virginia, abortion, and portugal
as the nation stares, transfixed, into their televisions and computer monitors, absorbed by the intricate details of the virginia tech massacre, we think to ourselves, how did this happen? if it isn't violent video games or the breakdown of the rigid, patriarchal family structure, then what was it that made our society so prone to such savagery. could it possibly be the backwardness of our social stances, the elitism of our economic system, the weakness of our democratic institutions, or the apathy brought on by increasingly self-centered technological advances? no, on second thought, it was probably just grand theft auto.
either way, what happened in blacksburg, virginia is an important event to think about and will surely be discussed for decades to come. yet, even as the media reaps in high ratings at VT's expense and american minds remain entranced by what is essentially a tragic, if highly isolated and sensationalist occurence, our beloved supreme court, led by chief justice john roberts, has taken its first baby steps toward overturning roe v. wade.
it is not surprising that the court would move to ban partial birth abortions; even i, as an incredibly staunch supporter of abortion rights, am still uneasy about partial-birth abortion. the truly incredible thing is that this law, which the court upheld 5-4, includes no clause regarding ANY exceptions. let me repeat that: this law, which was held by our great supreme court to be constitutional, includes absolutely no provisions for the life of the mother in emergencies, cases of rape, cases of incest, or any other feasible exceptions.
and we wonder why, across the atlantic, countries like greece, portugal, and belgium (with GDPs the size of washington state, tennessee, and massachusetts, respectively) hear the word "america" and sneer in snide arrogance. the worst part is they have a point.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/04/18/scotus.abortion/index.html
either way, what happened in blacksburg, virginia is an important event to think about and will surely be discussed for decades to come. yet, even as the media reaps in high ratings at VT's expense and american minds remain entranced by what is essentially a tragic, if highly isolated and sensationalist occurence, our beloved supreme court, led by chief justice john roberts, has taken its first baby steps toward overturning roe v. wade.
it is not surprising that the court would move to ban partial birth abortions; even i, as an incredibly staunch supporter of abortion rights, am still uneasy about partial-birth abortion. the truly incredible thing is that this law, which the court upheld 5-4, includes no clause regarding ANY exceptions. let me repeat that: this law, which was held by our great supreme court to be constitutional, includes absolutely no provisions for the life of the mother in emergencies, cases of rape, cases of incest, or any other feasible exceptions.
and we wonder why, across the atlantic, countries like greece, portugal, and belgium (with GDPs the size of washington state, tennessee, and massachusetts, respectively) hear the word "america" and sneer in snide arrogance. the worst part is they have a point.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/04/18/scotus.abortion/index.html