What Roe v. Wade Means to Me: Personal Reflections of Landmark Decision (1736 hits)
Three Under-30 Perspectives on 38 Years of Roe
Not too long ago, women were forced to take extreme risks with their lives to have an abortion. A generation of Americans came of age knowing horror stories of women dying or suffering severe medical complications from back-alley procedures. With these stories in mind, they fought for their rights and won. Today, an entire generation has been raised in a country where abortion has always been legal in their lifetime. As we mark the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade on January 22, we asked a few young ACLU members in the post-Roe generation what the decision means to them.
15 Year Old Alicia Spearman-- Irvington High School in Newark, NJ Abortion. What do you think of when this eight letter word races throughout your mind? I think of pain, grief and a terrible loss of a blessing — but we as people shouldn’t be so quick to judge. We don’t know someone else’s pain or torture. We don’t know what they went through or would have to go through if they did have a baby. And the government should not have any say-so in whether a woman should have an abortion. I feel as though if you didn’t take part in the process then you shouldn’t have a say in the conclusion. I am pro-choice and proud of it. Edward Abbey once said, “Abolition of a woman's right to abortion, when and if she wants it, amounts to compulsory maternity: a form of rape by the state.”
We also want to know what Roe v. Wade means to you. Share your thoughts on our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/aclunj --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abortion is a complicated issue. It defies any simple or easy solutions. Shades of Gray about describes it. I would love to read that poem.
My opinion--in the final analysis, it is a medical decision between a woman and her doctor--and the government has no business inserting itself in the doctor-patient relationship.
Those people who insist that a fetus have the rights of a human being have no legal basis. Even in the Christian tradition, a child is not baptized until after birth. Fetuses are not baptized.
President Clinton's formulation makes sense to me--Abortion should be safe, legal and rare.
No matter how you look at it--it is a tough decision.
Rich, you couldn't have said it better. There was a time when I was anti abortion, cut and dried. Then on the news one January or Februaary, the paper boy found a newborn wrapped in newspaper, lying in the gutter. That was the day I decided that baby would have been better off aborted than to be thrown in the gutter like any old trash. This happened before Roe VS Wade.
Friday, January 21st 2011 at 11:58PM
Thomasena Martin-Johnson
lean more toward prevention than abortion. There are so many reasons to have abortions and some be justifiable to the person's health, but in knowing this a person should practice prevetion in even a more prevelent way should cause them even more to practice prevention. Sometimes an abortion is a teaching tool...most women who had one learn the value of pro-life and they become more aware of the importance of life and are more likely to assist other women to be users of protection in intercourse. There is a lesson of life in this action of having abortions. I say: " To live and learn is a giving of life and saving one may mean giving of anothers." I appreciate the chance to air a bit. Thanks Jen.
Saturday, January 22nd 2011 at 8:00AM
MIISRAEL Bride
MIISRAEL:
Exactly right. The main tool to reduce abortion is EDUCATION!!!
As dear Lady Irma always says: EDUCATE!!! EDUCATE!!! EDUCATE!!!
Excellent example of the tragic unintended consequences of Abortion restrictions.
There has to be some leeway, especially for pregnant women whose health is so fragile that childbirth endangers them--and for women who know they are ill prepared or equipped to care fo their newborn.
Of course she should have the right to decide. However, do you think that the father's input should be factored into the equation, pro or con?
Saturday, January 22nd 2011 at 3:21PM
Thomasena Martin-Johnson
My opinion? The father should, by rights, be consulted only at the woman's request. There could well be valid reasons to exclude the father from the decision--rape being one of them.
The bottom line is this is a personal intimate decision between a woman and her doctor.
I appreciate the rich dialogue about the heated issue of abortion. Although I don't believe the govt should make choices for women, but definitely stricter regulations are needed to deter abortions. Abortion shouldn't be used as the "new pilll". I was looking up Stats for the percentage of abortion actually due to incest or rape and it was only a mere only 1%!!! The number of abortions in United States According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), show that ..."Since 1973, over 45 million legal abortions have been performed in the United States."...
As a woman, mother, and medical professional I think that abortion should only be performed if it is medically necessary when the mother's life is in danger. This might sound really harsh, but I honestly see abortion as 'Genocide' and its a shame that women who generally have been nurturers have descended to such depths that some now are so jaded that a fetus (living organism) is no longer considered a human being. Why would someone elect to voluntarily butcher their own child in guise of “freedom of choice”?
