Opinion: In utero: The pursuit of individual liberties

by Naomi Akinlami

My first experience with teenage pregnancy was roaming the halls of the ninth grade center. Where young women smaller than me hurled homework and babies. They all looked similar in my eyes, about thirteen years old, four feet eleven inches, and breakable.

I never approached or asked any of them the million questions I had. Some beginning with why because I knew the loud halls already did enough. In the midst of these struggles they endured, I often saw them laugh, hold tight their bellies, and walk with friends.

Seeing this brought me assurance because I could infer that when it gets difficult they can fall back on the comfort of knowing it was their decision.

This comfort is no longer the case in Texas. As the Texas government has passed a near total ban on abortion. For Texan women this means that “after six weeks of pregnancy, they are no longer able to get a legal abortion. If they did, the consequences for this include a civil lawsuit, jail time, and consequences for uninvolved

individuals such as the uber driver for giving a ride” The New York Times.

Not only has a ban being placed on abortions a civilian report system has been enabled, essentially placing a bounty on a woman’s head for an abortion. Texas has put the faith of many women in the hands of imperfect and judging civilians.

In hindsight this creates an opening for many misunderstandings, or grudges leading to accusations of abortions. Sadly this flawed system is not the worst part, the worst of it is that even in cases of rape and incest abortions are not allowed.

The right to choice and a life of individual liberties is being taken away from Texan women which is highly unconstitutional and biased. This bias lies in the fact that one’s’ belief system about abortion comes from their religious and by enforcing the dominant party’s religious beliefs on the citizens there is no separation of church and state.

A healthcare procedure with many layers to it should be judged by science, philosophy, and the individual, not God, the State, and the Governor. In the current state of Texas, regardless of one’s circumstance their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness could be taken away from them at any moment. Which begs the question, Should the comfort of decision making be left to the government?