Whether a pendulum swing is inherently good or bad is sometimes up to interpretation.
And we humans do not always interpret information, occurrences, events the same way.
Roe v. Wade was the first pendulum swing, and it has definitely been interpreted differently over the years. But what did this swing do?
Basically, the decision allowed that abortion rights were constitutionally supported by the 9th and 14th amendments, that a fetus is a potential life without constitutional rights, and that a woman’s right to privacy overruled the states’ desire to regulate abortion. At least prior to the third trimester. (For what it’s worth, I disagree with third trimester abortions. Unless the child will not survive outside to womb and the mother’s life is at risk.)
So that was the decision. And different people reacted differently.
Some celebrated. Others protested. Women who took advantage of this right were often harassed and ridiculed upon arrival at clinics that offered abortion services. I remember in the 80’s and 90’s (probably in the 70’s as well), so-called abortion doctors and clinics were targeted by radical individuals and groups. Bombings at clinics were not unheard of, and a number of practitioners (doctors and nurses) paid the ultimate price for trying to provide safe medical care to their patients.
But this was still better than before the pendulum was set in motion.
For most of history, women were considered the property of their fathers, and upon marriage, their husbands. They had no rights, and (in general) could not make any decisions about their own lives. There were exceptions, of course, but then, every rule has an exception or two, right?
The 19th and 20th centuries saw a lot of controversy surrounding women’s rights.
Women wanted a voice. A vote. To own property. To be able to live. Without the support of a man. Women wanted equality. And they worked hard for it too. With the ratification of the 19th amendment, women in the US could finally vote. In 1920. It would take another 50 years plus before women were given the right to choose whether or not to carry a child to term.
Meanwhile, “back-alley abortions” were a thing. Whether anyone wanted to admit it or not. And women died, during and as a consequence of such “procedures,” whether anyone wanted to admit that either.
And then the pendulum.
Rights were secured. But at what cost? Clinics blown up? Doctors killed? Women ridiculed and harassed? Because some people thought their beliefs were more important than women’s lives? Because some people couldn’t abide different opinions, beliefs, desires for their own lives?
They’re still doing it, ya know? Trying to push their beliefs onto everyone else. Trying to force everyone to think and act the same. “In the name of God” of whatever excuse they’re using this time. As if their rights are more important than anyone else’s. And the rest of us are just along for the ride.
Anyway, in June of this year, the Supreme Court sent that pendulum swinging back the other way. Took away the protection afforded by the Constitution, and placed it squarely in the hands of the conservatives that have been trying to take it away since it was first given. Now, the individual states get to decide if a 10-year-old assault victim can terminate the resulting pregnancy, or if a woman about to go septic from an incomplete miscarriage can receive proper, and timely, medical treatment. Trust me, there are plenty of stories of women who lost their lives because a doctor was afraid to make that call. Afraid of prosecution for saving the mother’s life at the cost of the unborn child’s life.
The Pro-Birth side screams, “How dare you try to play God?” and we, who are Pro-Choice, scream back, “How dare you?”
I’ve stated previously, Anti-Abortion is not Pro-Life. It can’t be. Because once the child is born, that crowd does everything they can to make life harder for the child. They don’t believe in helping the mother, and they sure as hell don’t believe in protecting the child through vaccinations.
But at this point in history, all we can do is ride that pendulum back to the height of its swing and see what comes next.
My personal opinion?
We’re screwed.
Thank you for reading.
J. Lee Carruthers 