Cider House Rules

Along with religion and politics, they say one of the surest ways to start a lively discussion is to mention abortion or gun control. (we should also add gay marriage to the list) So after my post on rednecks the other day, I don't know why I didn't anticipate a comment on one of the most divisive issues in America: abortion rights.
Now that the McCain campaign has decided the terrorist attacks aren't working, they are going after Obama on abortion rights, so maybe it is time to write about it.

First off, I notice most of the people wanting abortion outlawed are the same ones who constantly carp about the government getting too big, and sticking it's nose into everybody's business. Less government, less taxes, less regulation seems to be their mantra.... except for abortion rights.

Tolstoy wrote, "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." The same is true for pregnancies. All children should be born healthy, and into financially secure, happy, loving families. I have known women who have decided to give birth to Downs babies, and others who faced with poverty, spousal abandonment, dropping out of school; have decided to abort. In all cases, these are difficult decisions, made after much soul searching. There is no one size fits all, top down, government mandated solution to this problem.

I was surprised to find my views are similar to Larry's. I am opposed to late term abortions, and for parental notification; unless there are extenuating circumstances. I suspect if we get past the demagoguery, most people fall somewhere in the middle.Where I disagree with Larry is I do not make a candidates stance on abortion my primary reason for voting for or against him. As with other social issues, right wing pols have found a way to appeal to good people, religious people, who actually share progressive views. The church has always been at the forefront of abolition of slavery, civil rights, labor rights, and many other progressive causes.

Rather than debate the social and religious arguments, we need to shed some light on how the right wing pulled off this coup. It reminds me of the story of how the Pharisees conspired with the Herodians to entrap Christ in his words. The Pharisees were the all around bad guys of the Gospels; the religious right of their day. Jesus had nothing good to say about them. They supported a theocratic state, based on Old Testament law. They were the party chiefly responsible for the crucifixion. If the Lord ever showed up in one of their churches today, they'd crucify him again.

The Herodians, on the other hand, were the supporters of Herod, the unpopular puppet king installed by the Romans. They were the business types, all they wanted was domestic tranquility, low taxes, a compliant workforce, and lax environmental regulation. They probably supported the Roman Legions, as long as their kids didn't have to go to war. The two groups had very little in common, but would use one another to advance their agendas.

I call it "Cider House Rules," after the book and movie of the same name. The scene that brings everything together is when Homer starts reading the list of rules for the migrant workers living in the cider house. After the second of third rule, Mr. Rose, the migrant supervisor tells him to stop.
"Somebody who don't live here made them rules. Them rules ain't for us. We the ones who make up them rules."
Not only are the rules made by people who don't have to live in the cider house, but they don't apply to them.

Ask yourself: If Roe vs. Wade were overturned today, would Jenna Bush be able to have an abortion tomorrow? (I am not suggesting Jenna Bush has had, or would consider an abortion. I am just using her as an example of a young woman who's family is active in right wing politics. I apologize if anyone takes this wrong.) The answer is, of course she would, her daddy has enough money that it wouldn't be be performed by a quack in a back alley with a kitchen knife either. Even if he had to fly her out of the country to have the procedure.

There is a saying, "Life is like a Limburger cheese sandwich, the more 'bread' you have, the less you taste the stinky cheese." (G-rated version)To an extent, having money shields you from life's hard knocks. Laws are only for the little people.

That is, assuming they really want to outlaw abortion. As Frank Rich maintains in "What's the Matter With Kansas," once in power, they have no real interest in pursuing constitutional amendments, or overturning Roe v. Wade. It is too valuable to them as a red herring issue to appeal to the base. They also know that the majority of Americans do not support a draconian ban.

Jesus never tried to set up a political state. During his interrogation, when Pilate asked Jesus if he were a king, he replied: "My kingdom is not of this world, otherwise my followers would fight." As a Christian, my witness isn't to legislate morality, it is to convince people to be moral. We need to stop letting politicians on both sides demagogue this issue, and come together to find a solution.