I take my title from Franklin Roosevelt's Four Freedoms. In this speech he described the four: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear. I believe these are as good an agenda for a civilized state as has ever been imagined. Yet, with some diffidence I want to add one: Freedom of Reproduction. The reason I suggest this is I want to emphasize the absolutely critical, fundamental, basic naure of abortion rights. These rights are not some trendy tack-on of feminism. They are not simply a path to liberal votes. Freedom of Reproduction, I submit, is a basic human right. One can absolutely cede to the women's movement the right to take the lead in this area, but it is ultimately a matter of human rights for all. Consider the many husbands, the many male college students, the many loyal boyfriends who have had their lives immeasurably improved by access to abortion, along with their wives, sweethearts and other women tjhreatened with forced pregnancy So the issue is there for all of us, a basic HUMAN issue. I need not enumerate here the simply amazing list of ways that this freedom gives to all of us. Forced parenthood is slavery. It is the submission of individual well being to that of the State. That is not the American Way.
Some years back 25 or so - I realized that I would give my life, or the lives of my children to defend this right. I do not feel that deeply about any other liberal issue -unless it be the defense of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I do not feel I would go to war for Global warming, or equality for women, blacks or gays I would not go to war for better wages or free college, much as I deeply value all these matters. But for Reproductive Freedom I would give my life. Ultimately, what I am saying is that this belief is a profoundly spiritual one. Honestly, I still get chills when I hear Jefferson's " We hold these truths to be self evident: That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by the creator with inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness..." `Now of course reproductive rights freedom falls under the heading of Jefferson's Liberty. Yet, I would almost wish it to have a separate standing as a unique and crucial kind of freedom. The closest I can come to that is to humbly append medical freedom to Roosevelt's four Freedoms. It is self evident that Reproductive rights are deeply moral matters. This is hardly a matter of convenience or "abortion on demand" We might as well say that the daily newspaper is only "free speech on demand". This was not a concept that could have evolved, let's say, before 1950. Reproductive freedom is predicated on modern science and safe medical procedures. These did not exist until quite recently just as is true of the rights of those over 65.
In any case, what I want to stress is that reproductive freedom is profoundly embedded in Humanist values and spirituality. If humanists revere man and Womankind we must revere as well the freedom to shape our destinies, including MOST IMPORTANTLY the free choice of parenthood. To abdicate this freedom and responsibility, turning it over to the chance doings of biology reeks of medievalism, or ' natural law' run wild. We are too precious for that sort of superstition.
So for me my fifth Freedom is as precious and fundamental as the other four. And as important. I would give my life for it.