Abortion Debate

The point is we do need to talk about and think about abortion. The point is there are better procedures for getting rid of an unwanted pregnancy than going into a woman’s womb and suctioning it out or scraping it out. The point is the “intact dilation and extraction (partial birth abortion),” is a barbaric procedure and something else needs to be figured out for the few women who would be affected by the procedure being outlawed. The point is many Roman Catholic women practice contraception and those who want abortions get them. And many priests in the Roman Catholic religion counsel women to make their own decisions about both issues. The point is we all need to get information on the “morning after pills” which are available to any girl or woman who wants to take them. They prevent conception if taken immediately after unprotected sex occurs. But they do not work when conception has already taken place. The point is we all need find out about the RU486 pill, which chemically induces abortion. It is not to be used after the 49th day (seven weeks) of pregnancy. It is available to women who want it. The point is no abortion technique should be readily available after 7 weeks unless it is medically necessary. If a woman can’t make up her mind to abort by seven weeks, she should carry to term. The point is if a woman wants to abort a fetus she can do so. And only she and her doctor need to know about it. And as long as medical technology exists, the ways to end an unwanted pregnancy will become easier, less invasive and more private as time goes on. The point is the whole so-called abortion debate is a political ploy and is pure nonsense. And Congress knows it, the Roman Catholic Church knows it and the far-right religious factions know it. But here’s the real point. Today, regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, George W. Bush said : “The Supreme Court’s decision is an affirmation of the progress we have made over the past six years in protecting human dignity and upholding the sanctity of life. We will continue to work for the day when every child is welcomed in life and protected in law.” The profound arrogance and hypocrisy of George Bush claiming his administration has been “protecting human dignity” and “upholding the sanctity of life” while it has willingly murdered thousands of innocent people in Afghanistan and Iraq will not be lost on voters in the next election.