In My Lifetime

It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten a sudden urge to write, to communicate about something unfolding. right now. It’s been a long time coming. I had a pit in my stomach during confirmation hearings for justices appointed by the last holder of the Oval Office. They said under oath, though, they would uphold the laws of our country. Unanimously, they clearly stated that Roe v Wade was established law.

What is going on here? My brain cannot compute that these people who perjured themselves to fulfill their lifetime dreams are now stripping citizens of the United States of established agency, healthcare decisions, and the choice to keep those decisions between her and her medical provider.

Don’t think this will only affect women. How many men have left difficult choices in the lap of a woman? Well, now, if there are no choices, that guy is going to be a father. He may not be a daddy, but he’s going to pay child support. If these few who climbed from clerk to federal circuit or appelate judge to the highest court in our government are able to erase the agency a woman has over her body and healthcare, what’s to keep them from doing the same to men. What? Oh, right. The men won’t take away medical rights from themselves.

I am sick about this. Will it be of immediate consequence to me? No. I’ve had my kids and they’re sons. In their 20’s, gainfully employed and no babies. So, why would it matter to me? I feel the heat rise in me for all women at this unimagineable diminishment in our control over our own reproductive rights. Let me repeat, WOMEN WILL NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES.

Will this be the case of all women? No, there will be states who will not insert government between women and their own bodies, but some asshole states aren’t just outlawing having an abortion; they’re making it criminal for a citizen of America to drive a friend to accss safe, autonomous healthcare. ‘Not only are we going to make it impossible for you to receive healthcare here at home that women in the neighboring state have available; we’re going to catch you if you try to go there. We’re going to box you in and take away medical choices completely, not just controlling what happens in our state but CONTROLLING CITIZENS.’

Is this a bad dream? Because never in my life could I have imagined this destruction of my rights. If I have had rights taken away, so can you. In the United States of America.

p.s. tired, probably didn’t catch all typos.