Kentucky's Abortion Bill

The Kentucky legislature is considering a bill that would outlaw abortion in all cases except when the woman's life is in danger. This means that if a woman were raped and became pregnant, she would have to have the child. This means that a woman who became pregnant through incest would have to have the child. This means that even more children would come into this world unwanted and unlikely to be properly cared for.

Except this bill, if passed into law, would mean nothing because of the Supreme Court's decision in Roe versus Wade. No state can override this decision.

The bill, however, is meant to cause the Supreme Court to reconsider Roe v Wade. It's a political ploy. It's forcing the issue. It's an attempt to overturn Roe v Wade, now that Bush has been able to add two strong conservative voices to the Court.

To me, abortion is a necessary evil. Ideally, I would like to live in a world where abortion is unnecessary. Where every child was born to a woman who wanted that child and where every woman who wanted a child was able to have one. Unfortunately, that is not the reality of our world. Unfortunately, rape, incest, and abusive relationships exist. Unfortunately, women who cannot support a child or have no interest in a child or will not take care of a child or will perhaps even harm or kill their child, get pregnant. Sometimes tragic circumstances lead to pregnancy; sometimes stupid circumstances.

Yes, there is adoption, but for many women, that's just not an option. Why not? we can ask. But the truth is that we can't know unless we walk in these women's shoes. Perhaps it's a cultural reason or a family reason or even a religious reason. And for a woman who was raped or was a victim of incest, carrying that child for 9 months, even if she were to give it up for adoption, could be, and likely is, a terrible burden and a painful reminder of a tragic event.

Should we outlaw abortion, it would not stop abortion. It would just become more dangerous. The truth is that abortion is necessary in our society. While it's nice rhetoric to say that every child conceived has the right to be born, it's better that every child be born with the right to be loved and wanted.

What our nation needs to do is step back from Roe v Wade. We need to stop arguing about whether abortion is right or wrong. What we need to do is create a society where abortion is unnecessary. Where every woman has knowledge of and access to methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Where rape and incest don't exist. Where women are given the support and resources to get out of bad relationships.

In a world like that, there wouldn't be as much debate over this issue. There wouldn't be as much need for abortion.