Roe V. Wade in Today's America: The Debate Continues

Did you ever think that the debate over abortion ended in the 1970's? Think again. As the 2000's continue to bring forth new issues, from terrorism to the definition of marriage, one issue is receiving another close examination from both political and legal persons in American government: the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that discredited state regulations on abortion as unconstitutional by American standards.

For those who have been living under a rock for the last 50 years, Roe v. Wade was a "legal case, decided in 1973 by the U.S. Supreme Court, which held unduly restrictive state regulation of abortion to be unconstitutional." (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2007) Yet although there exists several challenges against the principles of the ruling in this case - combined with conservative views against the privileges granted by the ruling from both secular and religious standpoints - the American legal system has yet to systematically overturn the ruling completely.

That has yet to stop millions of Americans from taking sides on the issue, thus moving the debate on abortion back into the national spotlight alongside other controversial topics such as gay marriage and scientific research concerning embryonic stem cells. In this case, the battle appears to focus on two distinct categories of policy proposals: a choice between pro-life and pro-choice. The pro-life group holds the belief that performing abortion on an unborn child is, literally, the same basic principle as in murder or assassination, and therefore unethical and against beliefs both religious and otherwise. On the other side of the issue, the pro-choice group holds that restricting abortion, as had occurred prior to Roe v. Wade, still violates a person's right to both personal choice and personal privacy, just as it did back then. Either way, there are no easy answers.

Yet the government, and in particular the U.S. Supreme Court, may soon find itself forced to choose which side of the issue to stand upon - again. For "two cases, one from California, Roe v. Wade, a move which could raise the kind of political firestorm not seen since the Court overturned segregation in 1954.

I, however, am not sure how to respond to what should be the most politically correct policy that this country should follow concerning abortion. On the other hand, even if religion points me against most reasons for abortion to take place I would still be okay with it if the reasons were related to rape or forced pregnancy, or if the abortion must be performed in order to protect a woman's health regardless of the reason.

In fact, even if religion means that most abortions are evil, I'm still going to play devil's advocate here for at least a minute, since the debate could come down to civil rights. Now what, you may ask, do I mean by this? Consider the following quotes:

"Thirty-four years later, the landmark ruling remains a powerful reminder that the struggle to protect women's health and safety continues to this day. ...It remains a salient reminder that the battle to protect women's health and safety is not over." --Robert Armenta Jr., vice president for community affairs for the Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, California [SOURCE: San Bernardino (California) Sun]

"We should not have to fight for God-given rights." --Rita Ramirez-Dean, former College of the Desert professor, San Bernardino, California [SOURCE: San Bernardino (California) County Sun]

"I support women's right to choose and I believe that the government should stay out of the womb and the bedroom." Larry Grewelle, member National Organization for Women, Montgomery, Alabama [SOURCE: Mobile (Alabama) Register]

So with all of that in mind, pro-choice is just as good of an option as anything else, so even if religion ends up destroying all choices for abortion other than those for medical reasons - and possibly for forced pregnancies and rape if possible - then it doesn't really matter to me what happens.

In fact, some states are already taking the case against abortion restrictions within their individual jurisdictions. One such occurrence occurred last year in South Dakota, where "voters [basically] overturned the most restrictive abortion law in the nation Tuesday, handing abortion rights supporters a huge victory in a [largely] conservative state. Voters blocked a law signed in March but put on hold that would have barred almost all abortions, including for rape and incest victims, and allowed them only if a mother's life was in jeopardy. (USA Today, 2006)"

In summary, no matter what policies this country may place on abortion or what people may think about the subject, it personally does not really matter to me. Therefore, for better or for worse, I am leaving myself open to whatever happens in regard to this subject, and in that context I will simply let the masses or whatever powers hold the ultimate ruling in the matter decide what final policy shall dictate abortion law in this country. I think all of us will be a lot better off if we can stop fighting over the extremely mundane debates in this nation, and look forward to discovering what people ultimately decide. I believe that is perhaps the most logical way to look at this debate, and hope that all will accept whatever decision comes out of this.

Reference materials used for this document include the following:
"Roe v. Wade." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 18 Jan. 2007 http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9125053>.
"Brewing Up a Storm." Hill, Nicholas.History Today. 2006. Courtesy of Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 01 Feb. 2007 http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9125053.
Cobb, Nikki. "Roe v. Wade revisited."San Bernardino County Sun 07 Jan. 2007. LexisNexis Academic. LexisNexis. 10 March 2007 http://web.lexisnexis.com/universe/.
Hunter, Desiree. "Rallies mark Roe v. Wade anniversary."Mobile (Alabama) Register 23 Jan. 2007.: sec. B. LexisNexis Academic. LexisNexis. 10 March 2007 .
Thomas, Frank. "South Dakota voters axe restrictive abortion law." USA Today 11 Aug. 2006. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. 11 Mar. 2007 http://search.epnet.com/login.asp.