We won’t go back, and we won’t back down in abortion justice fight: Letters
We won’t go back, and we won’t back down in abortion justice fight
June 30 — To the Editor:
A Supreme Court stacked with partisan justices stolen by corrupt politicians has overturned Roe with their recent ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, and gutted the federal protection of abortion rights and control over our own bodies. I’m here to say that we won’t go back and we won’t back down.
Let’s be clear, the laws already on the books in states across the country – the most restrictive in recent history, including complete bans from conception with no consideration for maternal health, rape, or incest - along with the 13 trigger laws that were immediately enacted with the Dobbs ruling, are unconstitutional, and a majority of Americans don't want them. Including me. The Dobbs ruling will impact people of color and poor people the most. People of means and privilege - mostly white women - who can afford the travel, expenses, and potential wage loss, will continue to get abortions. Make. No. Mistake.
I won’t stop fighting for abortion justice, and I’m not alone. You’ll hear us. Millions of us; our voices loud, fierce and united. You’ll see us. Millions of us; strong, committed, continuing the fight for abortion rights in our cities, towns, and state houses all across the country.
We won’t go back and we won’t back down.
We will go to the polls. We will vote for elected officials that support protective federal abortion legislation and abortion rights in our states. And we will fight until we defeat every candidate, every legislator, who wants to impose bans on our bodies.
I will be loud. I will be strong. I will vote. And I am not alone.
Brianna Ace-Dodge
Hampton
If you want to change bewildering US policies you need to vote
July 4 – To the Editor:
Do you feel the crushing weight of living in a country that has given more rights to guns than women this past year? Have you watched in bewilderment as yet another multi-million dollar condo is built next door to you while you are struggling to find a 1 bedroom apartment that isn't half of your monthly income? Do you seem, inexplicably, to worry MORE about climate change than our elected officials who have the power to do something about it? If so, it's time to make your voices heard and VOTE. That means local, state, federal elections, primaries and midterms. We need transformative, progressive solutions to the seemingly never ending crises that face young people in this state and country. We'll only get those solutions if we vote for candidates that will deliver on those solutions so if you want your country to work for you, you've got to vote.
Anastasia Azenaro-Moore
Eliot, Maine
July 4 reflections on freedom, liberty and independence
July 4 – To the Editor:
Freedom, Liberty, and Independence cannot exist in isolation. Rather, they are conceived in a community of goodwill, mutual respect, and fairness. Our nation has struggled with living the ideals of freedom and liberty but harboring an underbelly of ill-will and disrespect for some of our fellow citizens.
We appear to be at a serious inflection point in our history. Divisive forces, greed, and enmity pulse through our social fabric. Our credo and democratic principles have paled, blanched by strident grievances and disinformation.
Now more than ever, we must internalize, "We hold these truths to be self-evident......." and resurrect our better angels, deeply instilled in the fabric our nation and the sacred legacy of our Founding Fathers. May we celebrate a meaningful and inspiring 246th Fourth of July!
Ken Cohen
Kensington
Nation needs to find a compromise solution to abortion issue
July 4 – To the Editor:
I think it altogether fitting on this Day of Independence that I pen this letter in support of freeing women from the tyranny of reproductive extremism that grips this nation.
Abortion laws should establish a reasonable balance between the sovereign right of a woman to terminate a pregnancy and the moral right of a healthy and viable fetus to be born into the world. Both rights are of equal importance. The glaring deficiency of Roe v. Wade is that it provided virtually no protection of fetal rights.
Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, we no doubt face years of turmoil and litigation over abortion rights in the various states, as well as massive and unnecessary burdens on pregnant women. On the other hand, we might avoid all that by simply passing a federal law, or better yet, a Constitutional amendment that strikes an appropriate balance between women's rights and fetal rights.
As a minimum, we should protect the early-pregnancy right of a woman to abortion and the late-pregnancy right of a fetus to birth. To that end, I have suggested the following scheme: In the first trimester of pregnancy a woman's right to abortion would be unrestricted; in the second trimester, states could do as they please; and in the third trimester, abortions would be strictly prohibited.
This scheme could be established by federal law or by Constitutional amendment as follows:
"Neither the United States, nor any State, shall infringe upon the right of a woman to terminate her pregnancy prior to 12 weeks of gestation, or the right of a viable fetus to be born after 24 weeks of gestation."
This would strike the appropriate balance between women's rights, states' rights and fetal rights while providing both minimum and maximum periods of protection for a woman and her fetus.
Of course, this suggestion for replacing Roe v. Wade relies on a willingness to compromise on an issue that will otherwise never be resolved by refusing to recognize both the early-pregnancy privacy rights of women and the late-pregnancy birth rights of their children.
May the Spirit of the Fourth be with you, women of America, in your struggle for reproductive freedom, a freedom that will do justice both to you and your offspring.
Ron Sheppe
Rochester
What ever happened to the Grand Ole Party of my parents?
July 5 – To The Editor:
What ever happened to the Grand Ole Party of my parents? Though it always had its differences with the other party, as it should, it had in common with Democrats a love of country, respect for the rule of law and unwavering support for democracy. When did the Republican party forget the “United” part of our name and start using hate and misinformation as campaign tactics to divide us and undermine our trust in elections and majority rule? When did getting elected become more important than love of country?
It is time for patriotic Americans, regardless of political affiliations to come together in support of our democracy. Any person who promotes the false idea that the last presidential election was fraudulent and supports the would be tyrant who actively provoked and encouraged the January 6th insurrection does not belong in office in the government of the United States of America. It is up to the voters to keep them out. When decent men and women take their places, we can get back to the old fashioned idea of using facts, ideas, argument and persuasion to sort out our traditional differences, find common cause, and take action for the good of the country.
My Republican parents, if they were still here, would be leading the charge!
Cynthia Muse
Rye
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: We won’t go back, we won’t back down in abortion justice fight: Letters
