Pro-Choice Rant
I am Pro Choice. Meaning, I am a proponent of free choice. Not only in the realm of women’s health care and legal rights, but in all aspects of everyone’s life. I do not equate “choice” with “abortion”, and as far as I can tell, only those with a political agenda and desire to control others’ behavior consider “choice” to be a synonym for “abortion”.
I believe that every woman, from the onset of physical and social maturity, has not only the right, but the obligation to actively choose what she wants and how she wishes to be in her life. She has an obligation to consciously choose marriage or not marriage, home or career, children or no children, religion or spiritual practice or non-belief, or any combination or blending in any way that supports her and her personal circle of those she loves, cares for, nurtures, and influences.
When the government, at any level, makes laws governing a woman’s choice about her health, her life, or her value to herself or her culture, the separation between Church and State has been foully breached.
If a religious tradition (church) is morally opposed to birth control and/or abortion, and it expects its followers to live by the moral code, there is no need for civil or federal law to force that moral imperative on the rest of the population who do not belong to that church. For me, this holds true with regard to ALL religious moral imperatives, including, but not limited to, what you wear, who you choose to partner with, who, if anyone, is the authority in your life, what you are allowed or encouraged to do with your life, etc. It also seems to me that if a church is strong in its beliefs and confident in its devotees, it has no need to make civil laws to enforce those beliefs or require the general public to abide by them. If an organization is forcing its specific moral dogma on non-believers through civil law, it is not a church, it is a political organization and should be treated as such.
I believe the woman holds the center energy of the family and of the culture. There is ample evidence that when women are given economic equity and opportunity (including loans), education, training, and support, family conditions are improved, and then community conditions are improved.
It is my choice to believe what I will, practice the religious or spiritual traditions that support me, and live by the code of ethics that I feel are best for me and for those I have chosen to support and be responsible for. The Constitution of these United States guarantees me that right and responsibility, and laws that seek to abridge, control or force someone else’s restrictions on me are unconstitutional.
Those who are afraid of human beings making their own choices will continue to make laws that force others to abide by their own limited beliefs.
Those who recognize that powerful, self-empowered women are an essential force for creating a culture that supports each individual as a valuable and necessary asset to a growing, evolving, and self-sustaining community. . . they are Pro Choice.
Blessings, Charlotte
Edited by Monique Huenergardt of MoReadsYou.com