Abortion – Why we need to fight for it

The year 2022 was a tragic time for many across the United States. On June 24,  after a long debate, it was finally decided for the Roe v. Wade to be overturned, leaving abortion rights not to the federal government, but to the states. Immediately, conservative states began to ban and restrict abortion, while others states kept the less restrictive laws that were put in place after the landmark Roe v Wade decision in 1973. Since Roe v. Wade has been overturned, The Guardian notes that “14 states have enacted near total abortion bans, while two states – Georgia and South Carolina – have banned abortion past roughly six weeks of pregnancy,” In the states that have new restrictions, it is still extremely hard to get a medically approved abortion. Because of the common six week ban, it is nearly impossible for women to figure out they are pregnant and get an abortion in time. There are very few exceptions and they are worded unclearly, causing doctors to be afraid to approve of lifesaving abortions. While the pro-life’s platform is understandable, the problem is that many states are going too far. 

In Texas, a woman needs an abortion because doctors warned the fetus will die immediately after birth and giving birth will likely harm her reproductive organs. Recently, the Texas Supreme Court and the Attorney General ruled against her, the lower courts order, and the doctor’s request, meaning the court will not hear cases like hers, putting many women at risk. In the end, she left the state to legally get an abortion which is also against Texas’ extremist law, however, not every woman can do the same. 

Pro-Choice and Pro-Life Americans have not always seen eye-to-eye, but many can agree that these bans are too extreme. In the Republican state of Ohio, voters chose to protect abortion in their state’s constitution demonstrating that most Americans support moderate and less restrictive laws. 

The polarization of Americans views on abortion and the overturning of Roe v Wade are making it hard for legislation protecting the right to abortion to pass. Hence, right now, the best thing we can do to protect women is to fight for abortion a constitutional right again. When looking at the Texas case and similar cases, it is evident that abortion bans are harming various people. Whether you are young or old, male or female, single or married, the bans are worrisome and reproductive rights are necessary to defend.

Work cited:

Sottile, Zoe, et al. “Here’s What We Know about a Texas Woman’s Battle for an Abortion.” CNN, 12 Dec. 2023, www.cnn.com/2023/12/11/us/kate-cox-abortion-law-texas-case/index.html.

Lerer, Lisa, and Katie Glueck. “Republicans Under Pressure as Anti-Abortion Activists Call for a National Ban.” New York Times, The New York Times, 20 Jan. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/01/20/us/politics/abortion-republicans-roe-v-wade.html.

“Roe v. Wade.” Oyez, www.oyez.org/cases/1971/70-18. Accessed 19 Dec. 2023.

Sherman, Carter, and Andrew Witherspoon. “Abortion Rights across the US: We Track Where Laws Stand in Every State.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 10 Nov. 2023, www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2023/nov/10/state-abortion-laws-us.

Klibanoff, Eleanor. “Texas Woman Blocked from Getting Emergency Abortion by Court Leaves State.” The Texas Tribune, 11 Dec. 2023, www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/texas-abortion-lawsuit-kate-cox/.

“Ohio Votes in Favor of Amending the State Constitution to Enshrine Abortion Rights .” Npr, 7 Nov. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/11/07/1209092670/2023-results-key-ohio-elections.

Abortion

2022 was a chaotic time. In a long-drawn battle, the Supreme Court has finally made their decision, and in the controversial case of Dabbs v. Jackson, the case of Roe v. Wade was overturned. This case split the country further, Democrat v. Republican, Pro-choice v. Pro-life. The issue? Whether abortion should be a constitutional right, as stated in the Roe v. Wade.

Immediately after the decisions, democratic states, especially in the south, started to pass laws restricting, and even banning abortions, with very limited exceptions. Places like Alabama, for example, has completely excluded abortion from it’s state constitution. There are unnecessary regulations enforced to shutter abortion clinics, and without basis in medical standards. While places that has lesser restrictions, and protected abortions, the abortion rates has actually increased. Abortion is an issue that affects people’s lives, whether personally or economically. If someone didn’t have the means to care for a child, but due to anti abortion laws, was forced to have them anyways, who would care for them? And economically, many studies have shown that abortion denial has prolonged financial distress. It has been shown throughout history, with more bans and restrictions, the more people will fight for more control. It is like a seesaw, too much extremism will cause the people to shift towards the other way. This was seen in Ohio, and Virginia, places thought of to be extreme in abortion restrictions. Hence perhaps the better question would be, at what stage would both parties be more favorable to agree? It is unlikely for Roe v. Wade to be brought back.