What's even more alarming to me is that the Black community is silent on the alarming increase that Black women are aborting babies. ..."In 2004, the rates of abortion by ethnicity in the U.S. were 50 abortions per 1,000 black women, 28 abortions per 1,000 Hispanic women, and 11 abortions per 1,000 white women."... I am baffled by this so much so that I scratch my head. I always try to respect everyone, but for those who can't speak for themselves, someone has to speak for them.
Saturday, January 22nd 2011 at 7:01PM
Jen Fad
I can agree with you on that ...this anniversary, in my opinion, is nothing to "celebrate"...
Saturday, January 22nd 2011 at 10:48PM
Jen Fad
...And for a woman to take a unilateral decision regarding aborting a child when there is a loving father in the mix is totally selfish.
Saturday, January 22nd 2011 at 10:50PM
Jen Fad
Thank you Jen.
There are many reasons why a woman would opt for an abortion. I agree totally--it is not a medical procedure to be taken lightly or casually. It certainly should not be used as a birth control pill.
However--that being said, my preference is to leave it as a private matter for the individuals and their doctors. We should continue to educate people to avoid unwanted pregnancies in the first place.
I do not believe the government should be making judgements about individuals motivations. It is the conservatives who want to get government off the backs of the people--and here I do agree with them.
About your use of the term "genocide"--I think that is hyperbole. Nobody forces anyone to have an abortion if they don't want it. It is an active decision made by the principals and the medical professionals. A voluntary procedure is not genocide.
I still think the best we can hope for when it comes to abortion is to make it safe, legal and rare.
@ Brother Rich, I've thought long and hard over the issue of abortion long before posting here on such a polarizing issue of this magnitude. The issue of abortions has counties, governments, and entire households divided. Having said that, I don't apologize or regret using said "strong term" to depict what I personally see abortion as.
I guess its safe to say that I wasn't attempting to be "politically correct" with my use of the term genocide but for clarity's sake, I personally consider it to be a "form of genocide" where people unknowingly have been brainwashed into thinking its okay to "at will" destroy human life for mostly selfish reasons. It seems to me that animals have more value at times than unborn babies. I digress. I've seen first hand how doctors allow greed to get in the way of giving patients truly informed consent.
What is a better term? Shall I use Infanticide, Neonaticide, or Babecide for lack of an accepted term from the International community? Perhaps those terms are more palatable but still when all is said and done, precious babies have been obliterated.
Sunday, January 23rd 2011 at 11:37AM
Jen Fad
In America, we have this 'throw a rock and hide you hand" syndrom. We say we are against abortion and hinge it on God, yet we do not teach s*x education and claim it is because it is up to the parents. Well the parents don't think so or the lesson is not learned or????
We claim we are against child abuse but it is okay to have a baby and abandon it. Now the child spends a life time with abandonment issues.
Why aren't young men taught to love, provide, and protect their own if they love the baby and they are so pained if he is not consulted? He wasn't conserned enough to wrap it up....
Then there are those who hang the jacket on God. He also said to reserve s*x for marriage, but the society tells boys to "get all they can get' and the Government tells the young girl, "don't worry about his; kick him to the curb. We will feed your babies and pay for them getting here."
But if he marries her and and steps up to the plate, where is the help for him to shoulder his responsibility when he is sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen etc.?
Brother Clark, The issue of children being able to obtain an abortion procedure without a parent's consent or knowledge really terrifies the heck out of me. What adult in his/her right mind would think an adolescent girl (prone to emotional and hormonal roller coasters of life) can really give informed consent? There are plenty of adults who don't fully understand medical or surgical procedures after the doctor has explained it to them so give me a break as former President Bill Clinton would say. It's insane.
By definition, informed consent means comprehension of the risks and benefits of tests, procedures and treatments once the doctor has explained them to the patient. I know plenty of grown folk once the doctor asks them so do you have any questions say nothing. Just between us because I know many of you have had teens, how many questions would you think they would ask a doctor besided will it hurt? That's about as much as I will give credit to a teenage girl regarding informed consent. The saying, "Don’t sign anything until you know what you are signing" doesn't apply.
