It Should Be HER Choice. Not Yours.
This is a political post. If interested, please scroll down.
The Republican party is pro-life.
This however has now been shown to be a massive lie. For, it is now obvious that Republicans only care about fetuses. Actual human beings? They could care less.
They don’t want to provide prenatal care.
They don’t want to provide post-birth care.
They don’t want to fund day care.
They don’t want to provide health insurance.
They have fought against Social Security since its creation.
They have fought against Medicare and Medicaid since their creation.
They fought against the Americans with Disabilities Act.
And on and on and on.
It is now wholly obvious. Republicans do NOT care about human life. Rather, they just want to control a woman’s body.
A Facebook post has gone viral. It is written by a woman named Jennifer Abel. I find it very powerful, and I re-post it here:
I have felt a heaviness in my soul lately.
For the past couple of weeks, I’ve felt it. A weight. The heaviness. So this morning—when a block of time unexpectedly opened in my schedule, I closed myself in my room, read some of John’s gospel, opened my journal, and prayed, “OK, God. What is it? My heart feels heavy. I need to write. But I don’t have words. What is this feeling?”
And I began to write—Heartbreak. It’s heartbreak. And disillusionment. I’ve been here before—so many times before since 2016. And here I am again.
I keep seeing Christians say they can’t vote for Joe Biden because of his stance on abortion. I’ve seen Christians proudly state they are single-voter issues – it all comes down to abortion. So they’ll vote for Trump. Because he promises to appoint Supreme Court Justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade. That’s the one and only thing that matters.
But why? Why is that the one and only thing that matters?
Is that the one and only thing that matters to Jesus? Reading through the Bible, I would say unequivocally “NO.” What does the Bible say directly about abortion? And I ask this from my pro-life heart. The Bible has FAR, FAR more to say about pride, about abusing power to mistreat the poor, about lying, about treating others with hatred, about humility, about seeking forgiveness, about faithfulness — about ALL of that than it does about abortion.
So, Christians, why are you so willing to toss all of those morals aside? Why are you so willing to turn a blind eye to so many behaviors that are completely, blatantly in opposition to the heart and character of Christ?
When I read about Joe Biden’s stance on abortion, I see a man who has wrestled with his faith. I see a man whose heart wants no abortions and who has struggled throughout his years in public service to determine the best way to accomplish that. Is it by making abortion illegal? (At one point, he said “yes.”) Is it by prohibiting government funding of abortion? (At one point, he said “yes.”) Or is it by supporting public policies that make abortion rates decline? (This seems to be where he’s landed.)
This personal wrestling resonates with me. I have had those same wrestling matches within myself.
Did you know – between 1981 and 2016, the sharpest decline in abortion rates occurred under Democratic Presidents – not under Republican Presidents. The rates especially dropped under the leadership of President Obama and continued to decline after he left office. Most everyone agrees the reason for this is because access to contraception is key in preventing pregnancies. And under the Affordable Care Act, contraception coverage became more widespread. Even though some states enacted new abortion restrictions between 2011 and 2017, by 2017 57% of the nationwide decline occurred in states that had not enacted new abortion restrictions. So there is evidence that pursuing legal action isn’t necessary (or effective) to reduce the amount of abortions.
I am pro-life. I would like to see zero abortions. I also want to honor and value the lives of women who find themselves in the position of considering abortion. Those lives also matter to me. So I don’t believe criminalizing the choice is the best way to truly help those women. I think public policies that offer help and hope — financial and medical – are the best ways to reduce abortions.
Therefore, I need to find political candidates who will support programs that help the women who are most likely to feel that abortion is their only option, candidates who support making effective contraception affordable and accessible to everyone.
I also want a candidate who values all life. Refugees’ lives. Women’s lives. Black lives. Poor lives. Lives during a pandemic. The lives of people who disagree with him.
You see, when you say you’re voting for Trump because you’re pro-life, I can’t take you seriously. Because Trump has not proven himself to value lives. For the love! – read his Twitter and show me how this man values life.
When you say you can’t vote for Biden because of your Christian beliefs, I can’t take you seriously. Because again and again and again, Donald Trump’s words and actions fly in direct contradiction to the character of Christ.
