LET’S ROAR

child support

The states of Oklahoma and Texas, have passed near-total abortions and other red states have begun the same in anticipation of the ban being overturned. I, like so many other women, am beyond angry, I am frustrated with Democrats that more isn’t being done to fight this evil enemy. Over 69% of Americans want to keep abortions legal but to Republicans, it doesn’t matter what the people want it comes down to what they want, and not the will of the people. These states have high poverty, and many children are going hungry, but none of these right-wingers care about the children already born and families that are strugglings to make ends meet. To be told that you must keep a baby in utero when you have nothing to provide for this child is cruel. No universal healthcare, no free childcare, no paid family leave, and yet they expect a woman who has nothing to pay for those things for the sake of giving birth. “Won’t somebody think of the children”-Helen Lovejoy (The Simpsons), I used to laugh when I would watch the Simpsons and Reverand Lovejoy’s wife would say that dramatic catchphrase”, but now it seems that one line has become relevant to this ban reversal.

THE LAW AND DISORDER

The Republicans have decided that a woman’s body is government property, and it does not matter what she wants or needs an abortion for, they will do everything in their power to make sure she carries the unborn baby to term and give birth. They could care less if she is raped, incest, or if she just doesn’t want one, to them it doesn’t matter because her body is not her own. I watched a news program in utter disbelief at a republican politician arguing in favor of a young girl giving birth. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around the thought of a girl laying in a hospital bed pushing a baby out of her vaginal cavity, and the politician being okay with that. A female politician argued that a woman should be happy to be pregnant even if she is raped because it’s God’s will. The states of Texas, Idaho, Tennessee, Ohio, and Oklahoma have what’s known as bounty-style laws banning abortion offering no exceptions for rape or incest and, in some cases, may offer rapists and their families more rights than pregnant women.

The year was 1973, and former U.S. President Richard Nixon announces the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam, in the world of electronics the Xerox Alto was the first cell phone call, and the number one song was “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn, but the main story of that year was the overturning of the statewide ban on abortion known as Roe V. Wade. Here we are in 2022, and what I thought would be my choice will be taken from me. Abortion rights have always been a sore spot for the pro-lifers, especially for politicians looking to exact control over a woman’s reproductive rights for many years since 1973, and now they can finally take a win on this.

Then there are the cases of the missing “baby daddy”, and there is no law on the books or even proposed laws to compel men who get a woman pregnant to take the responsibility for the unborn child by providing their personal information in case they leave the relationship without telling the woman of their whereabouts. I am reminded of my own abortion a few years ago, I wasn’t raped, in my teens, and my ex-boyfriend didn’t leave me, I had the procedure done because I knew in my heart that neither he nor I was ready to be parents. I spoke to him before having the abortion, and he was in agreement. Fortunately, I live in the state of California with a governor who understands that it’s my body and my right to choose. I can only hope that laws can be made and passed to protect those women less fortunate in states where abortion is or will become illegal.

Article written by:

Penelope “Glam” Piper

Contributing writer

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