Mind your own business.
That’s a phrase we’ve all heard or verbalized ourselves at one point or another. As cliché as it sounds, those four simple words can have tremendous effects, however, depending on who you ask will determine whether such effect is positive or negative.
I have always believed that people have a right to do what they want within their individual lifespan. This doesn’t mean we should allow the world to be a disorderly mess, but rather we should let people of reasonable age decide what they want to do with their lives within the confines of the law. After all, it is their life, right?
I often think about someone who has the desire to get their ears pierced. As common a thing ear-piercing is, there are some people who disagree with the form of expression and would never get their ears pierced. One’s disapproval of ear-piercing does not make them right, nor is a person wrong for wanting their ear pierced. It is simply a matter of preference.
As harsh as this may sound, the same is true for abortion. It is a matter of preference for some women and a matter of necessity for others. One’s beliefs should not have bearing on a woman’s ability to have an abortion – it should be that woman’s choice because it is her body.
It amazes me how the very people who are staunch anti-abortionists are also anti-welfare and any other government subsidy. Data show that many of the women who obtain abortions do so because they cannot adequately provide for the children. I encourage every person committed to ending the legalization of abortion to commit to adopting babies that would otherwise be aborted. Part of that commitment should also include a mandate that states the person cannot be selective over the child they adopt. In other words – don’t be picky about the race, gender or physical attributes of the baby.
I don’t necessarily agree with abortion, but I do believe a woman has a right to choose what she wants to do with her body. It is not my right nor responsibility to make a decision as significant as abortion for another woman who is of sound mind. It is her choice. Whatever choice she makes, that woman has to deal with the consequences associated with her decisions – be it psychologically, financially, or even spiritually.
Abortion always tends to be amongst the top of the “controversial subjects list,” but recently the topic has gotten even more attention after a disturbing video was leaked of a high-ranking Planned Parenthood official discussing the sale of fetal body parts. With the 2016 presidential campaign season in full swing – especially for the nearly 20 Republican candidates – the release of the video has allowed candidates from both political parties to outline their positions on the subject. Some presidential hopefuls such as Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton and Republican Gov. Chris Christie (both of whom I happen to like) have gone public with their perspectives, while others seem to have shied away from the topic completely. The thing that makes the subject of abortion so tricky is Planned Parenthood. For decades lawmakers have worked to cut funding for Planned Parenthood on the basis that they support abortions. However, abortions are a very small portion of Planned Parenthood’s service – around 3 percent actually.
So if funding is cut for Planned Parenthood, millions of people – including men and teens – will lose access to quality health care. As the political season heats up in the weeks and months ahead, I hope all serious presidential candidates as well as congressional members review all aspects of Planned Parenthood and develop their political platforms and strategies around Planned Parenthood services as a whole, rather than on one particular aspect of service. Politicians need to stop making emotional or partisan decisions and base things off of solid facts.
