Back in 2012, Oklahoma women were marching against a “personhood” bill that was moving through the state legislature. A University of Oklahoma student brought this sign (below) to the march, and a sympathetic female legislator, State Senator Judy Eason McIntyre (D), borrowed it for a photo op. She said, “I saw a sea of signs that caught my eye, but this one in particular — I loved its offensive language, because it’s just as offensive for Republicans of Oklahoma to do what they’re doing as it relates to women’s bodies. I don’t apologize for it.”
And today, 14 years later, it’s still offensive that anyone, Republican or otherwise, thinks they have the right to regulate women’s bodies. That particular Oklahoma bill didn’t make it into law. But ultimately, in 2022, the nationwide protection of Roe v. Wade was overturned by Donald Trump’s Supreme Court in its Dobbs decision. Since then, twenty states have passed bans or severe restrictions on abortion.
For an up-to-date report with accompanying maps, see “Tracking Abortion Bans Across the Country” in the New York Times, October 1, 2024. The story charts the current situation in every state.
Yes, what abortion opponents are doing is offensive. It’s obscene. It’s utterly without compassion. Women are dying because of the restrictions on abortion, a difficult and very personal health care decision in which neither total strangers — nor any government — have a valid interest.
Keep this in mind when you cast your vote on or before November 5 because, one way or another, every female you know will be affected.
“The true republic:
men, their rights, and nothing more;
women, their rights, and nothing less.”
— Susan B. Anthony
I agree with everything you say, Colorado.
Down here we’re much more fortunate than you; but then, we don’t have a whole passel of men pretending to be motivated by religious belief in our various governments, either State or Federal.
Any bastard who stood on that kind of platform simply wouldn’t be elected – and in that scenario we’re assisted by mandatory voting and NO ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
Our system worked pretty well for a long time. No one ever imagined that a malignant narcissist like Trump could get elected. Not sure how we remedy the obvious problems and move forward. The lawmakers who must change the laws are the beneficiaries of the current broken system.
I’m with you 100% on this but. You say, “The lawmakers who must change the laws are the beneficiaries of the current broken system.” But the lawmakers are not the root cause of the problem. Let’s say it. They benefit because they pander to the religious right who would ignore science and take us toward a theocracy.
I’ve just always thought how awkward it is that elected lawmakers are the same people who make the laws and how unlikely it is that they’ll ever pass laws unfavorable to themselves — term limits, for example.
It is imperative that voters consider more than the Presidency. Across the board, more moderate candidates must be elected. Congress and state legislatures must represent more than the ultra conservative agenda.
Now let’s get our bibles out and study Leviticus.
I plead ignorance. I haven’t looked at a Bible since I was in high school.
This is a good primer without having to read the whole thing.
https://youtu.be/Agy88gCk1K0
Note that some apologists will turn themselves into knots trying to find justification for their anti-abortion stance. But, their arguments are more emotional than scholarly.
Thanks for the video, but 48 minutes is about 43 minutes more than I’m willing to give to what the Bible says or doesn’t say about abortion.
It’s a good reference for anyone debating with christians about their justification for their anti-abortion stance.
Basically, the Bible says nothing about abortion directly, but indirectly, it counters many of the arguments made by pro-lifers.
Ultimately, you are correct. I also don’t care what the Bible (or any “holy” book says) about modern issues, but this is a good primer for people who haven’t read the Bible because it’s difficult countering christians who quote passages if you aren’t familiar with the relevance of said passages.
This channel also has a good discussion about the Ten Commandments, apropos the recent Luisiana law about posting them in classrooms.
I think religion should remain private, in one’s heart, home, and place of worship. Believers have no right to impose their religious beliefs on others — certainly not by converting their personal religious beliefs into laws that apply to everyone. They need to study the Constitution as well as their religious tomes. And, as always, if they don’t believe in abortion, they don’t have to get one. There’s no law requiring it.
That’s where reading the Bible might help. They insist it’s murder, and hence why they are against it.
But what the Bible says completely refutes that.
Posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms? Meh. How ’bout Oklahoma requiring a Bible in every classroom, specifying that the 55,000 Bibles be the King James version and include the Pledge of Allegiance, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights. They “must also be bound in leather or leather-like material for durability.” Interesting that just about the only Bible that meets those requirements is the one being sold by Donald Trump …
The same superintendent has also announced that all schools must teach the Bible and the Ten Commandments.
I’ve not read about any challenges, but I assume they’re coming.
I certainly hope so.
AP is reporting today that Oklahoma has amended its request for Bibles. The Bibles no longer have to include US historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Yes❤️
👍