Roe v. Wade Overturned
New York– The overturning of Roe vs. Wade has seemingly sent the U.S. into a frenzy. Some Americans received one message from the decision; Women in the U.S. can’t have abortions anymore. But that provocative headline isn’t entirely accurate. The Supreme’s Court shocking ruling has left the decision of whether or not a woman can have an abortion, entirely in the State’s hands. Abortions will be permitted or prohibited, based on the state’s directives. Understandably, people are outraged. This leaves women who wanted to have an abortion in the first place due to financial barriers, in a position where they will have to travel at great expense to another state to attend to their medical needs. Additionally, there’s the irritating concept of the state making a unilateral decision about a woman’s body.
Women around the country have been protesting since the Supreme Court decision. Television shows and social media platforms have been utilized to demonstrate the disappointment, anger, and shock about their rights being revoked. Meanwhile, Republican-controlled states, now given a green light by the Court, began moving forward with immediate bans restricting access to abortion.
According to President Joe Biden, “the health and life of women in this nation are now at risk,” after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Having an abortion is no longer a constitutional right. Others were less politically correct with their stance and response.
Religious Influence
“I feel like it’s a clown show, trying to decipher what to say about what your mythical book ( the bible) has to say about very real, political issues,” stated Ana Kasparin from the Young Turks, an American progressive and left-wing news commentary show. “I don’t care if you’re Christian. In fact, I will fight for you to have your religious liberty to practice Christianity. I believe in that. I don’t believe in Christianity, which means that you do not get to dictate the way that I live my life, based on your religion. ”
Kasparin continued on to express her strong beliefs on the topic. “I don’t care what the bible says. All the women out there that identify with those values shave every right in the world to not get an abortion, to not take birth control. But they do not have the right to dictate my life, and what I decide to do with my body.”
The rant has gone viral now, and women concerned with the evident lack of separation between church and state present in the ruling are in complete agreement with her. In defense, the right has cleverly shrouded the revoked ruling in a fight for “state’s rights,” but religion is undeniably playing a large role here. After all, the state is made up of people. In fact, a few recent court decisions have raised fears that the conservative majority are forcing religion back into the U.S. political system. After the controversial ruling, Jeff Landry, the attorney general of Louisiana stated. “Today, along with millions across Louisiana and America, I rejoice with my departed mom and the unborn children with her in Heaven!”
US Supreme Court Religion State Separation
The third president of the United States Thomas Jefferson specifically wrote, “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions…”
Lives in the Balance
Since then it seems like things have taken a drastic step backward. Furthermore, the moral authority that conservatives seem to take regarding the matter is suspicious. The concern for human life is always a decent concern to have. However, the lives of the many children living in poverty, with no access to decent housing or health care seem to be viewed casually. According to the Children’s Rights organization, many of America’s child welfare systems are severely in need of calibration. As a result, children are directly impacted. Unfortunately, some children are separated from their siblings, and others are bounced from one foster care to another, with absolutely no stability. There are too many reports to count of children abused in systems that are supposed to protect them. Many languish for years in foster homes or institutions.
On any given day, there are nearly 424,000 children in foster care in the United States. The argument has been made that the support or concern regarding abortion should be directed to these lives. Children’s Rights Organization
The medical community has kicked back concerning the recent ruling as well. Amina Avril, a third-year medical student at NYU, expressed some trepidation about what the ruling will mean for women medically.
“I firmly believe that abortions are an essential service that should only involve a patient and their healthcare provider and like many, I have been dreading this decision for months,” said Avril. I think what is most concerning about the decision is the precedent that it sets for many other rights we’ve fought for to be called into question and potentially reversed. This country isn’t perfect, but small, albeit slow change over the years has offered me a sense of hope. But now, I and so many other women in this country are faced with feelings of fear and uncertainty over decisions regarding our health.
Thumbnail and Image Credits: Amina Avril
Sources
- I Don’t Care What The Bible Says | Ana Kasparian
- US Supreme Court Religion State Separation
- 424,000 children in foster care
- Children’s Rights Organization
- Adelola Tinubu from Current Affairs Times interviewed NYU medical student Amina Avril.
This writer is extremely well thought out with practical points to make. She's sensitive, yet sensible. Graceful, yet grounded. It's difficult to argue with her rationale.