For the past four years, I’ve been so disillusioned and heartbroken and sad to see so many Christians abandon their morals and contort their beliefs in order to justify their support of someone who so obviously violates every moral and value I was taught in the Church.
Somewhere along the line, political masterminds decided that evangelical Christians could be manipulated into believing abortion and gay marriage are the only two things God cares about.
Friends, that is a lie. You have been hoodwinked.
Obviously, you don’t have to vote for Joe Biden. But you can’t use our Jesus and the Bible to defend your support of Donald Trump.
I have long thought that, if you do not believe in abortion, do not have one.
If you do do not believe in marriage equality, do not get gay married.
I will never understand people who think that their beliefs should be applied to everybody else. If you believe X, fine. I support your right to think that. I do not support your forcing me to live as you think I should.
Nope.
Nope.
Nope.
If you are truly pro-life, then you would vote Biden/Harris this November. Because Democrats care about life, and this is proved by what I have previously posted:
I am a proud Democrat. Why? Because my party has worked hard to protect life, and enhance it, for people across the land. The Democratic Party:
- Created social security.
- Created Medicare.
- Created Medicaid.
- Created a minimum wage.
- Created a 40-hour work week.
- Created subsidized housing for people with very low incomes.
- Created food stamps for people in financial trouble (for several months in the late 1960s, my own family was on food stamps while my carpenter father struggled to find work in an economic downturn).
- Create meals-on-wheels.
- Created the Civil Rights Act.
- Created the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Desegregated the military.
And here is what my party supports:
- Stopping global warming.
- The LGBT community.
- A woman’s right to choose.
- A free press.
- Science.
- America’s long-standing allies. Democrats do NOT support dictators.
My party has also:
- Created more jobs than the other party (Between 1939 and 2011, the Democrats created 58 millions jobs, verses 26 million Republicam-created jobs). And Trump created fewer jobs in his first three years than Obama did in his last three years. (I’ve left 2020 off the table because of Covid.)
- Been fiscally more responsible than the other party. Twelve years of Reagan/Bush tanked the economy and the deficit soared. Bill Clinton fixed that mess, and created the largest surplus in my lifetime. George W. Bush destroyed all that, and it was up to Obama to fix the mess, creating the longest period of economic expansion in history, while significantly lowering the deficit. And Trump? The deficit has skyrocketed, last GDP quarter was the worst in history, and unemployment had doubled.
In short, while Republicans fight to protect fetuses, they have done NOTHING to help actual humans. Well, save reducing taxes for the super rich (and non-humans like corporations).
I think life matters. I think quality of life matters.
Which is why I am voting for Democrats come November.
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WOW, that is so well written. And so TRUE! Thank you.
This is a stirring post Ross. I have often felt exactly the same way, that Republicans only care about life prior to birth, and then they are done caring. Hence the immigrant children separated from their parents and put in cages, with aluminum blankets. Children often too young to recite their parents names, addresses especially in a foreign language. Children that were not kept track of by our present government and may never be reunited with their parents.
Abortion is always a tragedy, but it’s not going away and should be done under safe medial circumstances. I am old enough to remember when 2 girls in high school had dangerous “back alley” abortions. Except the rich girl who went on “vacation” to somewhere it could be safely done.
Like the writer, I too respect Joe Biden, a Catholic, for struggling with this issue and coming out on the side of humanity.
I want to mention that I have been gratified every time you post that list of historical achievements by fellow Democrats. It makes me proud, as does the Biden Harris sign in our yard.
We are voting for Biden Harris. In person.
Thank you and hugs dear Ross.
Hugs back to you, Karen.
Thank you for this clarity. Brilliantly stated!
How come nobody ever asks Conservatives why they have so many more abortions than Liberals??
Lol, because they are a bunch of hypocrites, and won’t like the answers.
Thank you for this well-written post, Ross.
Abortion has been with us since the beginning of time, and it will ALWAYS exist, no matter how they try to outlaw it. Midwives knew how to help women with a problem pregnancy in the centuries prior to the 1900s, and there will always be people who will understand that it’s a necessary service. Hopefully, it will stay safe – which is the issue here – because women/girls will not stop having abortions when necessary. It’s a hard and sad choice, but it’s HER CHOICE. It belongs to nobody else.
