Concern and Disbelief

“Our mothers teach us to speak,
and the world teaches us to shut up.”  
Valeria Luiselli, Mexican author 
1983 –

I looked on from afar and then muttered in disbelief that this couldn’t happen. But it did. The US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade. This had been in law since the early 1970s.

And now we are told by the BBC “After the Supreme Court ruling, abortion access is expected to be cut off for about 36 million women of reproductive age, according to research from Planned Parenthood, a healthcare organisation that provides abortions”

Here in New Zealand abortion is legal. Up to 20 weeks a woman may seek an abortion from a health professional. After 20 weeks abortion is permitted only if a health practitioner deems it “clinically appropriate” and consults at least one other health practitioner. So we find it hard to accept that a ruling that has been in place for more than 50 years can be overturned.

I once came into play with a group of anti-abortionists. A client had just purchased a hospital to add to its other properties. But this one housed a well-known abortion clinic. I was abused by a screaming bunch of zealots who called me a murderer amongst other things. They had no response to my query as to who was going to care for the unwanted, unplanned infants. Not pregnant but abused nevertheless.

I will close here – although of course, this enquiring, ancient neighbourhood of my mind, will follow this through the weeks and months that follow.

JB June 25, 2022