Libba Smith
In a now infamous comment during a debate on Oct. 23, Indiana’s Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock was asked if he believes that abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest. He replied by saying, “I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”
Mourdock joins a recent flock of Republicans making insensitive comments about rape. He is belittling a truly horrifying situation and taking away a woman’s agency, not to mention the fact that saying that any event is “something that God intended to happen” is a slippery slope that can lead to justifying a number of other unsavory situations.
The public reacted to Mourdock’s comment with shock and anger, with responses on Twitter ranging from calling him “a nut job” to saying that this comment “renders him unqualified.” Mourdock is receiving the outrage he deserves for this comment, but really, he voiced what every anti-choice zealot already believes.
There is an inherent contradiction in believing that abortion should be illegal except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. If you truly believe that life begins at conception, then all conceptions create sacred life, period. There are no exceptions. Any time sperm meets egg, pro-lifers are obligated to fight for that life no matter the circumstances. There is no way to justify fighting to take away a woman’s right to control her own body in some pregnancies, but allowing others to be terminated because the situation is simply more transparently distasteful.
Of course, it is simply politically convenient to hold the position of exceptions for the abortion ban, and to me, this is more repugnant than supporting the full illegalization of abortion. At least the latter is ideologically consistent; the former is just selfish political pandering.
The most obvious answer to the polarizing issue of abortion is to start giving out contraception like candy and teaching safe sex practices starting in middle school. While I can understand why some people are against abortion, being against the distribution of contraception is a complete mystery to me. Historically, banning abortion has never made the numbers go down; making sure that a woman is never in the position of considering an abortion makes the most sense for fully removing the moral dilemma.
However, the polarizing issue of abortion is part of a larger issue. Alleged pro-life supporters do not actually support the life of the mother and child; they would force a woman to carry a child to term, but not assist with the enormous financial and emotional burden of actually raising a baby for the rest of its life. This is why we must support issues like health care, education and fair taxation, but also why concerns about the environment and gun control are also relevant; they raise the quality of living for all.
Abortion is a complex issue for many reasons, but we should be supporting legislation to try and make it as rare as possible. Furthermore, we need to support women, and all people in this country, through all stages of their lives.