In the U.S.A., people have the right to protest peacefully in the streets. This concept is fundamental to democracy. Today, there will be an annual anti-abortion march in Washington, D.C., the March for Life. Women and male allies will walk to express their opinions on this issue. Like other groups, they have the right to do this. Bystanders do not have to agree with the marchers to respect their right to demonstrate.
What I feel about abortions in my private life is just that - private. I know in my heart and mind that it's neither my place to judge nor mandate what others do in their private lives. My ego doesn't grow that way. That's why I can't dictate whether one supports this march or chooses to terminate a pregnancy. Because I am blessed with a diversity of friends - in race, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, age, gender, ability, socio-economic status, and sexual orientation - the readers of this post fit everywhere on political issue spectrums. Today is for the anti-abortion crowd. If you are against abortion rights, I hope you:
- know that Planned Parenthood does not receive federal funds to perform abortions.
- adopt at least one child whose parents cannot care for it.
- care for a motherless family that lost a woman who did not terminate a pregnancy despite the risk to her life.
- counsel and support women, and their families, whose pregnancies are the result of rape.
- have a moral distribution plan for taxpayers so that all people can restrict their funds (i.e., pacifists not paying taxes for military and intelligence spending).
- work to save all lives after labor and delivery, even those of convicted criminals.
- come to believe that all people should be able to choose their paths in life regardless of whether later they regret those choices or are grateful for them.
- are in favor of prenatal care, universal healthcare, universal PreK, feeding the hungry, affordable childcare, and low-cost, safe housing for all.
- put resources behind efforts to locate and punish parents who abandon pregnant women and children.
- are in all communities distributing family planning information and tools.
- are prepared to have strangers tell you what to do with your body.
- will harbor and support in all ways a woman whose pregnancy puts her in mortal danger from her family and community members.
- remember the horror desperate women submitted to during pre-legal abortion days, and don't stop there enthusiastically do things that enable people to live with your choice for their lives.
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