The kids and I walked up to campus last week for a rally against
Proposition 26 aka The Personhood Amendment.
Even though I firmly believe life begins at conception,
I worry about the broad nature of the proposed amendment.
AD: Section 33. Person defined. As used in this Article III of the state constitution, "The term 'person' or 'persons' shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof."
What about hormonal birth control?
If this amendment becomes a part of Mississippi's constitution,
will hormonal birth control be outlawed?
I believe more women should take charge of their own fertility through the Fertility Awareness Method but I also believe hormonal birth control is a necessary component of society.
What about ectopic pregnancy?
What about terminal conditions that are not compatible with life?
I would continue a pregnancy with a diagnosis of Trisomy 18 or 13 or Anencephaly,
but many families choose to end those pregnancies.
What about those women and families?
Rape victims deserve the "morning after pill".
Women have chosen abortion for various reasons since the dawn of time.
Women will continue to end pregnancies regardless of constitutional amendments.
Those women deserve safe and clean clinics, not 'underground' facilities and doctors.
So yeah.
We went on campus for a rally against Proposition 26.
The kids had a blast.
Obviously.
I left feeling very unsettled.
Unsettled about this proposed constitutional amendment.
Unsettled about the future of women's healthcare in my state.
Unsettled about the many future implications I can't even fathom.
Unsettled that many passionate "YESers" are not seeing the big picture.
Unsettled how so many Mississippi citizens actually believe this a step forward.
Mississippians, have you done your research?
How are you voting?
11 comments:
I agree with everything you said! Doesn't mean I'm totally comfortable with it all, but I feel those are the right things to believe in.
I technically can't vote because I didn't switch my registration in time. (hangs head in shame...) And I would have to research more but I would lean toward voting yes. If you are correct that life begins at conception (and I completely agree with you that it does) then hormonal birth control has the capacity to kill a little tiny baby much the same as abortion. And a baby conceived by rape is still a baby. Two wrongs don't make a right.
I find that if you follow that statement "life begins at conception" through to its logical end-you come to realize that it's not only abortion that is ending the life of an unborn human being, but birth control and IVF as well.
Although I highly doubt that 26 would actually stop these things. They are just too prevalent in our society. I do understand the fear though.
I'm rambling..... but you asked ;)
Cute pictures!
I am not from Mississippi so I'm not familiar with this measure.
I am very prolife. Let me tell you why.
First, I think if it this way, if a mother was pregnant and someone stabbed them, and killed mother and killed baby inside they are tried for double murder. JUST because the mother was planning on keeping the baby. But unless I'm confused it's still a baby whether or not the baby is wanted or not. the life is still there. Then there's parents who kill their children like when they are 5. How is that different? A life begins at conception why can someone kill a person who is inside. Where's their choice??
Secondly, I was adopted. I was adopted as a baby because my birth mother got pregnant at a very young age. But she chose life. She chose to keep me alive. I was adopted by my family now and I am so grateful. I thank the Lord that my birth mom had the courage to keep me and that my adoptive mom was able to have a child because she had disease that later killed her. But my dad and her were so happy to have gotten a child.
Thirdly, only 1% of abortions are from rape. 6% are because something happen because of some medical reason about the child. 93% are for social reasons. Many of them happen because birth control fails.
Abortion is not something that happens on occasion. 1.2 MILLION babies are being killed. Something is wrong with a society where that many people are killing their own children.
I can see how you feel unsettled. Alaska has been taking some major blows in the woman's right to choose department lately, and it is hard.
I am also a believer that life begins at conception, but I also live in a place where child abuse and neglect are rampant. It is heartbreaking to see the flip side of the coin--many babies are born to parents who don't want them or care about them, but are too apathetic or wishy-washy to give them up to a family who would really treasure and care for them. Many of these children are born with disabilities related to drug and alcohol abuse in utero, and born to parents who struggle with the same difficulties.
The abortion issue is never as black and white as people make it out to be. Women's reasons for choosing this option span a whole spectrum of situations. We never get to walk a mile in the shoes of a woman in this situation, so I think it is critical not to make assumptions or judgements off the cuff.
It is hard for me to imagine terminating a pregnancy when I get to hold my own sweet baby girl in my arms at night and feel my heart overflowing with love and gratitude... but I also realize that not every woman has that luxury or option.
