24, 2012 at 8:40 am
As I said above, Sonia, the only thing is that if Obama does not win his re-election, then Romney or Newt will have at least two appointments to the Supreme Court. That is the real danger!
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January 25, 2012 at 11:54 am
I agree with you Pat. Last night i watched the President Speech and i thought he was AMAZING.
If all the politicians could think like he does, a lot of things could be better.
I loved particularly when he said, and i quote:
“Let’s stop with the DRAMA, and pass on the congress what needs to be done! We are here to work for the people, not only for particular causes!”
and there was another part where he said:
“I am a Democrat, but i don’t have a problem agreeing with a Republican when he is right!”
OMG – i had chills listening to his speech. AND we all know that 4 years is not enough to do much specially when a REPUBLICAN left the house not so WHITE…
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January 25, 2012 at 3:46 pm
i thought it was a good speech also, Sonia, but it clearly was political. He was talking directly to the independent voters out there. that will be the battleground. Oh please GOP folks – nominate Newt!!!
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January 25, 2012 at 12:18 pm
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January 27, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Sonia, that really depends on how far down the Republicans can beat the population. If they can take away the basics of life– food, medical care, old age assurance, good housing and so on– the tensions of daily life will be so ratcheted up for families, they will go into survival mode, fearing and hating the least little change because it might bring something worse. They will fear and hate people who support abortion rights, as even now the beaten-down whites in the Bible Belt hate them.
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January 24, 2012 at 7:02 am
Here’s some fabulous pics from yesterday’s pro-woman, prochoice, pro family, pro respect, pro trust….
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150511097638842.377816.600263841&type=1
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January 24, 2012 at 8:09 am
Thank you Kate for that information.
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January 24, 2012 at 8:41 am
Unfortunately, when i try to link in it says it is “currently unavailable”. I’ll try later.
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January 24, 2012 at 8:43 am
Hey, Kate (or anyone else)….How do i put a picture into my blank box? Can you walk me through the steps??? Thanks!
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January 24, 2012 at 9:04 pm
What is a “blank box” Pat? Are you talking about a gravatar?
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January 25, 2012 at 7:59 am
The picture to the right like mine probably.
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January 25, 2012 at 3:47 pm
yes, Elana is correct! How do I do that???
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January 24, 2012 at 2:19 pm
I love the picture of that t-shirt, where do I get one?
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January 24, 2012 at 6:47 pm
I’ll buy one too, that looks like a great shirt!.
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January 25, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Isn’t that a great quote?? I’ll try to find out where that tee shirt is and report back!!
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January 27, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Breaking news from Harper’s magazine: Rick Santorum’s wife had a six-year-long relationship with an ob/gyn abortionist forty-one years her senior (who delivered her!) before she married Santorum. . . Maybe she used her womanly wiles to keep Scott Roeder, Paul Hill, et al., from going after him?
It’s incredible that the faithful will continue to slaver for him, no matter how repugnant the revelations about the family sleaze. Another indication of how aborticentrism– a focus on abortion to the exclusion of real care for human life– stunts a person.
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January 29, 2012 at 9:33 am
Pro lifers are such sleaze balls.
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January 29, 2012 at 7:12 am
Pat, your comment about rallies and bullhorns really resonates with the realities here in PA. One of the abortion clinics moved to a new location that physically makes it more difficult for the protesters. Since they can’t get close to the women to terrorize and stigmatized them, they’re now standing in the streets using bullhorns complete with sirens–to absolutely no effect–meaning no impact on a woman’s decision. The biggest impact is that they make absolute asses of themselves and the entire movement. But, then, what’s new. I’ve always called them the Loser Cruisers. Name still seems apt.
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January 29, 2012 at 7:29 am
Kate,
Check out this Dan guy. Thinks he is a lawyer, trying to control women’s bodies and place them in Jail for life. He is on the main post at the top with over 1,000 comments.
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January 29, 2012 at 9:36 am
I read his stuff, I was just there. Another person generating big opinions on topics they don’t have any experience with. This guy is a winner in this category.
It is not even worth ready his lunacy.
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