Abortion in U.S.A. - Right or Sin?

Defining life

With initiative that describes possible future scenario, Human Life Amendment would put decision about abortion back to the states and it is most likely that New York, California and the District of Columbia would be the only places in the United States where a woman could legally get an abortion. ProLife movement is pronounced as right wing movement by political sociologists exactly because it's opposed to new feminist movement and demand of their proponents that women should have right to make decisions concerning their bodies


By DANICA VLACIC
from Belgrade, SERBIA


One of the most controversial decision of USA Supreme Court Roe vs. Wade case which resulted with legalizing abortion has a very strong influence on American politics ever since 1973. This year so-called ProChoice proponents celebrating 35th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade decision but they are also afraid that debate on abortion issue could come up with an epilogue in next president's mandate. Many political analysers feel it will be one of the few main themes that will decide future USA President. The strongest effort to ban abortion is coming from the Christian Right supporters that believe abortion is equal with murder and therefore should be banned.

'Since Roe vs Wade was decided by the Supreme Court, theoretically a new majority on the Supreme Court could repeal its earlier decision and return the decision to the states which would make it illegal in short order in 48 states.' says Dr. Marvin Hoffman, professor of Public Administration at Appalachian State University. 'This is why McCain is the preferred candidate by ProLife supporters since they think he will, if elected, choose conservative justices when two almost certain vacancies come up in the next one to three years. These McCain appointed justices would reverse Roe whereas Obama or Clinton appointed justices are felt by the Religious Right as likely to uphold Roe and continue to have abortion legally available.'

Other than this, ProLife supporters' movement evolving with the new strategy by trying to put Human Life Amendment in state's 2008 ballot in several most grass-rooted antiabortional countries. Amendment will try to change a legal status of human embryo by saying that fertilized egg is a person, and by promoting new notion of life that by ProLife supporters begins at conception. Activists in Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana and Georgia are trying to collect enough signatures for this initiative to happen, although previous experience weren't in their favour. Citizens of South Dakota, one of the most conservative states, rejected such ballot measure, and although public opinion explorations showed that two thirds of Americans wish that abortions were not legally available except in the case of rape, incest or woman's health, none of the initiatives to ban abortion were successful. For this reason, ProLife activists are trying to change view point by finding legislative path to outlaw abortions. If embryo is considered a person there are certain legislative points in US Constitution that can protect fetus in the woman's womb. It could undergo 14th amendment which guarantee that no person shall be deprived of life. 'We are not banning abortion.We are defining life.' says Kristy Burton, spokesman for Colorado initiative group, and also hoping that we can come up with new bioethical standards applicable to twenty-first century.

With initiative that describes possible future scenario, Human Life Amendment would put decision about abortion back to the states and it is most likely that New York, California and the District of Columbia would be the only places in the United States where a woman could legally get an abortion. It would outlaw not only abortion but it could also forbid some birth control methods such as pills, contraceptive sponge and also in vitro fertility treatment. ProLife movement is pronounced as right wing movement by political sociologists exactly because it's opposed to new feminist movement and demand of their proponents that women should have right to make decisions concerning their bodies. Those are the terms that shaped Roe vs. Wade verdict, since explanation for banning abortion relays on constitutional Right to Privacy, therefore having abortion is private matter of woman and her doctor.

At the other side, abortion foes are reminding that back from 1973. there was more than forty million abortions occurred in USA, five times more than number of dead in Holocaust, without condemnation. It was a base for some extreme acts of terrorism by people that believe it is justified to throw bombs at hospitals that provide abortion procedures. Paradox comes from the fact that such murders are conducted in the name of life. Though vast majority of ProLife supporters reject violence as type of activism, it certainly affect their position to stand-up for their cause.

Abortion foes are closer than ever to gain legal protection to fertilized eggs by extended vision of 'personhood', but it stays unclear what concrete consequences it will bring to USA political life, nor international relations. Dr. Hoffman believes that ultimate affect will be wasted in speaking against sin in countries that allow abortions. 'The main target of the ProLife people in the US is to outlaw the practice in the US.They might wish to see it illegal everywhere but getting it outlawed in the US is their primary goal.' However, it is only what 2008 Presidential Elections can reveal. Together with a vision on foreign policy and economy, abortion issue is one of main themes that will help American citizens to elect new President. It will certainly draw a lot of conservatives to the polls.


(Published: 10.05.2008.)

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