Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Posted by PiedType ⋅ January 22, 2013 ⋅ 8 Comments

From past years on Pied Type:

Despite the highly visible, sometimes violent protests, the law still stands. Why? Because it represents the enlightened compassion and understanding of the majority of Americans. The majority believes in a woman’s constitutional right to privacy, including the right to make her own decisions about what happens to her body.

Roe v. Wade simply ensures that all women, regardless of means, will have the option of a safe, legal medical procedure if that is their choice. It is the individual’s decision, not the government’s, not society’s, and certainly not that of anonymous protesters trying to push their own beliefs onto women in crisis.

In the 21st Century, despite all the advances of medicine, science, law, and education, there are still some who believe they are entitled to tell others — usually complete strangers — what they can and cannot do with their own bodies. There are still those who think their religious and personal views supersede the legal and personal rights of others and will resort to almost anything to impose those views.

Roe v. Wade ensures the right of every woman in the country to decide for herself whether or not to have an abortion. It also means that any woman who opposes abortion can choose not to have one.

Today, no matter how you feel about abortion, celebrate your right to choose for yourself. And respect everyone else’s right to do the same.

The Roe v Wade decision was handed down 37 years ago today and, unbelievably, women are still having to fight to keep this very personal and very basic right — the right to a safe, legal abortion.

In the 21st Century, despite all the advances of medicine, science, law, and education, there are still those who believe they have the right to tell women — complete strangers — what decisions they can and cannot make about their personal health and lives. There are still those who think their religious and personal views supersede the legal rights of others, and that lies, intimidation, violence, and even murder are legitimate ways to impose these views on others.

Pro choice advocates, today we celebrate 37 years of freedom and privacy for American women. But we can’t let our guard down.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

–Thomas Jefferson

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Discussion

8 Responses to “Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade”

Great post PT. When will people learn that the concept of “freedom” doesn’t just apply to the things we’re all comfortable with?

Posted by IzaakMak | January 22, 2013, 12:19 pm MDT

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- I wish I knew. I’ll never understand why total strangers think they have the right to keep a woman from controlling her own body.
  
  Posted by PiedType | January 22, 2013, 12:34 pm MDT
  
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  - The problem is that there’s no such thing as opening Pandora’s Box just a little bit PT. Philosophically, giving them the “right” to say what we can and can’t do in any area gives them carte blanche in ALL areas…
    
    Posted by IzaakMak | January 22, 2013, 12:50 pm MDT
    
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    - True. If they are allowed to inject their religious beliefs into women’s health care, who knows what will come next.
      
      Posted by PiedType | January 22, 2013, 2:49 pm MDT
      
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  - Never understood that either. Not only complete strangers – men: who do not have to actually deal with it all.
    It’s like TV, if you object to the show, change the channel – no one’s forcing you to watch that particular one you dislike for what ever reason. Why should you have the right to limit others’ choices who may feel differently.
    
    Posted by philosophermouseofthehedge | January 22, 2013, 2:23 pm MDT
    
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    - Exactly. As is said so often, if you don’t like abortions, don’t have one. Simple.
      
      Posted by PiedType | January 22, 2013, 2:35 pm MDT
      
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Excellent post! I can think of nothing less moral than bringing an unwanted child into the world. If the conservative religion people would think about it, they would realize there could be some common ground here. Is it not better to prevent an unwanted pregnancy in the first place than to deal with a difficult abortion question? That aside, these should be decisions made by the woman involved, not anyone else.

Posted by Gabbygeezer | January 22, 2013, 4:47 pm MDT

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- I know I sound like a broken record, but as long as the anti-abortion people keep trying to interfere with a woman’s right to make her own medical decisions and force their religious beliefs on her, I’ll keep fighting back.
  
  Posted by PiedType | January 22, 2013, 5:28 pm MDT
  
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