Now, I'm torn on this issue. There are many ways to view this touchy issue. The husband who has seen his wife in this state for 15 years or so, and probably wants this issue, and her to rest in peace. The family who remain optimistic and sentimental, for a woman that for all intensive purposes, died 15 years ago. The medical bills. I believe both sides have valid perspectives; and then there's Bush.
Here's where we get touchy. Warning, this is not Bush bashing, this is simply the fricking truth!
I am not Pro-Life. I am not Pro Abortion, either. I know people who are Pro-Life, and I respect their opinions and beliefs...even understand that some view the Pro-Choice stance as "Pro-Abortion". I...am simply for a woman having the right to choose what she does with her body. I do not think a woman should use abortion as a form of birth control, just as I do not believe that a rape victim should have to bear a child out of rape if she doesn't want to. Truly, we could go back and forth all day on the issue, and still remain at an impass. I respect ya'll shit, I do. I also unerstand that Democrats are traditionally viewed as Pro-Choice and Republicans are viewed as Pro-Life. SO...as I watched the footage on the 10 o'clock news regarding Shiavo and observed the interesting paralells between her case and the age old issue of Pro-Choice and Pro-Life, it hit me.
Bush...(sigh)
This man was recorded as saying "...it is always better to err on the side of life." Okay. That mothaf**** need never open his mouth on the issue of erring on the side of life. We won't even look at the obvious war issue...no, let's look at how Mr. Pro-Life made sure he fried everybody on death row who was in-waiting befoe he left his station in Texas. Don't tell me about Pro-Life when your ass is for the death penalty ya f****n' hypocrite! When all you had to do was pick up a phone before 12am and didn't. Pro-Life means all life...so don't play like you're concerned with the well-being of life and you can't take the consideration of ALL life. Heck, I'm torn on the death penalty for a couple reasons, but mainly because I know for a fact that there are a lot of men on death row, or who were killed who were innocent.
Back to the Pro-Life issue. I think to take away a woman's right to choose whether or not a woman can have an abortion is a very large women's rights issue. There is adoption, but the over-all system needs to be closely examined, as we have all seen and heard terrible stories about poor conditions in foster homes, abuse, etc. Adoptive parents aren't always the best, but, that's not always the case of course. I guess the point is...yes, the ability of birthing a child from your womb, women, is truly a gift. But the reality surrounding the circumstances of how that child was conceived and what it will be born into is the real issue for many. I can't sign a piece of paper that says a 15 year old girl will have to carry a reminder of what her father (or uncle, brother, friend, teacher) did to her for nine months.
Scenario: Maybe a not so known fact is, during times of slavery, some women would ingest certain roots that would help their chances of miscarrying. As a mother, I'm sure no choice could be harder; to say I'd rather end this pregnancy than to birthe what slave owners didn't even view as a man, but 3/5's of a man with less worth than their dog. Now, as we may or may not know, many slaves (women and men) were raped by their owner's, the men to emasculate and the women to breed more free labor. Were these women wrong for the choices they made? My point (as I see it), is that as long as there is an exception, then there must be choice.
Most of the women who are raped are raped by someone they know...often even love. Many women do not report their rape, they keep their shame to themselves. What if it was your sister, what if it was your wife, your girlfriend, hell, even your mother? Would the line be so crystal clear then? This isn't about running from responsibility or scorn, this is about admitting that atrocities happen to women every day. One of the biggest is telling a woman that her body is not her own. Giving birth is a gift, as being pregnant, an (expectant) mother, etc. But the woman should always have the choice whther or not she wants to accept that gift.