I am pro-life, but not in the way you think
This is the opinion of Hailee Thayer, CSB senior
With the new Texas Senate Bill 8 (Heartbeat Act), it is inevitable that conversations about abortion will begin again within our community. I want to get ahead of the pro-life versus pro-choice arguments.
For those that do not know, Senate Bill 8, or the Heartbeat Act, bans women from getting abortions six weeks after a heartbeat can be detected. This bill was specifically designed so that its enforcement didn’t fall on the government, but on private parties. These private parties are allowed to sue anyone who is seeking an abortion or who performs one in civil court. The award for winning the suit is $10,000. This makes it even harder for organizations like the ACLU to try overturning the bill.
Many consider this bill a win for the pro-life movement, but I do not. This bill goes against everything that the pro-life movement should be about. The pro-life movement should be about providing universal healthcare, comprehensive sex education, reforming the foster care system, giving veterans the respect and dignity they deserve, reforming immigration policies and much, much more. Senate Bill 8 is a violation of both Article 25 of the United Nation’s Declaration of Human Rights and the constitutional rights set by Roe v. Wade.
Article 25 states “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.” Medical care is a key aspect of Article 25 and by taking away medical care for 14 million women is a clear and direct violation of human rights and the Constitution.
Perhaps instead of passing a bill that will prevent abortions from ever happening, the pro-life movement should be focusing on the underlying causes. Destigmatize and provide contraceptives and create more comprehensive sex education. Advocate for foster care reform and universal healthcare. It goes without saying that I am not pro-life in the typical way, but I am pro-quality of life, which, at this point, is better suited to being pro-choice.
Do not call yourself pro-life if you’re not going to talk about these issues.