Freedom of Religion = Freedom to Choose


I'm really sick and tired of the debate over abortion. Even without the argument that women's bodies should not be property of the state, it's clear that a woman's right to choose is guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. This means that the anti-abortion "laws" passed recently in South Dakota and Missippi are in violation of the Constitution, and therefore illegal. Furthermore, anyone who advocates putting a woman's reproductive system under state control is advocating the overthrow of Constituional law and so, as the Neo-Cons are fond of saying, that person is "un-American." and "unpatriotic."

At this point you may be asking yourself, "What the hell is this guy writing about? There's no mention of abortion in the Constitution!" Unless you're one of those people who believes that the Constitution says that the US was founded as a Christian nation, in which case you're probably asking yourself, "How do I report this guy to Homeland Security?" But if you have even an ounce of intellectual curiosity, then you should Google, and then read about, the First Amendment of our Constitution's Bill of Rights.

You may be surprised to learn that The First Ammendment not only guarantees freedom of religion to every US citizen, it also contains the "Establishment Clause," which states in no uncertain terms that Congress shall not establish a state religion, nor show preferential treatment to any religious viewpoint. Separation of church and state, plain and simple. So much for the belief in a "Christian Nation."

But what has this to do with abortion legislation? It's simple: every objection of the anti-choice, anti-constitutional, un-American, unpatriotic Neo-Cons is based on religious belief, not provable science. Oh sure, if you hear any of these Neo-Con wingnuts on Hannity & Milktoast, they sound almost reasonable talking about their concern for womens health and safety. Then you take a closer look at the "laws" they passed in South Dakota and Missippi and see that they include absolutely no provisions for the health and safety of the mother. As always, dig a little deeper into Neo-Con "facts" and we find them to be as hollow and empty as their promises to "return dignity and respect to the White House," "capture Osama Bin Laden dead or alive," and "rebuild New Orleans."

Likewise, if the anti-choice Neo-Cons were really concerned with womens health, they wouldn't be blocking the availability of RU-486, the so called, "morning after pill." By blocking the availability of the morning after pill, they're not only jeopardizing the health and safety of the women they claim to be so concerned with, they're also creating the potential for more unwanted pregnancies, and thus, even more abortions! It's a fair bet to say that if these wingnuts get their way and overturn Roe v. Wade, all other forms of contraception will be next to be criminalized. Because the Bible says, "go forth and multiply," not, "go forth and wear a condom." Which brings us back to abortion as a religious issue.

So as an argument based on religious belief, and in accordance with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, neither Congress nor any state legislative body has the authority to pass abortion laws of any kind; for or against. This is something that is, and should remain, a personal and private choice. And it is the duty of every member state of this Republic to uphold and protect the nation's Constitution first, and the state's constitution second. Any state that does not govern in accordance with the national Constitution should lose what little Federal funding and assistance it may still possess after the last six years of the Republican locust frenzy. If you agree with this point of view, then contact your congress-person and remind him or her that the abortion issue is rooted in religious belief, and that we have a Constitution with a Bill of Rights which mandates the separation of church and state, and as such, we are still a nation governed by laws, not religion. And if you don't agree, then I hear that the Taliban is accepting applications.

Posted: Wed - March 22, 2006 at 06:00 AM          

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