Stricter abortion laws across the United States are impacting how and when healthcare for miscarriages can take place, traumatizing patients and putting lives at risk.
Some 30 years ago, a former coworker of mine was pregnant, with a much-wanted child - her first pregnancy. She went in for a 6 month-check, and was told that the fetus had died in utero, and the fetal tissue and placenta would need to be removed. But it was a Catholic hospital, as were all the hospitals in our insurance network at the time, and they wouldn't perform the D&C until her life was actually in danger. So they instructed her in the signs of sepsis and sent her home, with instructions to come back as soon as she saw any - with fever being the most likely. By the time she showed signs of sepsis, a serious infection had set in, and the hospital ended up having to perform a hysterectomy to save her life. She and her husband wanted kids, but they could no longer have children of her own. Not only did this policy prevent her from receiving appropriate care for that pregnancy, it prevented any future pregnancies.
This is the reality for far too many women in our current political climate. It's not about saving babies; it's about controlling women. The same red states that outlawed abortion also make access to contraception difficult and refuse to provide proper support to children in their states. This is not pro-life; it's pro-birth.
"I do not believe that just because you are opposed to abortion, that that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, a child educated, a child housed. And why would I think that you don't? Because you don't want any tax money to go there. That's not pro-life. That's pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of pro-life is." - Sister Joan Chittester, 2004 (interview with Bill Moyers)
Yes, we have been hurtled back decades in women's autonomy because the patriarchal powers that be—and have been for 500 years on this continent—feel threatened.
Anti-abortion activists are linked to numerous religious organizations. These organizations have always treated women as second class citizens and are part of the patriarchy. The anti-abortion laws are designed to control women by taking away their rights to their own bodies. When passing these laws state legislators use their religious views to justify their votes violating separation of church and state. Punishing doctors and hospitals is used to control how women are treated. VOTE these people out of office. These are the same people who are against gun control laws so don't think for a minute that they are pro-life. We should begin describing them as anti-women.
These forces of oppression are the minority which is why they're so upset and lashing out at their perceived enemies: women, racial and ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ people.
Yes, apathy is a much bigger issue. And beyond apathy, the sense that life is short and that the current situation in America is so unpleasant that polite people don’t want to talk about it. Some former Republican friends insisted on “no talk” rules about politics and religion. Current mostly progressive friends just want to live their life. They vote (I hope), but nothing else as far as I can see. They don’t seem to grasp how all of the actions aggregate to a very real threat to our democracy. Here in NC, a Dem congress critter just switched parties, giving the GOP a super majority. Depending on how SCOTUS rules in the gerrymandering case--which should have been settled (i.e., not taken up again just b/c the partisan makeup of the court changed)--we could end up with gerrymandered maps and more voter suppression, along with the Parental Bill of Rights / charter school / destroy public school movement, Don’t Say Gay laws, and book bans!
I volunteer for Better Ballot NC to bring ranked choice voting to elections here. This appears to me to be an attainable goal, more easily influenced by grassroots action, than “end gerrymandering” or “overturn Citizen’s United” or “implement campaign finance reform.” I also send postcards and have phonebanked for YouCanVote. If those kids in Kentucky keep up their engagement with political issues like the 7000 of them just did protesting inaction on gun safety laws, some of this nonsense will get beaten back and we can resume the long arc of history, trending toward a more humane and just society.
I live in Maine where we have ranked choice voting for federal elections through citizen referendum.
When we voted for it, we wanted it for all elections, but so far Republicans in the legislature have blocked it for Governor and their own jobs, knowing they'll have a hard time winning if they're required to get 50% backing. Now most GOP win by splitting votes which isn't an option under ranked choice.
Well, I’m glad that Maine was able to get it for federal elections. It’s discouraging to know the Maine legislature has been able to block it for statewide elections, despite a Dem majority.
Several months ago, I wrote an op-ed regarding my own experience with miscarriage and abortion. So much focus by anti-choice folks has been on vilifying those who are seeking abortion, backed by opinions about the morality of EVERY situation. It's been so important to personalize the topic and bring these personal stories to life. I based this piece on the words of Senator Mallory McMorrow when she fought back against being labeled a "groomer." https://open.substack.com/pub/danismart/p/i-am-one-of-them?r=1c5095&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you for speaking out. I agree that personal stories have great impact and perhaps the potential to change hearts and minds. Although I am sorely disappointed to see this is not the case on gun safety, regardless of how heartbreaking the stories are, it feels like the miscarriage stories may get through. People go to the hospital, when they are in pain, they want relief. To know that a person is sent home with decaying tissue inside, told to come back after its putrefied “enough” ... well, that ought to break through some of these people’s hardened hearts.
