Beginning Over, 15. In Mourning.

This morning, I have been seeing an article from Politico mentioned on the internet (link here), talking about an opinion draft in the Supreme Court. Justice Alito mentions that Roe v. Wade must be overturned because it is not upheld by the Constitution, nor is it a part of the tradition or history of the nation. Therefore, regulations on abortions must be passed back to the states. 

He argues that the basis for passing the popular decision in 1973 was weak, and that nowhere in the Constitution is abortion mentioned. Also, that the Court should not hold in consideration popular opinion. His main argument, is really that it is not a specific right mentioned in the Constitution. He goes on to strike down arguments supporting legal abortion nationally, controversially mentioning that abortion was used by those who wanted to suppress the African-American population, noting that most aborted fetuses were African-American. Also, that not having access to abortion would not impinge on a woman's involvement in society, since women are the majority of registered voters, and would not be disenfranchised, nor excluded from society. Also, that demands for adoption make abortion unnecessary, so the woman who doesn't want to rear a child can simply sign it over to an adoption service.

So, Justice Alito maintains there is no need for federal law to protect abortion rights. As soon as this becomes public, in a case from Mississippi that will be seen sometime next month, well more than half the fifty states will pass laws severely restricting abortion access, or declaring it illegal in its totality. 

Abortion is a woman's right. It can sometimes save her life. It is sometimes involuntary, when her body won't accept a pregnancy. Some states already have such restrictions, that to get a medically necessary abortion, a woman has to jump through thirty hoops. Others, make almost no distinction between an involuntary and a voluntary abortion, such as Texas. In this state, if someone suspects a woman has had an illegal abortion, they can sue that woman and her doctor, who now have to prove their innocence by proving that it was a simple miscarriage. 

I am so weary of this. I am burning with rage, and ice cold with fear. It seems that all the social advances we have made as women, no matter what our origin, sexuality, or birth, are being taken away, one by one. It seems that no matter how hard we fight and scream and get in people's faces, we are simply swept aside by the stroke of a pen, considered as unworthy of being full citizens, full human beings with the capacity to make our own difficult choices. There will always be abortions, which is something that men (and, sadly, too many women) don't seem to want to understand. Keeping them legal means keeping them safe. Illegalizing them means a return to septic conditions under which thousands of women died every year. There is a book on Amazon that everyone should read, especially those who have the power to make these decisions. It is Coat Hangers and Knitting Needles: Tragedies of Abortion in America Before Roe v Wade by D-L Nelson (link here; I have no monetary interest in this). This author has made a thorough investigation into abortion in history, and it is something that has always been with us, and will continue to be with us. The difference will be in how many women survive.

Spain has a decent law on the books, now. An abortion is allowed for any reason before twelve weeks. I don't know how easy it is for a woman to actually find a doctor in a public hospital to do one. She might have to travel a bit, but I think almost every hospital will do them. If Vox comes into power by holding hands with the Partido Popular, I fear they might chip away at it, as well. The surprising thing was that some years ago, there was an attempt to strike down this law, but some women from the conservative Partido Popular broke ranks and voted to keep it. At that time, most were older, and I am assuming they didn't want to return to the days of taking a flight to London for an abortion. That is what the better-off women used to do in Spain, once upon a time. The rest risked their lives, died, or had the unwanted baby. 

I am fearful for my daughter's future. Once upon a time, I wanted to go back to Boston, work there, raise her there, and create a life there, the three of us. Aging parents didn't allow that. Now, I don't want to return, except for a flying visit. I don't want her to go, either. It doesn't matter that Massachusetts is a blue state, or that in the future it most likely won't go down the rabbit hole of conservative states, there is nothing there for her that is better than what she might find in Europe. The future is starting to look ominous.

Life continues.