Pro-Choice

Image courtesy Israel Jones

Recently it seems that our country has started to reconsider abortion, but not in the way you would think. Our states have started passing legislation that is making things harder for women to receive abortion such as waiting periods or sonograms.  Two years ago Texas government implemented a mandatory sonogram in addition to a waiting period to women who are trying to receive abortions. These laws are said to be in place to help women but all they seem to be doing is providing a barrier that is influencing studies showing a decrease in abortions. Texas should be doing more to help women in need (especially those who need abortions), instead of forcing them towards an action that could change their lives forever in a bad direction. I am quite sure that God would not want a child to be born to a teenage mother who cannot take care of them forcing them to live a horrible life. Where does it say that in the bible? The Texas government should be implementing laws that help with abortions, teen pregnancy, and rape victims who are now seeking abortions.

The fact that we worry about what someone else does with their body and focus so much on this type of issue when there are dozens of infinitely more pressing issues at hand is one of the big problems with society today. I am a big advocate for pro-choice and for the simple fact that it should be noones choice but the persons involved. Whether for religious reasons or personal moral choices I don't know why other people would try and control the actions of another human being on such a personal level. In this day and age having made so many advances in civil rights and liberties in our country this seems like a step back to me. I recognize the fact that there are serial abortionists out there that probably shouldn't be allowed to reproduce in the first place, but that doesn't mean that we should punish other people who either aren't ready to be parents or for other reasons need an abortion. 

We tiptoe around this taboo subject hoping that noone will bring it up when as a nation we need to not only consider the rising population rate in the world (selective abortions will control a percentage of that) but we also need to consider the fact that a persons body belongs to them alone. I don't see anyone attacking the rights of people in America to receive other elective surgeries like facelifts and tummytucks. There are a few daytime T.V. Personalities that should probably have their elective surgery priviledges completely revoked but instead we declare their beauty and objectify them. I will bring myself back on point by saying that instead of making it harder for women to receive abortions by passing legislation why not limit that amount of abortions you can have instead? Or maybe we can identify certain requirements for abortion. There are a lot of people who advocate for Pro-life but I don't see any of those people stepping up and adopting the babies were born and not wanted. As I see it now there is no reason for us to dictate what another person does with their own bodies. The next thing you know we will be told how we should dress look, and the words that we can or cannot speak.

American Terrorism

Illustration by Belle Mellor

In keeping up with the current drone discussions going on right now I ran across an article on The Texas Fred Blog written by Texas Fred himself which you can read here. The article outlines the fact that "Obama has the power to authorize lethal force, such as a drone strike, against a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, without trial." Attorney General Eric Holder wrote in a letter released Tuesday.

Texas Fred seems to more or less focus on President Obama in his article rather than the pressing issue at hand, that our Constitutional rights of due process against the deprivation of our lives is being stamped all over by the government. I have said this before and I will say it again if we as American citizens do not become involved in some way with our governments proceedings they will continue to "interpret" and "assume" that what they are doing is best for each and every one of us. If the war on terrorism is being fought overseas then why are we commissioning drones that can be used on U.S. soil? The answer lies in the question itself, the war on terrorism isn't just some war that is thousands of miles away, it is a war for each and every American citizens mind and personal liberties that was opened up 12 years ago when everyone jumped for joy when the Patriot Act was passed. Now most citizens are filled with buyers remorse as they realize that without due process, the government could use a drone against an American citizen, point blank.

In the article - which is geared more towards Anti-Obama citizens - Texas Fred goes on to outline Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Attorney General Eric Holders differing opinion on the matter of the President having the authority to authorize a drone strike on American citizens, on American soil. Texas Fred begins to lose sight on the issue over personal distaste of the current President. He goes on to say:

"Any person, man or woman, Democrat or Republican, that says Obama has the legal authority to unleash deadly force — such as drone strikes — against Americans on U.S. soil without first putting them on trial has just written Barack Obama a blank check to become a vigilante and commit MURDER at will, with no thought of repercussions."

 I personally think that this is a bit drastic considering that if it were any other President they would have exactly the same power as President Obama in this situation. It really pains me to see everyone so focused on the people involved in the issue rather than the issue itself. American citizens should be made aware (and should have a say in the matter) that drones - with the potentiality for deadly strikes - patrol our own soil. The last that I knew we were not currently being invaded by another country. The war on terror is being fought right in our front yards, and with strong federal interpretations. Find a voice and let yourself be heard, don't just accept that your opinion doesn't matter on issues like this, because it does.