NECESSARY ABORTIONS

Steve Chapman, in his commentary, “The challenge facing abortion-rights advocates”, missed it by a wide margin. The real challenge is exactly what he says it is not, the prevention of rare, but sometimes necessary abortions, and the health of the women who get them. Chapman admits that the upheld law will not save a single fetus from destruction. What is does do is provide the pro-life lobby with fuel to pursue their endless campaign to impose their religious and ideological vision on the majority of women who were authorized by previous Supreme Court decisions to make their own health care decisions regarding abortions, early term or otherwise.

Women understand that abortion is sometimes necessary for the health and well-being of themselves and their families. This has been the case since the beginning of time. That is why it is prevalent regardless of what restrictions are placed upon it. Such restrictions only succeed in making abortion more expensive and dangerous. Abortion also benefits society by preventing the birth of an unwanted child, an act that is arguably more moral than a societal requirement to bring every pregnancy to term.

There is nothing wrong with being against abortion as long as one doesn’t interfere with the rights of others who are pro-choice. Against abortion? Don’t have one.

Originally published in Chicago Tribune, April 27, 2007

THE SUNSHINE BOYS

During the halcyon days of Shock and Awe in March, 2003, we savored our cakewalk in Iraq and chuckled at the ludicrous Iraqi military spokesman affectionately known as “Baghdad Bob”. While the Iraq government crumbled, Baghdad Bob proudly proclaimed how the mighty Iraqi army was winning the war while inflicting severe casualties on the American invaders.

It is not funny, however, to see and hear his American counterpart, Senator and presidential candidate John McCain demonstrate how Baghdad is becoming safer by strolling into an outdoor market previously visited by deadly bombings. Wearing military protective gear, McCain was accompanied by a hundred American soldiers and several helicopters and airplane gunships. The pictures of this surreal scene gave the lie to McCains’s absurd words on success of the recent American escalation in Baghdad.

America is inexorably being bombed and shot out of Iraq. Only the delusional posturing of administration officials and their water carriers in the Senate like Mr. McCain allow the daily carnage of two more dead Americans and a dozen or so injured to go on indefinitely.

Baghdad Bob, move over and make room for your soulmate, Baghdad John.


Originally published in Glen Ellyn News, April 25, 2007