To belabor the obvious, it can be all to easy to see the abortion issue in a narrow focus, as if it were solely a matter or carrying a fetus to term. but I think much larger ethical issues are involved. What is in contention is an entire definition of women's rights. What is at stake is a definItion of freedom for the female 50% of our population.
We claim to be a nation conceived in liberty, dedicated to the ideal of freedom. We believe in the individual. We feel each one of us independently can make the wisest, best choice as to how he or she wishes to make a social contribution. Thus we prize the unstated right to decide as individuals what will be our career or profession. it was not always this way for women. But today a woman may choose to be a research scientist, a manager at Walmart, a politician, a farrier or a stay at home mother. All these are honorable choices. This is liberty.
Available abortion serves this liberty interest by simply providing a medical safety net against forced pregnancy and unwanted motherhood. It permits the scientist or the manager or politician to continue her chosen career without the very serious disruptions attendant on pregnancy and motherhood. Imagine, if you can, Jefferson getting pregnant a few moths before being called to write the Declaration. No doubt he could have done it, but likely its better he didn't have that to worry about at the time.
Conservative voices do not agree, in large measure because they to not accept womanhood as a state entitled to liberty. Instead the conservative presumption is that women's lives are better governed by fate or God's Will.
At bottom the conservative believe that women's only proper role is motherhood; her proper place in the home.
To deny abortion choice is to interfere to one degree or another with woman's freedom to pursue the role and career of her choice. Thus the conservative opposition to abortion represents something far broader than simply protecting pregnancy. The history of conservatism is the history of protecting privilege and rank. Whether it is an established church. an hereditary aristocracy or simply the male, the underlying conservative dedication is to a stratified society of privilege, where "some are more equal than others". That mindset is what we opposed at Lexington and Concord - and ever since.
Thus there is no day more fitting than the 4th to celebrate and reaffirm our dedication to Liberty and Justice for ALL. At the firewoprks tonight, I'll be reminded of every American Freedom, but especially the freedom embodied in a a woman's right to Liberty. HER RIGHT TO CHOOSE.