This piece should be broadcast far and wide. I would offer one small correction to this: "When uninformed, medically-illiterate, Evangelical Christian organizations and right-wing lawmakers write abortion bans" It is not just Evangelical Christians. Many Catholics (use Amy Coney Barret as a starting point) also didn't think this through and frequently became one-issue voters.
Forced birth. Forced death of women. But don't even talk about taking care of or protecting kids after they are born or in their schools. This is not a 'religion' I want any part of.
I have had two miscarriages, the first one (and my first pregnancy) was at 14 weeks gestation. In the middle of the night, I awoke in excruciating pain with heavy bleeding. It was terrifying. My husband rushed me to the hospital and they performed an emergency D and C. The whole experience has stayed with me over the years. Now, a woman who is experiencing a miscarriage also needs to worry about the potential legalities of having a very necessary procedure done on TOP of all the heartache and emotional stress that comes with such a loss.
I am so DISGUSTED with the idiots who dare to step into a field they know nothing about in the name of "Christianity". I honestly never thought I'd live to see this country take such a giant leap backwards. It's one more clear demonstration on the part of right wing conservative legislators of how much women/children are in fact loathed.
Amelia and George, I thank you for this outstanding educational piece that I wish everyone would read. Also, the referenced article by Erica Diaz is very difficult reading but I hope everyone is doing so. After reading, it has taken me quite a while to compose myself enough just to write this simple comment. We are becoming a monstrous society, where guns have much more rights than our women and their families do.
I'm a 65-year-old white male, Italian American, 2nd generation. I'm a textbook baby-boomer. I should mention, I was raised Catholic, but haven't practiced in many decades. I long ago grew weary of, and far apart philosophically, politically, and logically from organized religion. It simply stopped making any sense to me.
Probably the #1 thing on my list of "differences," for lack of a better term, is "Pro-life" vs. "Pro-choice." I firmly believe that anyone, most especially an old man, to have any input in what another human being does in regards to their body and healthcare is none of my business...PERIOD. IT IS NONE OF ANYONE ELSE'S BUSINESS! Thus, it is pro-CHOICE. Their choice, not mine, and sure as hell not any politician's!
I could certainly go on a tangent about pro-life not giving a shit about that life once it is born, etc., etc., etc., but what's the point? None of it would be new information.
I'm always disgustedly amazed when I see a legislator push for legislation, or make a comment, about something they are obviously completely lacking in any knowledge or experience. Todd Akin saying "Women have ways of stopping these things" when arguing that women can't get pregnant after being raped, and insisting that there's something called "legitimate rape." The state legislators who insist that ectopic pregnancies get reimplanted. The representatives on the House Science committees who know nothing about climate change or science in general. I wish there was a way we could require only those who are educated on a subject to formulate laws about them. That's not possible, but somehow we have to stop our representatives from making ignorant laws.
We can't influence zealots, but we can work to get the apathetic to vote. I believe reasonable, rational people outnumber the extremists, but too many don't vote on a regular basis.
I'd like to offer a slightly different perspective that has been very helpful in my discussions with anti-choice folks. I offer the suggestion of required blood and organ donation for all citizens in this op-ed. It has led to some very heated responses, especially coming from those who are professed anti-choice when it comes to reproductive rights, about their rights to bodily autonomy. I thought this group might appreciate a view that has really helped me when it comes to these discussions. It's very interesting how perspectives change when we're talking about something that could also save lives but could be applied to all genders and situations. It illuminates how so much of the anti-choice movement is about forced morality and controlling women and not about "saving lives." https://open.substack.com/pub/danismart/p/autonomy-to-donate-life?r=1c5095&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Another polarizing suggestion is mandatory vasectomies. It elicits the same outrage from the people who see no issue with forcing women to give birth or carry unviable or dead fetuses.
As the saying goes, one definition of privilege is deciding something isn't an issue unless it's an issue for you. Now we just need to chip away that male privilege.
