Abortion and Americans.
Barry Worthington
although a controversial social issue in other parts of the world
(including my own country), is a major political issue only in
America. (In Britain, a 'free vote' is taken whenever legislation
concerning abortion is discussed in parliament. Particular views are
not associated with any of the parties.)
So, why is it a major issue with the American political right? On
the face of it, it may seem a purely ethical issue. In no
circumstances ought a human life to be taken. We can all agree about
that (though it puzzles us in Europe as to how you can be opposed to
abortion but in favour of capital punishment - we find this rather
weird). It seems natural to extend this reasoning to the foetus.
But the matter then becomes complicated, for the foetus is part and
parcel of the woman's biological system, and the woman also can be
said to have rights. Supposing the pregnancy will endager the health
or even the life of the mother. Indeed, suppose it is a choice between
the life of the mother or the foetus. The ethical choice is not clear
at all.
Consequently, I (and the vast najority of people, I think) respect
both sides of the argument, and therefore respect the moral or ethical
decision taken by the mother or medical opinion. If the mother wishes
to have the baby despite adverse medical or social circumstances, then
that is her choice, and we must respect her for it. If she decides,
with good reason, that she cannot go through with it, then we must
respect that too. But we must surely agree that this terrible choice
must be available, based on one ethical assumption - that while a
foetus is part of the human body, the life and well being of the
mother is paramount in all cases of difficulty.
Now this is a personal, a moral decision. And it is one in which
the state has no role to play. One can (just about) understand why
some religious groups have a view on this matter - they may have a
particular philosophy of life to defend. But why do some American
politicians jump in with both feet first?
I suppose that some of them see votes in it. Why, goodness knows,
but there's no accounting for taste. However, there is, I think, more
to it than that. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, so I'm not suggesting
that there is a master plan, but I suspect that there is a (possibly
unconcious) agenda. It is all to do with the exercise of power.
Gore Vidal once said (on a chat show, I think) that"sex is
politics", and he was right. Through the ages, hierarchies, religious
organisations, and governments have sought to control or regulate
sexual behaviour, or aspects of sexual behaviour. Looking at the
association of views on the American right on contraception, sex
education, homosexuality, and abortion, a pattern does emerge. If we
can control behaviour in this most important sphere, we control the
personal behavior of perhaps the mass of the people.
Of course, some regulation might be a good thing if animated by
genuine principle. But, in the majority of cases, it seems that the
impulse is animated by a simple desire to exert control or power over
other people. Feminists have argued that this impulse, in the case of
abortion, is a simple desire to retain control over women in general.
Others might argue that it is a desire to assert a particular
hierarchy or pecking order in society, since the enforcement of a
particular morality justifies the social postion and powers of
particular people.
Thus, what should be a private ethical decision becomes a political
battlefield, and a campaign standard for the political right. But so
far, only in America. Why?
Dr. Barry Worthington