Protecting abortion rights should be based on medical, not religious views
Editor:
Some of what I recently wrote about MAGA was criticized here. In their general remarks they ignored polling data identifying groups which identify as MAGA. Particularly that neo-Nazis and racists are big MAGA boosters. Also by supporting a philanderer they cede the moral high ground on marital fidelity.
The writers focused on my on the issue of control of woman’s bodies and my comments on the fall out of the bad laws being passed around the country. The letter claimed that woman with high-risk pregnancies and other issues are not dying as a result. (Besides high-risk pregnancies, in abortion-ban states women are three times more likely to die for reasons related to these restrictive laws. www.axios.com/2023/01/19/mothers-anti-abortion-bans-states-die.)
The letter fully ignored that contraception is on the chopping block. Fully ignored the entire IVF issue. And made claims about the psychology of abortion which, while occasionally true, empirical study shows are only seldom significant.
If the writers had written about their own rights and practices they would found me in favor of their free exercise had they understood the tenor of my letter.
But at the most basic level the writers broad attack ignored that even Christian churches vary on life itself much less abortion. The Bible says life begins when God breathes his breath of life into man’s “nostrils” – Genesis 2:7. Conversely, when one dies that same breath of life returns to God – Ecclesiastes 12:7. That is the viability standard.
The writers praise laws which hold all women hostage to their particular beliefs. That is wrong and not the false equivalency they claim when I compare them to the misogyny of the Iranian Ayatollahs.
Please do not misunderstand me. I worry about the difficulties surrounding conception and pregnancy, particularly how to deal with the crack-addicted babies I see regularly. I think it shameful here in the US we downplay public education about sex and responsibility which are proven ways to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
But, BIG picture, by defending MAGA and state’s restriction on medical matters the writers reveal they are indeed MAGA “egocentric” moralists who want to impose their theocratic views on others carte blanche. Abortion is not protected but regulation should be medically, not religiously, based.
The writers in particular praise current state laws I am sure they have not read. They do not seem to know that history shows no political state imposed solution has ever worked without causing its own tragedy. I mentioned the addition problems MAGA and theocratic inspired laws are causing.
In fact there are different beliefs, different hugely complex social, personal and medical issues to consider which were ignored in the new laws – and now IVF to create embryos and eventually life is in the balance as well.
Our Constitution bars the establishment of religion. George Washington said the Constitution was meant to protect all beliefs even if those who do not believe. And to pass laws that increase death rates, how do you justify that – religion or not.
How curious to be pro life and anti life at the same time. Indeed almost every Republican member of the House are still today signed onto opposition to IVF – again the McConnell rule in action.
But that’s MAGA for you. Why talk, think things through rationally with input from all (particularly experts) and find a path towards a solution when you can take two steps back, based on rhetoric and fiction, and make things worse by demanding you run every detail of another person’s life.
Per my letters the MAGA takeover of the Republican Party is sad – we needed it until all its politicians sold out. It’s why the MAGA attempt to take over our country and create a theocracy or authoritarian state – depending on which wing of MAGA controls – is tragic and must be stopped at the polls.
Honorable people vote and do not terrorize others into submission. Gerrymandering and disenfranchisement is wrong. Creating a fictional world is wrong.
As Steve Bannon just stated the immediate MAGA objective is power and chaos. That is wrong on so many levels. I will just leave it there, urging people to vote!
Conrad F. Cropsey
Albion
