Let's talk about the abortion issue for awhile...

This has been on my heart for awhile, since I posted about Democratic 12th District Congressional candidate Bob Hagenmaier's opposition to the issue on religious grounds (he is Roman Catholic). That opposition, plus his rather conservative views on other social issues has a small, vocal band in the Polk County Democratic Party leadership quite upset, even to the point of keeping the race blank on their ballot November 2. I had even said in a post after the August 31 primary that I may do the same, but call me a flip-flopper if you want, but I'll take Hagenmaier over Bush's house broken puppy Adam Putnam anyday. After all, half a loaf is better than none at all.

The abortion issue is, needless to say, quite difficult. I consider myself a Christian (United Methodist by denomination), and while I do my best I fall short in the eyes of my Creator (as we all do) and humbly ask His forgivness. The idea of abortion strictly for birth control is, personally, uncomfortable. That said, thousands of young girls become pregnant across America every year accidentally. In some cases, young women receive the support of their partners, families, and friends, and that support helps them through a most difficult time. Unfortunately, for many girls that support is simply not there.

I can fully understand what a young woman has to go through, because I know it firsthand. The woman who would later become my wife made this decision, and I supported her, when we were in the early part of our relationship when she became pregnant during our college years. Needless to say, it was scary for both of us, but especially for her. We both had families that would been extremely upset, and the thoughts of dropping out of school and landing a dead-end job with no money or other prospects were simply too much for us at the time.

The decision to have an abortion is truly a decision that needs to be made prayerfully, and made if possible with close friends or family members who you trust. I do believe that there are other viable options, such as keeping the baby until term and giving it up for adoption. After all, there are couples across America that are ready, willing, and able to accept a baby into their lives that are not able to concieve on their own. But in the end, it is the woman herself who must make the decision on her own, and that decision is between her and her Creator.

This election is one of the most important in the past 50 years, as either George W. Bush or John Kerry has the potential to nominate between two and four Justices to the United States Supreme Court. If that happens --- especially if Bush is reelected --- the Roe -vs- Wade decision legalizing abortion could be overturned. The bottom line is this: Regardless of how uncomfortable you may be about the issue of abortion, we must NEVER, NEVER allow America to return to the days when women and doctors were actively prosecuted, when "back alley abortionists" were the rule.

Any move to overturn Roe -vs- Wade would also highlight yet another scism in our class stucture: The daughters of the wealthy who get "knocked up" would have no problem getting "fixed". Their families would simply find an accomodating doctor, or send the daughter away to Canada or offshore on the premise of a "vacation". Meanwhile, the young girls in the inner cities, trailer parks, and middle class neighbourhoods without the connections would face "Tough Luck, Sister!"...or worse...Oh, and no white dress at your wedding, either.

We really do need realistic education in our schools to help prevent teen pregnancy, not this crock of abstinance. Sorry, but teens have been having sexual relations for centuries. Don't blame the media, or society's going down the toliet. It's just that we're simply becoming realistic about life and saying what's going on. Groups such as Planned Parenthood have been doing an excellent job for years, but thanks to Bush being led on the leash by the right wing freaks they can't get into schools to provide information. If you get information about birth control techniques into the hands of those who need it, the better chance you have at reducing the rate of teen pregnancy, and the fewer abortions you end up having! DUH! Even my three year old granddaughter could figure that out!