Commentary
Red, White & Theocratic
- by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, May 6, 2022
As pundits and media analysts debate the merits of the spin surrounding the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion likely to overturn Roe v. Wade, a much broader discussion should be taking place that speaks to the heart of the First Amendment. No -- not the part about free speech, free …
Joe Mandese is the Editor in Chief of MediaPost. You can reach Joe at joe@mediapost.com.
There is nothing theocratic going on here. If Roe is overturned, as it should be, it undoes a very bad decision from 1973. It establishes nothing other than a requirement that the matter be decided by the voters in the fifty states. Some states will outlaw or restrict abortion, others will not. All should.
Unfortunately, 60-some percent of Americans have convinced themselves that there is no human life involved. The reality is that, from the moment of conception, a human being is created with unique human DNA. In nine months, what will be born will not be a plant or a rock or a puppy, but a living, breathing human being. How anyone can deny that fact is unfathomable. That should be enough to make abortion unthinkable and illegal, religious beliefs notwithstanding.
American law prohibits murder and theft, which are also prohibited by the Ten Commandments. Does the fact that all religions also prohibit those acts invalidate those laws?
Unfortunately for our country, we have now had decades of focus on "rights" without any acknowledgement or acceptance of the responsibilities that come with those rights. "My body, my choice" really means "I'll do whatever I want and if I get pregnant, the baby pays the price."
No one cares what you do with your body-right up until a new life is created. Then it's no longer just about you and what you want; then society must step in to protect the life of the unborn, if you won't.
How about an exception for rape or incest? Well, a human life is a human life, even if the child is the result of a tragic, horrific crime. Let society provide the maximum assistance to the mother and child and the maximum penalty to the perpetrator.
The only exception should be to preserve the life of the mother.