There’s been
a huge bru-ha-ha in the media and blogosphere this week about the now in-famous
Todd Akin and his horribly ignorant and offensive statement regarding pregnancy
and rape. It would be redundant to talk
about the ludicrousy of “legitimate rape” when so many people have already thoroughly
addressed the point.
Naturally,
the link to abortion and anti-choice lobbyists was made immediately. It seemed to come as a surprise to many
people on the left (and in the center) that many Republicans are opposed to
abortion even in the cases of rape and incest without holding to Todd Akin’s fairytale reality in which rape
doesn’t create pregnancy. Many were shocked at how unfeeling and
uncompassionate the republican right is when it comes to raped women and
forcing them to carry and give birth against their will.
It IS
unfeeling and uncompassionate, but what the appropriately appalled media and
bloggers all failed to realize is that to someone on the religious, republican
right it all makes perfect sense. The
stance is horrific, but it IS internally logical.
As someone
who once held those opinions and was entirely brought up in that culture, I
understand where these totally anti-choice people are coming from.
It starts
with the belief in the infallibility of the bible and the concept of having an
immortal soul. This soul supposedly
comes into being at the beginning of the creation of the body, ie: conception.
So, if the soul enters the body at conception, then that makes the
product a person. (the root of the vile ‘Personhood’
amendments). Most people on the left
understand this, but fail to understand why this cancels out the needs and
cares of the women in question.
The people
who believe in ‘Personhood’ typically also believe that everything which
happens in life is part of god’s infallible and perfect plan. If something horrific happens, like rape,
that is still part of god’s plan. The
woman must accept what happened as part of god’s plan for her life, and if
pregnancy is a result, must also accept that child as part of the “plan”. Depression and suicidal tendencies as a
result of the rape/pregnancy? Not
allowed! Depression is really just a spiritual matter. If one had a proper relationship with god,
then they wouldn’t BE depressed. Just
have more faith and more trust… besides, children are a blessing from the lord,
and it shouldn’t matter where they
come from. Be happy to have the
child. After all, the highest calling a
woman can hope to achieve is that of ‘Mother’… here’s your chance to be
one!
Besides, the
question can really be solved by converting everyone everywhere to Christianity
(though not that wishy-washy feel-good kind).
After all, Christian women would be joyous in their tribulation and
suffering and they wouldn’t have to suffer much anyway, since Christian men
would never abuse or rape them…
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