Some 30 years ago, a former coworker of mine was pregnant, with a much-wanted child - her first pregnancy. She went in for a 6 month-check, and was told that the fetus had died in utero, and the fetal tissue and placenta would need to be removed. But it was a Catholic hospital, as were all the hospitals in our insurance network at the time, and they wouldn't perform the D&C until her life was actually in danger. So they instructed her in the signs of sepsis and sent her home, with instructions to come back as soon as she saw any - with fever being the most likely. By the time she showed signs of sepsis, a serious infection had set in, and the hospital ended up having to perform a hysterectomy to save her life. She and her husband wanted kids, but they could no longer have children of her own. Not only did this policy prevent her from receiving appropriate care for that pregnancy, it prevented any future pregnancies.
This is the reality for far too many women in our current political climate. It's not about saving babies; it's about controlling women. The same red states that outlawed abortion also make access to contraception difficult and refuse to provide proper support to children in their states. This is not pro-life; it's pro-birth.
"I do not believe that just because you are opposed to abortion, that that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, a child educated, a child housed. And why would I think that you don't? Because you don't want any tax money to go there. That's not pro-life. That's pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of pro-life is." - Sister Joan Chittester, 2004 (interview with Bill Moyers)
Thank you for telling this important story. We cannot go back to that time.
Philámayaye for your perspective.
Yes, we have been hurtled back decades in women's autonomy because the patriarchal powers that be—and have been for 500 years on this continent—feel threatened.
Anti-abortion activists are linked to numerous religious organizations. These organizations have always treated women as second class citizens and are part of the patriarchy. The anti-abortion laws are designed to control women by taking away their rights to their own bodies. When passing these laws state legislators use their religious views to justify their votes violating separation of church and state. Punishing doctors and hospitals is used to control how women are treated. VOTE these people out of office. These are the same people who are against gun control laws so don't think for a minute that they are pro-life. We should begin describing them as anti-women.
We all need to vote while we still can.
These forces of oppression are the minority which is why they're so upset and lashing out at their perceived enemies: women, racial and ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ people.
Apathy is a bigger issue than they are though.
Yes, apathy is a much bigger issue. And beyond apathy, the sense that life is short and that the current situation in America is so unpleasant that polite people don’t want to talk about it. Some former Republican friends insisted on “no talk” rules about politics and religion. Current mostly progressive friends just want to live their life. They vote (I hope), but nothing else as far as I can see. They don’t seem to grasp how all of the actions aggregate to a very real threat to our democracy. Here in NC, a Dem congress critter just switched parties, giving the GOP a super majority. Depending on how SCOTUS rules in the gerrymandering case--which should have been settled (i.e., not taken up again just b/c the partisan makeup of the court changed)--we could end up with gerrymandered maps and more voter suppression, along with the Parental Bill of Rights / charter school / destroy public school movement, Don’t Say Gay laws, and book bans!
I volunteer for Better Ballot NC to bring ranked choice voting to elections here. This appears to me to be an attainable goal, more easily influenced by grassroots action, than “end gerrymandering” or “overturn Citizen’s United” or “implement campaign finance reform.” I also send postcards and have phonebanked for YouCanVote. If those kids in Kentucky keep up their engagement with political issues like the 7000 of them just did protesting inaction on gun safety laws, some of this nonsense will get beaten back and we can resume the long arc of history, trending toward a more humane and just society.
I live in Maine where we have ranked choice voting for federal elections through citizen referendum.
When we voted for it, we wanted it for all elections, but so far Republicans in the legislature have blocked it for Governor and their own jobs, knowing they'll have a hard time winning if they're required to get 50% backing. Now most GOP win by splitting votes which isn't an option under ranked choice.
Well, I’m glad that Maine was able to get it for federal elections. It’s discouraging to know the Maine legislature has been able to block it for statewide elections, despite a Dem majority.
Several months ago, I wrote an op-ed regarding my own experience with miscarriage and abortion. So much focus by anti-choice folks has been on vilifying those who are seeking abortion, backed by opinions about the morality of EVERY situation. It's been so important to personalize the topic and bring these personal stories to life. I based this piece on the words of Senator Mallory McMorrow when she fought back against being labeled a "groomer." https://open.substack.com/pub/danismart/p/i-am-one-of-them?r=1c5095&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Philámayaye for your willingness to share your own experience to help others. Your bravery and compassion are greatly appreciated.
Off-topic: Lesley Stahl did us all an injustice when she didn't push back on MTG's statement that all Dems are pedophiles. I'm disappointed in her.
Thank you for speaking out. I agree that personal stories have great impact and perhaps the potential to change hearts and minds. Although I am sorely disappointed to see this is not the case on gun safety, regardless of how heartbreaking the stories are, it feels like the miscarriage stories may get through. People go to the hospital, when they are in pain, they want relief. To know that a person is sent home with decaying tissue inside, told to come back after its putrefied “enough” ... well, that ought to break through some of these people’s hardened hearts.
