In case you live under a rock and are somehow unable to receive news in a timely fashion, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade yesterday in a landmark decision that will now allow states to outlaw abortion. I didn’t write about the decision immediately because I needed a little bit of time to collect my thoughts on the matter first. And here’s what I’ve got to say: The Supreme Court — and everyone else, for that matter — needs to mind their own business. And I say this as someone who doesn’t even have a uterus.
Abortion is sometimes necessary, medically speaking, for the person carrying the child in the first place. Some of these people may have just learned that they’re facing a death sentence if they live in a state that will immediately ban abortion. I’ve seen a lot of right-wing extremists insensitively argue that a woman could just “keep her legs closed” as well, but what if a woman becomes pregnant as a result of sexual assault or rape? How is it fair that she now has to give birth to her rapist’s offspring? Not to mention bringing a child into the world today has its own set of extremely terrifying realities (baby formula shortages, school shootings, etc.). All of these are a few of the many reasons why my personal beliefs on the matter are pro-choice.
But here’s what’s really up: It doesn’t matter what my beliefs are. As someone who is not seeking and will not in the future need to seek an abortion, my opinion is off the table. I don’t know what it’s like to feel like my life is in danger because I’ve become pregnant. And guess what? A majority of the Supreme Court is in the same position that I am. They’re mostly old men who will never find themselves in a position to need an abortion. They’re people we had no direct say in electing to the Supreme Court who will be there until the day they die. Is it fair that they should get to enforce their views on the subject to a majority that opposes the decision? Quite frankly, I don’t think that it is. They need to mind their business and stay out of the personal affairs of American citizens.
Clarence Thomas has already said that the Supreme Court should re-evaluate further topics such as contraception and LGBTQIA+ marriage next. The same thought applies to these things as well: Leave people alone. Mind your own business. If you don’t want an abortion, don’t get one. If you don’t want gay marriage, don’t get gay married. It’s really that simple, and I don’t understand why our country keeps repeatedly failing that concept. Why do we need to get involved with other people’s lives on such personal levels? It’s a question I keep posing and never seem to get a straight answer. It’s beyond frustrating.
I’ll leave you all with a bit of humor from Twitter about the entire situation:
Until next time…
I think, and this is just my opinion, that this whole thing came out yet again, to take our minds off of the high gas, grocery, housing prices. Only something this monumental that would
personally anger people to the core would do it. I am also of the opinion to mind your business. Let people who actually need abortion have them. Let us all love who we love. Be who we want to be and look like whatever we want to look like. I just want peace in my life.
It’s entirely possible that it’s just a distraction, but it worries me because overturning Roe v. Wade sets a scary precedent. There are so many other human rights issues that could be overturned now as well. I just wish we could all have peace in our lives, too!