Diane Knox: The abortion issue puts a dampener on Independence Day for many
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I HOPE you’ve had a great week. It’s been a short one for me as Monday was America’s Independence Day and a national holiday. Well, not a holiday for me as it’s a busy week in golf, with the world’s top names teeing it up in Scotland for the Genesis Scottish Open.
As I spent the day writing numerous articles about the Renaissance Club, I felt a lot of homesickness and, quite frankly, little desire to celebrate the United States during a time that has left me feeling extremely let down by this country and the powers that govern it.
A few weeks ago, as expected, Roe v Wade was overturned, ending the right to abortion that has been upheld for decades.
The decision, which had been leaked earlier this year, means that the right to abortion has been rolled back in nearly half of the states, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy.
I felt such immediate anger and severe disappointment when the announcement was made. A woman’s rights have been removed; a woman’s right to CHOOSE what she wants to do with her body has been snatched away from her – in 2022.
I have made my feelings on this very clear, as have many, many others – both men and women.
In a country that has been devastated by 27 school shootings in 2022 alone, it feels like guns are being given more rights than women. It’s insanity.
As an expectant mother, my pregnancy is the most important thing in my world. I am deeply in love with this baby that I am carrying, and will continue to carry for another 20 weeks. However, my feelings toward Roe v Wade being overturned really having nothing to do with babies, it’s all about a woman’s right to choose.
I read a story last week that brought tears to my eyes and knots to my stomach.
At 25 weeks pregnant, a woman in the US was feeling a lot of movement in her stomach. It came in waves, but she knew something was wrong. Following an ultrasound, the doctor confirmed that her baby was suffering from acute seizures and wouldn’t survive labour. Her baby would be born dead, yet continue to suffer from these seizures for the duration of her short life, and the mother would feel every single one.
The state in which she lives immediately ruled abortion illegal, therefore she has no option but to continue with a pregnancy that will end in utter devastation and trauma. How can that decision be justified?
Having her right removed not only affects her, it affects her unborn child who is suffering. Surely the woman is the one best equipped to make this decision, not the Supreme Court?
I wrote about this back in May, when the leaked documents began circulating. Ending Roe v Wade is not going to end abortions, but it is going to affect safe abortions.
What comes next – contraception, IVF and other fertility treatments? With in vitro fertilization (IVF), it’s common practice to fertilise more than one egg to maximise the chances of the process being successful. The other fertilised eggs are discarded, but will this be deemed legal in the states that have deemed ending embryonic life illegal? It seems ludicrous, but so did banning the right to choose.
With elections looming towards the end of the year, the people of America will be able to vote and have their voices heard. Let’s just hope there’s some light at the end of this tunnel.
