It amazes me that countless attempts to deny women the right to make decisions regarding their bodies persist and those who advance such ideas have not gotten the point.
The same old arguments against the law of the land, supported by a decision of the Supreme Court, in Roe v. Wade, lose the main point. Yes, they are an unelected part of our government, established by the Constitution. In their wisdom, the founding fathers, decided that their infant nation needed assurance that there should be “checks and balances” to prevent one branch of government from dominating. That is why we have an Executive branch, the presidency, a Legislative branch consisting of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives, each with different terms and differently accorded powers. The third branch is the Judicial branch, the Supreme Court, to which they hoped the best minds would be chosen.
Their special status came from the fact that the court could not be elected and therefore subject to the whims of the times. Supporters of the Constitution, I hope this has been useful.
Despite numerous surveys, and the results, that at least 60 percent of the public want the law of the land to stand, the objections are constantly voiced, fueled by the influence of religious interpretations of the beginning of life. Without the ability to survive independently outside the body, the question remains. How can termination be murder? And to be practical, how can supporters of that theory defend the widespread neglect by our society of the children who are actually alive?
Beyond that, I strongly decry the attempts in many ultraconservative states to prevent humane abortion by torturing women mentally and physically. The newest state laws are actually mandating invasive ultrasounds before any woman can be allowed to undergo an abortion. What an abomination.
May I urge that you accept reality, deniers, and use what is left of your regard for your fellow men and women to promote positive programs for the least among us.
Esther Confino
New Hyde Park