I always say to anti-choice people – teach this in your Sunday school and church. Teach your sons and daughters to never cause an unwanted pregnancy (good luck with your teenagers, as God made that the time of life with the highest hormone level and sex drive). But do not try to tell MY daughters what to do with their bodies.
If laws are handed down from the Supreme Court based on someone else’s religion, I will assume that they do NOT apply to me or my family, as I don’t share that religion.
I am against abortion, but it’s what we have. I would rather choose contraception, but now you have organized religion to fight. I have seen in my own family, in living color what comes of unwanted/unplanned pregnancies. The human body is wired by Mother Nature to go forth & multiply. This is not going to change anytime soon. I am for the right of the women to choose what she wants for herself. I just hope it is an educated choice. I also believe that this matter is intensely personal, and the Supreme Court should not be making the choice for her. Because of the nomination of Amy Coney Island Barrett, much of the progress that the USA has made will now go back 200 years. She is from a far-right sect of Catholics that even most Catholics disavow. So, fasten your seatbelts, it will be a bumpy ride.
“Amy Coney Island Barrett”
I almost missed that, EJ.
Thanks for the laugh!
Glad you liked it. But, seriously folks, we’re in for a rough stretch. I’m especially worried about the gay marriage thing. While I’m old & ugly, there might still be some hope for you. My 2 best friends, a gay married couple I met at my last job, got married in Dec,15, at my urging, as tRump had just been voted in by the Electoral College, another great American institution that also needs to go the way of the dodo.
Hey EJ, about contraception. I don’t know about the statistics in the USA, but here in France: 2/3 of abortions concern women/couples who used contraception. Two-third. There’s not a contraception that is 100% reliable.
And hey, who should really really shut their trap regarding women’s choices? Those who could potentially impregnate dozen of women a day and should really really do better re. contraception? Or the ones who can only get pregnant once every 9 (or so) months?… Hypocrisy… (this rant isn’t directed at you, should i clarify)
Good Morning! No, contraception isn’t 100% reliable. Nothing is, except death & taxes, and our current US president has proven the tax part isn’t, either. Condoms break, pills get forgotten. In one instance, I recall a case of a little girl that wanted a sibling so badly that she replaced her mother’s birth control pills with, I believe, aspirins. OMG!! Still, it’s a lot better than nothing at all. I do believe that, taken all together, contraception’s is well over 90% effective. I would certainly understand your point, of course, as people using it would be more likely to get an abortion if they were using contraception to prevent a pregnancy.
“If laws are handed down from the Supreme Court based on someone else’s religion, I will assume that they do NOT apply to me or my family, as I don’t share that religion.”
I’m sorry, but this makes you sound exactly like the folks that want Sharia Law..
Glenn, I’m a little confused.
Beth’s statement is the opposite of Sharia Law. She states that she will NOT be ruled by another person’s religion.
Which is what the people who want Sharia Law here in Canada and the U.S.A. demand – i.e., their right to be governed by the laws of [their] god, not the laws of man [secular law]. Of course, I could be reading Beth’s statement completely wrong, and it wouldn’t be the first time, so if that’s the case, I apologize.
Agreed, Glenn. There are people who want Sharia Law here in America.
Beth is not one of them! Nor am I!
I guess I’m left wondering whose god is going to govern agnostics, atheists, and those that acknowledge a god, but don’t follow a religion? Do we get to have a free-for-all?
Thank you, Ross… and I’m sorry if my statement was that unclear. If I said MY religion is the only one that should make laws, I could see the confusion. I don’t want ANY religion making laws for my (or anyone else’s) family. Imagine the outrage if Amy Coney Barrett were a Muslim or Hasidic Jew. (Telling Americans they MUST stop eating lobster? Not going to happen!)
Thank you, Beth.
I thought your statement was clear.
