Choice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WL_MvRu6SE

If you know me, then you know my stance on this... But what you may or may not know is what the effect the election will have on the issue of choice. Here are some verifiable facts:

1. McCain and Palin are the strongest anti-choice candidates this country has seen since the decision of Roe Vs. Wade.

2. Currently, with issues regarding choice - supreme court justices usually are split 5-4 in favor of upholding the ruling allowing choice, with little restriction... Justices Ginsberg, Souter, Breyer and Stevens - generally support a broader interpretation of Roe vs. Wade while Roberts, Scalia, Thomas and Alito tend to vote with a more restrictive nature. Kennedy is labelled as the 'swing vote'...

3. Justice John Paul Stevens (seemingly more 'pro-choice') is 88 years old. In the coldest of terms - death or retirement can't be that far off for him. Certainly not more than 4 years (one or the other). With this logic, the next president will most likely nominate his replacement. (And possibly others???)

4. McCain would most likely attempt to nominate a justice who shares similar beliefs as his. He is anti-choice. A justice with an anti-choice persepctive would swing the vote in favor of more restrictive interpretations.

So many think that abortion isn't necessary - they feel there are always other choices. Here are their suggestions and the reality, as I have seen it...

1. Use birth control.
Did you know that other than condoms - birth control has to be prescribed or administered by an MD?
Did you know that an average of 18% of women in this country DON'T have health insurance? And when they are classified as 'low-income' that jumps to 36%? Think about how expensive health care and prescriptions are without insurance.
Did you know that any woman with high blood pressure, migraines, a history of a stroke or other blood clots in the body can be denied most hormonally based birth control? What do you tell them? "Get an IUD!!"
Did you know that many conservative family MDs won't give a woman who has NOT had a child an IUD? (Aside from the diaphragm and cervical cap - which are less than 95% effective - the IUD is the ONLY other alternative to condoms, hormonal birth control or sterilization).

2. Abstain.
Forever? Even when you are in a committed marriage/relationship, but aren't yet ready to start a family? What if you don't EVER want children? Are you expected to never have sex?

3. Adoption.
There are many arguements for and against it. I have five VERY close friends that I know are adopted. I am sure that they are all grateful for the lives they have, but none of them have had it easy. Try being the only brown haired, brown eyed child in a family of fair-skinned, blue eyed people. You understand "different" very early on, and that understanding isn't always a good thing.

A woman who can carry a child and make an adoption plan is a strong person, no doubt. However, if she isn't white, her baby is less likely to be adopted. If she has problems with addiction or other crimes, that child she bears is even less likely to have a caring family.


Conceivably, yes, those are choices or plans that can be made. Clearly, none of which are easy or simple. But what about when you don't get to choose or make plans, what would you do?

Estimates state that 1 out of every 4 or 5 women has been a victim of a 'completed rape' (not an attempt or some other kind of sexual assault). If you got pregnant as a result of rape, what would you do?

And if you are a man - you are NOT off the hook. Maternal mortality in 2004 was an estimated 13 for every 100, 000 pregnancies. Small, but not insignificant. If things don't go as planned, and you had to choose your wife/girlfriend/sister/mother or the unborn fetus she carries - what would you do?

What about a fetus that is either going to be born with a birth defect OR an ailment that is deemed, 'incompatible with life'? Again, something that wouldn't be part of one's plan. What would you do?

Many people don't care about this right, because they think it doesn't 'apply' to them. And I will tell you, I have heard the stories and reasons of many women and men faced with this decision - they ALL thought it couldn't happen to them. Clearly, it did and clearly it can.

Earlier this year - I had the honor of being published in a booklet distributed by Massachusetts NARAL called "I Am Pro-Choice Massachusetts: A collection of 35 personal stories in honor of the 35th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade." Please feel free to read my story and the others that accompany it...

My story is on Page 5:
http://www.prochoicemass.org/getinvolved/booklettext.shtml