Federal Abortion Ban

On November 5th 2003 President Bush sight the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act into law with these words "Thank you very much. Good afternoon. I'm pleased that all of you have joined us as the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 becomes the law of the land. (Applause.) For years, a terrible form of violence has been directed against children who are inches from birth, while the law looked the other way. Today, at last, the American people and our government have confronted the violence and come to the defense of the innocent child. (Applause)

...America stands for liberty, for the pursuit of happiness and for the unalienable right of life. And the most basic duty of government is to defend the life of the innocent. Every person, however frail or vulnerable, has a place and a purpose in this world. Every person has a special dignity. This right to life cannot be granted or denied by government, because it does not come from government, it comes from the Creator of life. (Applause.)

In the debate about the rights of the unborn, we are asked to broaden the circle of our moral concern. We're asked to live out our calling as Americans. We're asked to honor our own standards, announced on the day of our founding in the Declaration of Independence. We're asked by our convictions and tradition and compassion to build a culture of life, and make this a more just and welcoming society. And today, we welcome vulnerable children into the care and protection of Americans. (Applause.)

This signing was attended by these men:

Now on April 18th 2007, President Bush again gathered with these white men to celebrate the Supreme Court decision upholding the Ban and endangering women's health, lives and our right to access abortion in the United States.

The Federal Abortion Ban:

• Bans safe and effective abortions as early as 12-15 weeks, which impermissibly burdens the right to obtain an abortion before viability.
• Fails to make any exception to the ban when a woman's health is at stake, which violates established constitutional protections that have been in place for 30 years.
• Uses broad language subject to wildly different interpretations that cover steps doctors routinely take in performing abortions in the second trimester, thus making it impossible for doctors to understand exactly what is prohibited.

Decisions involving pregnancy and medical care should be left to women and their doctors, not politicians. The Supreme Court decision has a chilling effect on me as a young woman especially when I reflect on who is in power making these decisions about my body. Decisions that affect women, young women, women of color, poor women, all women, families, marriages and relationships.

The Supreme Court Decision is disempowering and sends a poweful message to this country and women reasserting dominance over our personal decisions and choices. Unplanned and planned pregnancies take on a whole new level and risk with these restrictions adding a layer of emotional stress and uncertaintly.

I'm still caught in a state of disbelief. I've heard the stories of women who faced unplanned pregnancies pre-Roe and I've heard the struggles of women now who face the same situation but have limited access to abortion services. Roe was always the protection but I've lost faith in the sanity of our govenment and our Judicial system.

As President Bush said, "Every person, however frail or vulnerable, has a place and a purpose in this world. Every person has a special dignity. This right to life cannot be granted or denied by government, because it does not come from government, it comes from the Creator of life."

Well this decision certainly made me vulnerable and my "special dignity" is not being respected. Let me make my own decisions in consultation with my doctor and my Creator.