Texas is not the new Taliban – Delco Times

FILE – In a file photo dated Tuesday July 2, 2013, abortion rights advocate Yatzel Sabat (left) and anti-abortion protester Amanda Reed demonstrate at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas. The Supreme Court is considering an urgent complaint from abortion providers in Texas who want judges to block two provisions of a state law that has already closed roughly half of the state’s licensed abortion clinics. Ten of the remaining 19 clinics will have to close their doors by July 1, 2015 without an order from the Supreme Court. (Jay Janner / Austin American-Statesman via AP, file)

As expected, social media, regular media, and the people who worry about these things are generally apoplectic about the Supreme Court’s decision not to block Texas’ abortion law. If you’re on social media, a member of the regular media, or worried about these things, I don’t need to explain which Texan law I am referring to. But in case any of you reading this think I’m talking about regulations to contain your dog or a recent move to add a second star to the Lone Twinkle State logo, let me spell it: ABORTION. Texas passed a Heartbeat Bill in May that made abortions essentially illegal after six weeks.

It’s no secret that I’ve been campaigning for the criminalization of abortion for decades. Lots of people disagree with me and that’s fine. They can write their own columns (many already do) and send me letters explaining what I can do with my keyboard. It’s a controversial issue, and despite what the peacemakers are trying to argue, there really isn’t anything in common. And I fully admit that Texan law is extreme and novel in that it now allows private parties to enforce it. Revolutionary in its own way, and it remains to be seen whether it will pass the constitutional pattern.

But the truth is, you are either against abortion or you are in favor of abortion. Period. “Pro life” and “pro choice” are euphemisms that we all use to mark our tribes. This column is not going to change your mind and is not designed for that type of advocacy.

What I want to focus on is the strange hypocrisy that pops up every time we talk about the right to abortion, something that is especially noteworthy today when we look at the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Aside from being firmly against abortion (not just for myself, but for any mother who no longer wants to be pregnant), I am a strong advocate for the rights and dignity of women. There are some of you reading this who may be choking on the low fat, local vegan snack you ate while suffering through my column. How do you think, while you are doing the Heimlich maneuver, this woman can say that she supports the rights of women and still works for the elimination of the right that is most central to female autonomy: “Reproductive freedom?”

This woman will explain. I have been working in immigration law for over 25 years. Over the past 15 years my practice has seen a significant increase in asylum cases, a large percentage of which involve women who have been victims of violence. Some of this violence was perpetrated by family members and some of it was institutional. Lately I’ve seen a number of women being abused by their partners and the police haven’t done anything to protect them. This is very common in Central America.

But then there are the most terrible situations, namely when the government itself is carrying out the persecution. This is more likely to be the case in countries that cling to a perverted and draconian version of religious dogma, usually Sharia law. And many women fortunate enough to enjoy the freedoms and privileges of the West now face what I call “The Great Reversal,” plunging them back into a darkness they either never knew or just remembered have vague memories.

I’m referring, of course, to Afghanistan and the Taliban resurgence. My position on how the US catalyzed “The Great Reversal” through its deliberate and poorly planned retreat after 20 years is as well known as my rejection of abortion. I’ve spent the last two weeks writing about this, lamenting its impact on American allies, children, US citizens, and even dogs.

But now is the time to highlight the most obvious and heartbreaking victims of all: the women. The Taliban want them to be dressed in dark fabrics, anonymous characters who roam the markets, the streets and all public places. The Taliban want to save them from the dangerous education that comes with education, for which Malala Yousafzai almost sacrificed her life. The Taliban want to deprive them of the right to own property, work in jobs and represent a human value in the courts. This is not a secret. These are facts documented in every official human rights report for the past two decades.

And while America’s emancipated women raised concerns about the threat to their Afghan sisters, they saved their greatest poison for Texas, the Supreme Court, which refused to impose the new abortion restrictions and those of us in the anti-abortion movement. They walked the streets like clockwork, holding posters with the same slogans I had seen as a child: “My Body, My Choice”. I always found that amusing as there was more than one corpse involved. I also find it a bit hypocritical because so many of them support mask and vaccination regulations.

But I digress. The persistence of the movement in support of abortion law is not the real problem. What matters to me is the lack of self-esteem of women who see their foreign sisters stand on the brink of social annihilation and are more concerned because the women of one state in this great nation only have six weeks to get an abortion.

There’s this argument that most women don’t even know they are pregnant within six weeks. I find it hard to believe, but even if it were, this law will ensure that women who demand reproductive autonomy become even more vigilant in monitoring their reproductive health. And remember, this law provides exceptions for maternal health, so the notion that women are denied “health care” is a bit flimsy to say the least.

Furthermore, the claim that abortion is incapable of equating to a person’s disapproval is insulting and underscores the increasing radicalism of a movement that views abortion not just as “health care” but as a sign of autonomy, Humanity and equal citizenship.

I would hope that some of the people who are still on the fence saw this overreaction from the most extreme abortion advocates and realized that – even when they speak out against laws as tough as the one in Texas – they reject people’s narcissism who have favourited a paper mistake cut for an amputation.

Christine Flowers is a lawyer. Your column appears on Sunday and Thursday. Email her at cflowers1962@gmail.com.