Forcing Choices on Others

For most of my life, remaining quiet regarding the subject of abortion was a good decision. I have listened to others rant, seen protesters being dragged away, read numerous secular opinions, watched the news of womens' clinics and workers killed or destroyed by so-called Pro-Lifers, etc.

So why should I think that it's still possible in the 21st century?

There is no way to accurately predict how individuals will make a choice. Human brains are not made that way. We do not have magic potions, crystal balls, special chants or anything that exact. Psychic abilities are still "out" with the jury, currently. The best we can do is try to guess as close as we can.

Picture ten people standing on a fence. Each can either jump right or jump left....can you guess ten times out of ten the direction each will go before they jump? You have no other information to help you decide. No clues either. They all look pretty much the same. You know absolutely nothing about each person other than what you see. Now do you know how to make your guess or jump choice exactly ten times? Me either, my super powers are at the cleaners and I don't pretend to try.

Abortion is topic hotbed in the United States no matter where you live or travel. For many reasons it will divide a friendly group of long-time friends or colleagues quicker than yelling Fire! in a crowd might. Thank goodness we live in America. Men and women have the freedom of choice in so many areas except apparently our own bodies.

The Supreme Court made it's decision well over thirty years ago, when I was a teenager growing up in Southern California. You wouldn't know it today though. Protests, statistics, legal briefs, court decisions, personal opinions, hot debates, bombings, killings. Almost any crazy situation you can dream up seems to have happened in recent years. Yet Roe vs Wade was decided in 1973.

Why is this still happening? Nearly thirty four years later. What happened to choice! Remember the ten folks up on the fence? Well they all jumped and nearly all went the same way. We call it legal rights as provided by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Every woman, theoretically, has the right to choose what she will do when the time comes. I agree it is and should remain only the woman's decision to born her child or termintate. At least that is what the court intended if I am not mistaken.

The question I would like answered: how can one human kill another under the banner of Pro-LIfe with the backing of "good honest Christian up-bringing?" Isn't that an oxymoron? I am no expert but let's analyze this using common sense for a moment. Note: This description does not resemble or refer to anyone.

Without ever having a definition of the term Pro-Lifer I would conclude (just by the name) it meant someone who loves life, reveres living, procreates abundantly, protects all life and living beings. That would mean I could be a Pro-Lifer and not fully understand it.

Not so, from what I have seen and read in the past 5 - 10 years. Unless there is a conspiracy out there with all media associations including the internet involved. Trying to make intelligent Americans believe that average citizens are killing adult doctors, nurses, clinic workers to save unborn embryo's and fetuses. Wait, the term is Pro-Lifer isn't it? But, doesn't life begin when you are born? Once you have taken a breath aren't you entitled to live until your death, however that may be? Suppose I am confused?

Next, what exactly constitutes a "good honest Christian up-bringing?" I can only use my limited knowledge and experience to compare. LIke alot of American families, mine had its ups and downs. But I was raised Christian, have faith and spirituality; with honesty, morals and values instilled. I definitely have a conscience, am open-minded and know right from wrong. By nature I am loving, nurturing and helpful as I can be to others everyday. Treating others the way I would want them to treat me. Despite lifelong manic depression, I have always believed I am an honest citizen with a "good Christian up-bringing". Or may be not?

Being neither a religious zealot nor political fanatic with an agenda (they know who they are-no I am not a paranoid freak!) I do not try to cram my belief's or philosophies down anyone's throat. Brainwashing isn't my business. Sure I have opinions like everyone does. Should I feel passionate about a topic I will usually voice my opinion. Perhaps it ends in a hot debate - so be it. File it in the memory banks and go on living. Logically, what else can one do? Certainly not murder!

No cause, subject or topic has ever made me crazy enough with passion or emotion to want to shoot someone or bomb a building especially with people inside. The voice of "God" has never told me to kill a human being, least of all to save something technically not quite alive.

Nothing so horrible ever happened that I could even imagine killing another being. And there have been a few times, had I acted upon any crazy thought, my action could be explained as a motive of revenge or crime of passion. Yet I didn't! Not only wouldn't, but I couldn't. That's the point! I made choices. Why don't so many others?

Hopefully I can thank being raised the way I was with intelligence and common sense thrown in. Belief in the Ten Commandments, no not the movie shown at Easter. Faith in the Lord's Prayer and Karma. Yes, Karma. Knowing enough that killing is against man's law every where - as it should be! Taking a life is also a mortal sin in just about any faith or religion. Perhaps that literal Fear Of God, as my Nana would say, put into me as a child. Much like the IRS, no one messes with the great "I Am." That would be suicide for all eternity. Might as well begin learning how to live forever at that point. Yeah, right!

Of all things I know and believe, as a woman I have the right to make a choice. Courage displayed by one female long before guaranteed that I have autonomy and privacy rights regarding my body. Funny to me in a peculiar sort of way, it should never have been an issue in the first place! I mean it is my body.

Long before any legal case was ever filed, any statutes enacted, state laws enforced and on, and on and on. The Declaration of Independance of 1776 clearly states that all men (should be changed technically to read people) are created equal. We as Americans are provided certain unalienable rights among them LIfe, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Nothing further needs to be said about the Constitution. Life is the first right stated therefore my body -my life! My life - my decision!

According to the Delaration of Independance in 1776 and the 14th Amendment reaffirmed by Roe vs Wade in 1973 my rights to make a choice are undeniable now and forever. I won't hold my breath though. The odds of it changing in my lifetime are better than winning the lottery!