Right to Life

Right to Life

The whole phrase of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution and as such “The preamble sets the stage for the Constitution. It clearly communicates the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document. The preamble is an introduction to the highest law of the land; it is not the law. It does not define government powers or individual rights.

Now, what made Thomas Jefferson happy was the pursuit of “property,” that is, material wealth. See my online reference: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/pursuit-of-happiness-meaning1.htm

So,what is left is the freedom to pursue one’s life free from

government dictates and to pursue one’s freedoms without government interference. The Founders were expressing, as strongly as they were able, freedom from the oppression they had faced under the Monarchy of England. Thus were they very sensitive to the necessity of maintaining independence — both for the individual and for the Nation.

With that understanding as a basis for thought a “woman’s right to choose” for herself is absolute. In addition “The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes national standards to protect individuals’ medical records and other individually identifiable health information…” https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html

Previously writing about the movie “How to Make of an American Quilt,” let me add the movie illustrated the cultural battle between the sexes — of the macho man ruling over every aspect of his wife’s life — without allowing any discussion — like “a woman’s place is in the home” and her place is “barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen.”

The Bible describes the marital relationship a little differently. Some men like this phrase: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church…” conveniently omitting the rest of the passage: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” and “In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church…” and “…let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Reference: Ephesians 5:22–33)

The head and body parable has similarities as a model like the saying “a well oiled machine” — a marriage relationship that runs smoothly and is “oiled” by love. The Bible’s prescription for long lasting marriages is this mode of operation, for the Born Again Believers “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

Now, traveling way, way, way down the road of this writing is the latest controversy we all can argue over: the leaked draft of a decision regarding “a woman’s right to choose.” (Oh, so much to talk about!) If this is anywhere near the final decision, the reasoning puts in jeopardy LGTBQ rights, women’s right to vote, racial integration — a return to “separate but equal” nonsense — and the whole plethora of rights passed since 1778.

Let me start with “the right to lifers” who never lift a finger to assuage the reasons why women choose to get an abortion and never do they seem to follow their basic logic by providing free health care from womb to grave for both men and women. A living wage standard wouldn’t hurt either. They prefer to make shallow accusations of “baby killers” and twistings to demean the other side as “pro abortion,” attempting to promote their cause.

Now, no one is “pro-abortion.” Yet, that is the simple debate tactic, a convenient degradation of the other side. By so doing, they put their thumbs on the scales of justice. But God, whom many claim they represent: “The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.” or in a different translation: “The LORD detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales.” (Proverbs 20:23) In my own words, there is plenty wrong with both sides.

So, not letting the other side off the hook — those who have the banner “women’s right to choose,” forgive me my coarseness and insensitivity, but they should have exercised better choices much, much earlier. Beyond that, using abortion as a form of birth control is assanine. “Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice, I won’t get fooled again.” — President George W. Bush

Please forgive me. I know this is a difficult and emotional subject, and not something to joke about, and I know my writing is more ham handed than elegant. So, I will borrow from a Psalm King David composed: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body…” (Psalms 139:13–16) My opinion is that the whole thing is a sad state of affairs.

My opinion is that neither side is wholly righteous.

Like the limitations that can be placed on the First and Second Amendments and like solutions that can be attained through reasoned discussion, using confirmed facts, thoughtfulness should eliminate bad solutions. Shouting at each other is just plain stupid. https://www.verywellhealth.com/reasons-for-abortion-906589

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”