Unfortunately, in the current mindsets, it is extremely unlikely. Extremest agreed at 6 week bans, while some moderates put at 15. While most Democrats agree with 23 weeks. The same as Roe v. Wade. The two are unlikely to agree on anything at this point and time, hence, it can only be seen.

A meaningful personal experience

The most pivotal event in my life, should just be called the most pivotal events. Through out my life, I had learn that life is not fair, and to take what you can in you life, to make do. Its like that saying “when life give you lemons, you make lemonade”. I cannot say I am very good at it, but perhaps with more practice. My story began so long ago, that I can hardly remember.

They say that as a child, you can hardly feel the difference between your childhood and others. I would like to pronounce that as bullshit, and confirm that I did notice a difference, and yes it did confuse me even now, but my life just wasn’t something I was too curious about. Its like the sky is blue or the grass is green. Its just what happens, so very different from other people. Maybe my immigrant status had something to do with it, I was bullied as a child for it, but the most scarring moments had nothing to do with my status. Or that because I am an Asian, there is a set of double standard forced on me before I was even aware, or knew how to speak English. Or maybe it was just all the things, wasn’t it said somewhere, that everything is connected, in one way or another? I am often torn between disagreeing or understanding, the difference in my case being the former out of pure annoyance, while the latter was from contemplation. Over most of my life, I had become somewhat disillusioned with myself.

            There was a very nice saying that I had read somewhere, stating that every dog has its day. And somewhere along my journey, I’d hit mine. I was no longer just making lemonade. Instead of just standing still to catch the lemons, I decided that maybe I was tired of lemonade. Maybe I wanted to try an orange for a change. Or an apple. I decided why stay, when you can run? After if you want something done, you have to do it yourself. But it wasn’t easy, when all your life you had been eating sour lemons. Somedays were just hard, but some days it gets better. Its not easy letting go, but you had to do so to find happiness. While life gives you lemons, you don’t have to accept them. Something I wish I learned earlier. 

Stop believing in media!

To be a student in high school is best defined in one word, hell. The Media has always portrayed school as a place where teenagers have adult actors, showcasing either the queen bee, with the glamorous wavy hair, power walk, surrounded by groups of sycophants with perhaps 3 or 4 actual friends, all high on the social pyramid. Or perhaps that one nerdy girl, who is supposedly portrayed as the plain Jane at best, or just supposedly plain on ‘ugly’. The adult, makeup actors don’t really fit the bill.

Jocks, nerds, goths, the image of high school has been compartmentalized into these perfect, square little boxes, with nothing in between. And of course, the drama. What cliches there are, the teens have lived through it. Reality is unfortunately much grimmer. While the school does, in fact, serve as most students’ social hub, its topmost focus, is on getting into a good college. Considering today’s high school students withstood the pandemic, this was hardly an easy task. No matter which generation, high school students have all experienced much the same; harsh classes, and limited deadlines, all with even harsher teachers. The stress levels of students are at an all-time high. Personally, I, along with my friends have considered taking an occasional hike to Ledges, and if we somehow ‘slip’ down the cliff, well. There can be worse things happening. 

the roaring times

One group that I had seen most affected with the media version was the younger grades, Although we are only a few years apart, there seems to be a chasm between us. But ever since that Friday, I could no longer be blinded to it. To tell the truth, I always regarded the idea of media influencing kids to be exaggerated. That they would come in with certain beliefs, but will see how reality works. How wrong I was. As I was riding the bus home, I heard the news that someone had a stroke on the bus, it was terrible, the paramedics came by to get him to the hospital. But apparently, a 9th grader just, took a picture of him convulsing. I couldn’t understand, and I managed to talk to an acquaintance, a lower grade, who told me of the appalling situation in middle school. Where in a social pyramid, no one truly cares of what happens, except to climb. Is it enough to cause such appalling behavior? My fellow bus rider believed so.