@ Sister Thomasena, I hear you loud and clear. Everything goes back to home training. Clearly there needs to be accountability. Parents have to be responsible for their children and teach them to value family and human life.
Sunday, January 23rd 2011 at 5:17PM
Jen Fad
Thanks for this really insightful and thought provoking poem. Truly life is not white and black alone, but there are a whole lot of grey areas in between. In regards to Rev. Childress, Jr. statement, "The most dangerous place for an African American to be is in the womb of their African American mother". ... I say God have mercy on the unborn babies!
Monday, January 24th 2011 at 12:37PM
Jen Fad
Please don't misunderstand me, becaue it is aweful what occurred with the nine year old girl. What became of her situation?
Monday, January 24th 2011 at 12:39PM
Jen Fad
Lena:
Thank you so much for sharing the poem and the story.
You so eloquently describe the moral ambiguity that defies easy formulas.
It sure was a real life tragedy...and a stunning poem.
@ Brother Rich, Indeed it was a real life tragedy as well as a stunning poem. I hope the baby was adopted out to a really loving family. My heartfelt prayers to out to the young child. What a tragedy!
Monday, January 24th 2011 at 3:16PM
Jen Fad
Good News: Hundreds of Thousands March for Life Hundreds of thousands of life advocates gathered in Washington, D.C., today for the 38th annual March for Life. They marched in remembrance of the estimated 48 million preborn babies who have lost their lives in the nearly four decades since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in Roe v. Wade.
The Rev. Mark Ivany, who led Mass before the march, compared the crowd to civil rights advocates of the past. “The greatest difference between other civil rights movements and this one is that most of the people affected by Roe v. Wade can’t march on Washington,” Ivany said. “They can’t give great speeches.”
Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., was one of dozens of lawmakers who addressed the crowd. “Let us recommit today to even more persevering prayer, fasting and hard work to ensure the human rights of all, regardless of age, race, religion, s*x, disability, immaturity or condition of dependency.” “This ‘acceptable bigotry — prejudice against the child in the womb’ has been promoted for decades,” he said, “despite breathtaking advances in fetal medicine. … The weekend events culminate with the 29th annual Rose Dinner tonight. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., is the keynote speaker.
@ Sister Irma, I hear you loud and clear.
Tuesday, January 25th 2011 at 2:44PM
Jen Fad
@tHOMASENA...FIRST THIS COUNTRY MUST BE ABLE TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS s*x...THAT (SOME)WOMEN DON'T OBEY THEIR NOR ACCEPT BEING RAPED OR ABUSED BY THEIR HUSBANDS AS UNDER THE LAWS OF MAN OR GOD...THAT MANY DIVORCES SHOULD NOT BE GRANTED OVER SPOUSES HAVING s*x WITH SOMEONE ELSE AS IT IS A NATURAL BEHAVIOR THAT HAS NOTIHNG TO DO WITH LOVE, ECT...THAT IS IS NATURAL...THEN TEACH s*x EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS SO MANY YOUNG CHILDREN WILL NOT HAVE TO FALL FOR THIS "IF YOU LOVE ME"..."I AM GOING TO LEAVE MY SPOUSE FOR YOU WORKS BOTH WAYS"...TAHT SAFE s*x DOES NOT MEAN GIVING PEOPLE PREMISSION TO HAVE s*x AND TAHT WE DO NOT HAVE s*x O-N-L-Y TO HAVE CHILDREN...THAT IT IS NOT GOOD TO SEE FATHR AND MOTHER TRYING TO HURT KILL ABUSE EACH OTHER JUST TO KEEP THE FRONT OF HAVING A MALE IN TEH HOUSEHOLD IS A GOOD THING...OR JUST USE THIS AS A DEFENSE THAT SHE HAD TO HAVE A MAN IN THE HOME IS WHY SHE SPENT SO MANY YEARS BEING BEATEN ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT HAD TO KILL HER ABOUSER BEFORE THE CHILD(REN) GOT OUT OF SCHOOL AND ON THEIR OWN...
LETS JUST SART TO ADOBT CHILDREN BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT THESE CHILD REN WERE UNWANTED THEREFORE THEY GREW UP BAD....
