The Veil Behind the Mask

By: Ms. K

      A woman’s choice is a woman’s right. The decision to control one’s body should be their choice, but what happens when does decisions affects another life. When the decision affects an unborn child? Does it become a debate of who has a voice? A woman has a choice, the government has the law, but the baby is silent. It becomes a battlefield between pro-life and pro-choice. It’s not an easy decision that anyone woman can make, it might be filled with mixed emotions: regrets, sorrow, confusion, relief, and joy. Who’s right, and who’s wrong? Where does the line get drawn between having the ability to choose, and having the ability to take a life? It’s been forty years since Roe v. Wade, but the debate still remains between pro-choice and pro- life. Where does the line get drawn for a woman’s right? 

Women should have the liberty to choose, and not feel guilty about her decision. Guilt, shame, embarrassment should not be adjectives to describe a woman’s decision for pro- choice. Who has the right to tell a woman what to feel, or how to live her life? It seems that the movement for a woman’s liberation came and went with a blink of an eye, and people feel they have the right to still cast judgment. No one understands a woman’s body like a woman. The Roe v. Wade case stated in CNN Library (2013) “January 22, 1973- The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision, affirms the legality of a woman’s right to have an abortion under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.” This landmark case happened in 1973, yet we are in 2013 and still having an abortion, or thinking about it draws stares, is still consider deviant behavior.  It’s not a black and white decision it’s a level of gray that blinds people and makes it hard for some people to see beyond the velvet rope.  In recent news, Stan wrote at the Pro-Choice Congress (2014):

Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), co-chair of the House Pro- Choice Caucus and ranking members on the House Committee on Rules, opened the press conference by citing a recent poll that shows 70 percent of Americans say they don’t want to see Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, overturned, “ I have been in this fight for 40 years imagine that,” Slaughter said. She also noted that she believes access to abortion is not an issue that belongs before any legislature, especially not to be decided, she said, “ by men in blue suits and red ties.”

Yet, this was never mentioned when the President delivered his most recent State of Union Speech on television.  With H.R.7 recently being passed in the House the country seems to be going backwards from Roe v. Wade. The Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2014 bill states (2014) “that no taxpayer funding for Abortion.” What is happening in the government? What does passing this bill mean for woman now that is on route to the Senate? The bill stated 113^th Congress (2014) “Prohibits the expenditure of funding authorized or appropriated by federal law or funds in any trust fund to which funds are authorized or appropriated by federal law (federal funds) for any abortion. (Currently, federal funds cannot be used for abortion services, except in cases involving rape, incest, or life endangerment.)” This case will become a landmark, and in some people views it would be turning time backwards.  If the Senate passes this bill it will affect groups that use the funding to help women. One of the organizations that will be affected would be “Planned Parenthood” which gets a lot of negative feedback because they perform abortion, but they also provide general health to females from low-income families who don’t have insurance.  This will affect every group that uses funding to give women the option to have an abortion.  A woman’s decision, body, and rights is about to become a big debate especially if the men in power get their control and turn the hands of time backwards. We will have to see who has the louder roar, because as a nation that is suppose to be liberal this bill will reopen old wounds. Women voices are about to become a very powerful tool.

Where does life begin? Who has the ultimate decision? We know a woman knows her body, but when she becomes pregnant its not only her body. She becomes a vessel for an unborn child. This child does not have a voice, an opinion, or say. A life is so precious, it has a beginning and an end, but when a decision is made where is their life if it’s stolen without permission? Bradley states (2014) “the goal of the pro-life movement has been to convince Americans that abortion is wrong chiefly by making them see what abortion really is: killing an innocent human person for reason that would never justify killing anyone else, including an infant once born.” Giving life should be the most precious moment in a woman’s life. Pro-Life organizations annually have a walk for life, and just because some governmental are conservatives does not mean they give them the same respect in the media. Yoder wrote this article, but Charmaine Yoest president and CEO of Americans United for Life made a statement (2014):

Pro-life movement is succeeding, despite the neglect of the networks and other media. The hearts of American are turning toward woman and the lives they carry, with a growing belief that all life is valuable. And this is taking place even as networks and news leaders ignore what is happening right in front of them, year after year, as thousands come to Washington, D.C. to make their voices heard.

A baby life is inherent the moment of conception. The baby had no plan; the baby didn’t say a word. While H.R. 7 might not be seen in a positive light for pro-choice groups, pro-life sees the bill as a step towards in the right direction. Ertelt states (2014):

This critically important legislation is called the No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, Brain Burch of CatholicVote said. This legislation has been updated to deal with the horrible expansion of abortion that began with the implementation of Obamacae. The House is ready to lead. If they pass this bill, the pressure will be on the Senate Democrats up for election this year in red states like Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, and North Carolina.

This H.R.7 bill is going to become a new landmark for Pro-life groups because it would redefine their fight. It would change what happen forty years ago in the Supreme Court with Roe v. Wade. A baby would regain their voice. An innocent life would no longer become a trash because they don’t have voice.

A woman’s liberation will soon be screen shot into limbo. A baby voice might finally be heard. But who wins in these cases? Forty years ago Roe v. Wade made landmark-granting women the choice to terminate a pregnancy within 24 weeks. If H.R.7 gets pass what does that mean for women in the future? Will they change how women-receiving contraception? Will Plan B still be available? This bill will open many people eyes, even if you’re pro-choice or pro-life.

 

Reference

113^th Congress. (2013-2014). H.R.7- No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2014. Retrieved from http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/house-bill/7

Bradley, V. G. (2014). The Pro-Life Movement, Forty-One Years after Roe. Retrieved from http://www.rightsidenews.com/2014020133822/life-and-science/culture-wars/the-pro-life-movement-forty-one-years-after-roe.html

Ertelt, Steven. (2014). House Passes Bill to Completely Ban Taxpayer Funding of Abortions. Retrieved from http://www.lifenews.com/2014/01/28/house-passes-bill-to-completely-ban-taxpayer-funding-of-abortions/

Gerson, M. ( 2011). Family planning as a pro-life case. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/family-planning-as-a-pro-life-cause/2011/08/29/gIQAR9XHoJ_story.html

Library, C. (2013). Roe v. Wade Fast Facts. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/04/us/roe-v-wade-fast-facts/

Stan, M.A., (2014). Pro-Choice Congress Members Denounce ‘Extreme’ Ant-Choice Bill.            Retrieved from http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2014/01/29/pro-choice-congress-members-denounce-extreme-anti-choice-bill/

Yoder, K. (2014). Pro-Life Leaders Slam Networks for Pitiful March for Life Coverage.

Retrieved from http://www.lifenews.com/2014/01/31/pro-life-leaders-slam-networks-for-pitiful-march-for-life-coverage/