I feel the need to state the fact that I did not write this in terms of a "pro-life vs. pro-choice" debate. This amendment will be voted on by Mississippi citizens in less than a month and I wanted to state my views because I have lots of Mississippi mamas reading my blog :)
I also wanted to shout from the rooftops that you can vote NO on Prop 26 and still be very much pro-life. Voting no is not your stamp of approval for abortion. As I originally stated, the implications for this consitutional amendment are vast....it is not simply do you want accessible abortions in this state.
Mississippi Medical Association's stance:
http://www.msmaonline.com/Docs/MSMA%20Alerts/11_Oct_10_Proposal_26_email2.pdf
vlk, :)
Kaitlin, I see what you are saying but I just don't think the pro-life issue is that black and white, especially in regards to this proposition. What about ectopic pregnancy?
Cassie, I'm glad your birth mother chose life! I wish we lived in a society where more women felt secure and supported to make such a decision at a young age. I understand why you point out the various percentages but in terms of this proposition for my state, I still can't support this amendment.
Tara, my thoughts exactly! Then throw in the fact that this amendment opens up the possibility of ending life saving measures for the mother.....
And what about IVF snowbabies in a freezer somewhere. If a parent decides not to go through placing those, is she responsible for murder?
The ectopic thing scares the hell out of me. It's the sort of thing that could kill a woman or at the very least render her tube useless and possibly make her infertile. I don't live in the state, but I have told all of my friends and family to please research and vote NO.
And does the state not think women will travel out of state to have procedures done? Is the state going to waste taxpayer dollars to prosecute these women? So much to think about.
I'm voting yes. I get all of your reasons but as a firm believer that ALL babies have the right to life, I'm voting yes. A child shouldn't be punished for the lack of responsibility. If a woman doesn't want to get pregnant, she should take birth control or practice safe sex or simply not have sex at all.why should a baby be murdered for simply be an "inconvenience"? If rapist and people who commit incest don't receive the death penalty then why should a child? Why have we come to save the whales, the trees but kill the children? And if a woman decides to go to some shady clinic that's on her. That's her choice. It's not like she's forced to have an abortion. BUT I will say, why have we come down to the government telling us it's wrong to abort a child? Isn't that a no brainer?? You may not agree with this rambling but as a woman who had a child young (17), and had the option to "terminate" the pregnancy, I chose to keep my sweet baby. I wouldn't have it any other way. I do think that before an abortion is performed, the mother should see a sonogram of the gift growing inside her. It sure kept me from making a terrible decision by actually seeing him as a person. I don't agree with some things covered in the amendment but as a Christian, it's my job to protect brothers and sisters of Christ, wanted or not. I really thought you would have been more likely to vote yes on this issue.
i'm with you, laura. i'm personally pretty pro-life, but this proposed measure has the capacity to take away ALL choice from women regarding their medical care. i actually just posted about it! too many unknowns, what-ifs, imbalances and in my opinion, willful ignorance of the issues at hand.
I agree that it isn't "black and white" in the sense that women choose abortion for thousands of reasons, sometimes on their own, sometimes pressured, sometimes forced. There are thousands of emotions that go into it I'm sure. But IF life really does begin at conception, then we MUST take measures to protect that life. Whether that life is in danger from abortion, being an IVF "leftover" or dying from hormonal birth control. If its life, which I believe it is of course, we have an obligation to protect it.
I don't know if 26 is the right way to do it-like I said I haven't researched it much.
And with ectopic pregnancies-the Catholic Church (which is where I base my reason) would never suggest that a woman die because of an ectopic pregnancy. The Church has a clear stance on this situation-called the principal of double effect. I think it's quite a stretch to say that if 26 were adopted, women would be forced to give up their lives for an ectopic baby (not that you said that, but I've seen it elsewhere).
But you've got me thinking!
one of the major problems with this bill is that it keeps women who are NOT going to have abortions from making other choices regarding their reproductive care. this amendment provides no exceptions, no protections, to an issue that causes passionate debate and convictions on both sides. and the most horrifying thought? the loss of the morning-after pill for rape victims. i am not on birth control, and if i were raped tomorrow, i would most likely become pregnant. my first child would not be my husband's, and to not be allowed to prevent - not terminate or abort - that pregnancy? horrific.
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