Tuesday, January 22, 2013

A Deeper Meaning to Roe v. Wade


Forty years ago today, with the 7-2 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, the right to obtain an abortion became part of the universal law of the land. That right has been degraded in many parts of the country. It is imperative that men unite with women to insure their ability to choose to obtain an abortion, free of hassle.

For many, the abortion issue is bound up in theology. I am beholden to my friend Ken for turning me on to the Jewdayo web site for this analysis of a deeper import of the Roe v. Wade ruling. 

"Roe is about so much more than delineating trimester by trimester rights for women, or determining when life begins or when there is viability of the fetus,” wrote Rabbi Robert N. Levine of New York's Rodeph Sholom congregation. “To my mind, Roe v. Wade . . . takes on the question of whether the government, law enforcement, male-dominated institutions have the power to control basic decisions about women's lives. Those who yearn to repeal Roe v. Wade really want to correct the 'illusion' that women can make decisions about their own bodies and lives."

"The fundamentalist right tries to tell us that Scripture explicitly sides against choice. They are wrong! Listen carefully: There is not a single verse, not a single verse in any Bible outlawing abortion," says Rabbi Levine.