Letters to the editor: Military and Roe v. Wade; vote Democratic to restore rights
Roe decision affects military
There are unintended consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade. Why do we continue to marginalize our homeland security forces? It was bad enough that U.S. troops already had their access to abortion severely curtailed, because as employees of the federal government, doctors on military bases were already banned from performing abortions. That meant that female troops and female spouses of troops had to seek out abortions on their own. That has proven to be both difficult and expensive depending on where they lived; and, will likely become even more so.
At least 26 states will place restrictions on abortion laws, including Texas, Florida, and other southern states that host many of the nation’s military bases. Let’s see, what should today’s potential recruits consider before raising their right hand?
For women, risking their health and careers by having an illegal abortion or having to travel to states far away for legal ones.
For men, it means subjecting their spouses to this risk, as well as, risking their own careers by possibly participating in an illegal abortion?
In a world plagued by major conflict, it means pragmatically thinking twice about volunteering. The potential impact on recruitment and retention would come as the military is already struggling to find qualified troops. Women make up almost 20% of the 1.3 million-member active-duty force.
Robert Thomas Nast, Oxnard
Restore equal rights to women
Freedom of religion was always a sacred right in this country but with the radical right justices invalidating women’s right to control their bodies, we’ve lost that right also. In Judaism, life begins when the first breathe is taken (Genesis 1:2). And the mother’s life always takes precedent over a fetus. A collection of cells, with an electrical pulse, is not a life.
My hope is that everyone who believes in a woman’s right to privacy and the corollary right to choose whether or not to bear children will vote Democratic and restore equal rights to women.
Bert Kaplowitz, Oxnard
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Military and Roe v. Wade; vote Democratic to restore rights
