Monday, January 24, 2011

Happy Anniversary, Roe V Wade

On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court passed down a decision that has affected mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and virtually every living or potentially living human being in this country. This particular decision allows a woman to "abort" or "terminate" a pregnancy "up until such time as the fetus is viable".

What does that mean? What is a "viable fetus", anyway? Ask our current Commander in Chief and he would answer "....that's above my pay grade.".

Suffice to say that there isn't a person walking the face of the earth that hasn't been affected by the abortion issue. You may know someone who has decided to have one (an acquaintance, friend or loved one). You absolutely know someone who has decided not to have one (if no one else, your own mother made that "choice"). Regardless your personal thoughts on the subject, it has become a political lightning rod over the course of the last 38 years.

If you don't believe me, just bring it up the next time you're in a social setting.

I, like many others have my own thoughts on the subject, based on my personal experiences. I am pro-life (primarily because my mother was for the 9 months prior to my birth - it kinda stuck with me, I guess).

Setting the abortion debate aside, I would like to call to your attention a severely under-reported story playing out in real time in Pennsylvania.

You see, in the name of "reproductive rights", "privacy", and "choice", a certain abortionist named Kermit Gosnell has operated for the last 30 years, pretty much without regard to any regulatory restrictions whatsoever. Things like the "Born Alive Infant Protection Act", counseling requirements and sterilization of surgical tools didn't hinder this butcher whatsoever. This man's market was minority and poverty-stricken women that nobody would really pay attention to, but a money-making market, none the less.

First, the fact that this story is not plastered all over the front pages of the newspapers or the lead story for your nightly prime time news show is very telling. Anything that paints "reproductive choice" in a bad light needs to be swept under the rug, post-haste.

Second, I thought Roe Vs. Wade was supposed to put an end to the "coat-hanger abortions" that were happening prior to 1973. If you follow the links below, I think you'll find that that is certainly not the case. This man has been indicted for the murder of 2 women, and 7 "viable fetuses". God knows how many more victims he has left in his wake. Even more troubling is the complicity of the state agencies that have allowed this horror show to play out for the last 30 years unchecked.

I have one thing to add before I list the links - a content warning, especially if you read part or all of the grand jury indictment (there are pictures included in this 287-page report). This stuff belongs in a horror movie, not the real deal, and certainly not in America. I have spent most of the day wondering how many more clinics exist like the "Women's Medical Society". One is one too many.

Follow the links at your own risk:

Philadelphia Horror

Grand Jury Indictment

The next time you get a chance, call you Mom and thank her.