UNWANTED BY WHOM SINCE NO ON STEPT UP TO OFFER A LOVING HOME TO THEM...WE ALL HAVE UNWANTED CHILDREN IN OUR LOCAL AREAS...LETS START PUTTING OUR TALK INTO ACTION...SO THERE WILL BE NO NEED FOR ABORTIONS...END THE WARS, NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...OR BETTER YET LETS TEND TO OUR OWN BUSINESS IF LIP SERVICE TO DEMEAN THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS IS THE ONLY THING WE ARE WILLING TO DO...
OH AND IN s*x EDUCATION CLASSES ONE LEARNS ABOUT HOW A WOMAN CAN ONLY GET PREGNANT WITHIN 72 HOURS A MONTH...IT MAY JEOP A LOT OF WOMEN NOT LEAVE THEIR CHURCHES ALSO...WOMEN DO NOT ACCEPT BEING CONSIDERED AN OBJECT LIKE THEY USE TO DO....(SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...AND, BACK TO THE MUST HAVE A FATHER...TELL TEH GOVERNMENT WHO KEEPS SENDING FATHERS OFF TO WAR TO KILL OTHER FATHERS OR TO BE KILLED THEMSELVES...
WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF OURSELVES ON THIS SUBJECT IN TEH FIRST PLACE WHILE SAYING WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS AND SELFRESPECT AND MORALS...(NUP)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Well, at least with DNA, the father's old SAY in this ("It is not mine does not work any more"...I don't believe shot gun weddings and having more than one wife works when it comes to how much more children a male can have tahtna female in 9 months...or I soubt if the female wants to return to the dday of having to marry someone they don't want to marry, ect...
so maybe we need to start looking at abourtion as maybe not our business if it is not us that is to make tis decission for strangers or religions or socal status, ect...
HOW IS ANYONE SUPPOSE TO KNOW HOW MANY ABORTIONS ARE PREFORMED ANY WAY...
AND WHAT SENTENCE DO YOU GIVE WOMEN LIKE ME WITH DEFECTIVE CERVIX TAHT ABORT NATURALLY BECAUSE OF THE BODY WE WERE BORN WITH...WOMEN WHO DON'T WANT TO MARRY, ECT. BUT CHOSE TO HAVE CHILDREN BECAUSE IT IS JUST THAT THEIR CHOICE TO DO SO...(SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Me, I will take all of this abortion matter as being serious the day after we run out of excuses for killing (those that have been born) from : lack of food, shelter, heath care to war. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
@Jen, it seem that it has been made final and one of the reasons "I" asked fo rsomeone to post the Hannity@FNC.co proGram tonight...Rev. Al Sharpton was being dressed down because since roe v. wade we in teh black community have actually been comminting genocie so much that our race's numbers have been cut in half...
maybe some day soon we will be taught how we as a race can manage to accomplish having teh greatest numbers of children and have genocide at the same time...
OH ALMOST FORGOT, THIS was given as ANOTHER REASON GIVEN IN ThIS INTERVIEW ON WHY WE SHOULD NOT BACK A 'BLACK' PRESIDENT IN TEH COMING ELECTION OF 2012...WELL JUST SAYING THIS IF NO ONE POST THE VIDEO OF THIS AS i HAVE ASKED SOMEONE TO DO...(SMILE)
but then I guess we can say we committ genocide as lONG AS WE don't say the word '*****' right? (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
@Jen and anyone who soes not know that "I" only speak agasinst the abuse of religion to promote bigotery and hatred and miseducation in teh name of their religion...and such abuse makes me shutter to hear about some religions being concerned about the welfare of our children or even havin gour young children in their care...and, even so much moe when tis is a state where not only are theri starving children but children without police protections because of abouses by those charged with protecting them and still out there trying to trun their fellow mankind against each other in teh name of justice, freedom and loving your neighbor as i have loved you...give me a break and be concerned about those females out there committing sucide because they don't want to have another baby or killing a mate just to not get killed because they are trapped in that ver relationship morally and legally because of these miseducations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...oh lets not forget the adrian yates that kill their own children because having babies have driven them insane...oh, but w3e only call men menatl when they committ mass murder in america don't we...equal rights....???????????????????? (nup)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Thanks for this blog Jen as it shows that respect for humankind is due to all humans. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
