I find the Abortion debate to be a terribly charged issue thats sole political agenda is to separate and oppress women. I believe the Abortion debate is a distraction to keep us from talking about the important issues for women like equal wages and healthcare. It focuses on women as mothers only (and punishes and criminalizes those who choose not to be mothers).

As most women, I have a very strong opinion – I honestly believe that if men could get pregnant the abortion debate would no longer exist. We have a hard enough time passing legislation making assault weapons illegal (and all they do is rip apart anything they touch whether it is a deer or a child who gets into daddy’s gun cabinet).  Americans scream from the hilltops that they have the “right to bear arms.” So if men won’t even let us tell them what they can do with their guns – there is no way in hell they would ever let the government tell them what they can do with their own bodies.

But that is just the politics – and this is not a political issue . . .

There is one thing I understand – this decision belongs between a woman and her doctor. I have several friends who were truly torn about this important decision. It was not easy. In fact, most of these women would say it was one of the most difficult decisions of their lives. They are educated, in committed relationships, and were often using other forms of birth control at the time. It was not a decision made on a whim.

But also, they were completely prepared and they were the only one that could make the final decision. At the end of the day the consequences were theirs alone.  As friends we could love them, sit with them, talk with them.  However, each woman knew in their hearts what choice was right for them.  I have no doubt in my mind that whatever they chose – to have a baby or not – was absolutely, without question, the best choice for them and their lives.  No legislation, no law, no religious doctrine could tell them what to do. Their hearts and minds were strong and prepared for the choice.

No law could have made that decision any easier, but because they had this essential right to choose I believe the quality of their lives as women was protected. For those friends who continued their pregnancy they have beautiful families and for those who chose another path they have continued to be caring friends who will – when the time is right – have families that they can support they way they feel children should be.

Today is the 34th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision in the US Supreme Court.  I vow to support this right for women to have power over the their own bodies and celebrate the quality of life this choice has brought to women.

Bottomline, I trust women.  I trust that they know what is best for them. I  know this because I trust that I know what is best for me.

Check out the other posts by women who Blog for Choice.