You may be forgiven for thinking that we have taken a step back in time and are no longer living in the 21st century. Why? For the simple fact that we are in the midst of a US Presidential election that revives the contentious matter of abortion – a factor that for many is a defining point in the minds of the nation’s voters.
A survey carried out in 2006 by the Pew Research Center saw that the nation remained divided over the issue, with 46% saying that it should be illegal in all or most cases. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the right-wing supporters of the Republican party account for the majority of these, with a follow-up survey revealing that of 43% of the Republicans that believed social issues would be key to the elections, more than 80% of these thought that abortion should be made illegal in all or most cases.
Democrats, of course, are not wholly in agreement over the legality of abortion. However, the more liberal outlook of the party and its supporters ensures a more balanced opinion that lies much further in the pro-choice camp than the pro-life. Senator Barack Obama himself is a supporter of the significant ruling in 1973 of Roe v Wade that put in place a constitutional right for abortion.
Senator John McCain, on the other hand, has recently changed his opinion on the case and has called for it to be revoked. This u-turn seems a clear indication that McCain is determined to adhere to the Republican mindset so as not to isolate himself from the majority of the electorate. An early frontrunner for the party’s candidacy was, after all, Rudolph Guiliani, who himself had declared his support for abortion. Coincidence?
With an ongoing economic crisis and the demands of the war in Iraq prevalent in the minds of voters, quite how significant a role abortion will play in the march to the White House is yet to become clear. However, the inherently religious Republican supporters are renowned for turning out in their masses to vote against so-called ‘immoral’ issues, while the Democratic electorate fail to turn up at all. After all, it doesn’t seem that long ago that gay marriage acted as a catalyst in encouraging Republican voters to provide George W. Bush with a second term in office.
We should remember, therefore, that we are talking about a significant proportion of a nation that doesn’t think twice about selling firearms to all and sundry and actively seeks to replace the teaching of evolution in schools with Creationism! Lest we forget that it was not that long ago that abortionists were killed by fundamentalist Christians and to this day such practioners risk vilification and their own safety.
Certainly the issue of abortion is contentious, and medical research should continue to undergo significant analysis and further development. As it currently stands, the law for abortions to take place up until 24 weeks should be adhered to. Should further research and safety measures demand that this date be changed then so be it. But outlawing the choice entirely and demanding that a woman give birth to a child no matter what should be judged a crime in itself.
The circumstances that can result in pregnancy do not need to be listed, but these hardships should not be exacerbated by the birth of an unwanted child. Are the American Republicans so entrenched in their ways that they cannot see a necessity for abortion? Supporting those who wish to make the choice – which will undoubtedly be the biggest of their lives – is a moral obligation. I don’t know of any woman that would take a decision to go through with abortion lightly, and for those not being in that situation to callously demand the birth of an unwanted child is both cold and inhumane.
Any human being living in the here and now should be capable of seeing that abortion should play a part in the modern world and should not be made illegal. Pro-choice is a necessity in the current era that should not be denied to those most in need. The medieval views held by hypocritical religious zealots should be dismissed as readily as the preposterous claims that the earth is just 10,000 years old.
The Local Doomsayer 