...Also, we tend to forget that there still is maternal mortality in this country - thousands of women die during pregnancy or childbirth...
posted by mjw
That fact along with the death penalty, child mortality, malnutrition, collateral damage, prison warehousing, etc. is why I feel that the 'sanctity of life' argument is a red herring. Sanctity of life goes out the window once you exit the no-choice/pro-choice arena. The real root of the anti-abortion movement is control of the reproductive process.
White males are the driving force behind the anti-abortionists, and are acting out their fear of losing that final bit of control over women.
Consider that slowly but surely, the white male's position at the top of the social heap has been eroded. Just looking at recent history, we see that he has been forced to compete on a more equal footing with respect to educational opportunities, voting representation, and job opportunities. To finally lose the ability to ensure that a woman will bear his children is too much, the last straw.