You know, it goes farther than this. Republicans not only don’t really care about the human unborn, they really don’t want to pay for it in any way. This would affect their “take-home pay”. There wouldn’t be as much cash floating around to slip into their pockets. All lives matter to me. If I were president, I would abolish salaries for all political posts. Instead, they would receive remuneration for expenses. I would hope that removing $$$$$ from the situation would attract a more civic-minded type of person to these posts, rather than those that are really looking to become rich. Unfortunately, this is not a sure cure, as our current president demonstrates, but it would likely leave those douches like Mitch McConnell, and Ted Cruz behind. Another thing Republicans ignore is that some of our “entitlements” are actually things we pay for. Social Security is one of them. That money comes out of a payroll tax paid for by both us, and our employers. Medicare is the same. I pay about $150.00/month for mine, so it’s not free. As Ross pointed out, both programs came about under Democratic administrations. I don’t see any Republicans coming forward with a better solution. In the last 4 years, all I’ve seen is continuous attacks on the ACA, but only the scant promise of “something better”. 4 years is long enough, vote them away.
EJ, I had the “Contraceptives reduce Abortions” discussion with a so-called evangelical retired friend recently, and gave him so many facts that he could not argue any more… His final response for his continued support of tRump? “But look at what he has done for my 401K! My wife and I have to live too, don’t we?” This from a guy with a federal pension that is more than what most people in our area have to raise a family on… pathetic.
Mike, as you likely know, Obama inherited a ruined economy from George W.
He then took the stock market from around 6,000 to almost 20,000.
I have NEVER met a Trump supporter who gives Obama any credit for this. Nor for the fact that Obama created the longest period of month-to-month economic expansion in American history.
And this great gift was handed on a silver platter to Trump. So, even though he created fewer jobs in his first three years than Obama did in his last three years, and even though unemployment has now DOUBLED, Trump supporters all loudly proclaim: TRUMP CREATED A GREAT ECONOMY!
During Trump, the stock market has gone from around 20,000 to around 30,000. While this is good, this is largely the result of the upward curve Trump inherited.
And those Trump supporters who proclaim: “But look at what he has done for my 401K!”?
They ignore all the horrors and crimes. To me, this is like going back in time to Germany in the 1930s. “Look what Hitler has done for my 401K!”
Exactly right! I have lost a lot of life-long friends in the last 4 years, and good riddance. Anyone who believes that human suffering and bigotry is an acceptable trade for personal comfort is not anyone that I want to be associated with. I recently posted a picture on Facebook of Obama escorting Nancy Reagan during her last visit to the White House; it stated how I miss dignity, class, respect…I MISS THIS. I had such a backlash from people, it was unbelievable. I responded to them en masse that I was shocked and disappointed to learn that so many people I have called friends are nothing more than hypocritical, hate-filled racists… culled quite a few idiots from my friends list that day…
Lol, I’m happy for your friend. My 401k has not done especially well. I would’ve been as well off to have put the money I saved in the drawer with my socks……
For years, we have been encouraged to neuter our pets. I volunteer at a local humane society, and we have, on staff, a volunteer that does little but figure out statistics. Her numbers are incredible. If you knew how many kittens can come out of a female cat in her lifetime, you’d fall over dead. Mother Nature has provided the species with continuation, but if that was allowed to go unchecked, we would, literally, be drowning in cats. Now, we were given a brain, and hopefully, we use it to prevent unwanted pregnancies, at inappropriate times.
Thank you for posting this. I have slowed down, stopped in the street during my lunch to ask protesters outside of planned parenthood if they were going to support the child that they were saving from abortion. They refused to answer. All I got was hateful looks for disrupting their protest.
I asked my husband about Pence being a Christian after the Vice presidential debate. I don’t understand how he can support a president that lies, cheats, and doesn’t know which way to hold a bible up.
The post by Jennifer Abel is excellent, very thoughtful. Abortion is never a good thing, but it should be a woman’s choice. Republicans are so concerned about the unborn, but after it is born, if that baby is hungry, oh we can’t give them welfare. If that baby is neglected or abused, that’s not our problem. The old George Carlin skit about pro-life versus abortion is just as relevant today as it was back in the day. They care about the unborn until that child is born, then forget about this child until he turns 18, then they suddenly remember him and draft him. (This was before the volunteer military). Not sure what year this skit was done, but it’s on You Tube. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to attach it. It’s beyond me why Christians support the Republicans. They give religion a bad name.