This piece should be broadcast far and wide. I would offer one small correction to this: "When uninformed, medically-illiterate, Evangelical Christian organizations and right-wing lawmakers write abortion bans" It is not just Evangelical Christians. Many Catholics (use Amy Coney Barret as a starting point) also didn't think this through and frequently became one-issue voters.
Philámayaye for your kind words.
That specific reference is only to the two organizations writing almost all of the draft legislation, which are Evangelical Christian backed.
But Catholic based organizations are still heavily involved in the vetting and appointment of anti-reproductive freedom judges like Amy Coney Barrett.
Point taken. Still, your perspective is fantastic in view of what women are facing. Thank you.
Forced birth. Forced death of women. But don't even talk about taking care of or protecting kids after they are born or in their schools. This is not a 'religion' I want any part of.
They are not “pro-life” because life is a lot more than birth.
Jennifer Rubin at the WaPo has taken to calling this point of view "forced birth" instead of "pro-life."
Such an important point, George.
Exactly!!!!!
Their tactics may work within their downtrodden ranks, but it's pushing many people away.
Good!
I have had two miscarriages, the first one (and my first pregnancy) was at 14 weeks gestation. In the middle of the night, I awoke in excruciating pain with heavy bleeding. It was terrifying. My husband rushed me to the hospital and they performed an emergency D and C. The whole experience has stayed with me over the years. Now, a woman who is experiencing a miscarriage also needs to worry about the potential legalities of having a very necessary procedure done on TOP of all the heartache and emotional stress that comes with such a loss.
I am so DISGUSTED with the idiots who dare to step into a field they know nothing about in the name of "Christianity". I honestly never thought I'd live to see this country take such a giant leap backwards. It's one more clear demonstration on the part of right wing conservative legislators of how much women/children are in fact loathed.
Philámayaye for sharing your experience.
It's just cruel what they're doing to people. It baffles me that anyone considers it "Christian."
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ”. -Mahatma Ghandi
Ghandi was so right.
Amelia and George, I thank you for this outstanding educational piece that I wish everyone would read. Also, the referenced article by Erica Diaz is very difficult reading but I hope everyone is doing so. After reading, it has taken me quite a while to compose myself enough just to write this simple comment. We are becoming a monstrous society, where guns have much more rights than our women and their families do.
Philámayaye for your feedback and empathy.
A clear and riveting explanation of what’s going on in our state legislatures. Thank you for its clarity and compassion.
Philámayaye for your kind words.
I'm a 65-year-old white male, Italian American, 2nd generation. I'm a textbook baby-boomer. I should mention, I was raised Catholic, but haven't practiced in many decades. I long ago grew weary of, and far apart philosophically, politically, and logically from organized religion. It simply stopped making any sense to me.
Probably the #1 thing on my list of "differences," for lack of a better term, is "Pro-life" vs. "Pro-choice." I firmly believe that anyone, most especially an old man, to have any input in what another human being does in regards to their body and healthcare is none of my business...PERIOD. IT IS NONE OF ANYONE ELSE'S BUSINESS! Thus, it is pro-CHOICE. Their choice, not mine, and sure as hell not any politician's!
I could certainly go on a tangent about pro-life not giving a shit about that life once it is born, etc., etc., etc., but what's the point? None of it would be new information.
Philámayaye for sharing your perspective.
Pro-birth is definitely a better description of their stance.
Pro-forced birth.
I'm always disgustedly amazed when I see a legislator push for legislation, or make a comment, about something they are obviously completely lacking in any knowledge or experience. Todd Akin saying "Women have ways of stopping these things" when arguing that women can't get pregnant after being raped, and insisting that there's something called "legitimate rape." The state legislators who insist that ectopic pregnancies get reimplanted. The representatives on the House Science committees who know nothing about climate change or science in general. I wish there was a way we could require only those who are educated on a subject to formulate laws about them. That's not possible, but somehow we have to stop our representatives from making ignorant laws.
We can't influence zealots, but we can work to get the apathetic to vote. I believe reasonable, rational people outnumber the extremists, but too many don't vote on a regular basis.
This is such an important message. Thank you for reporting factually on a very divisive subject.
Philámayaye for your kind words.
I'd like to offer a slightly different perspective that has been very helpful in my discussions with anti-choice folks. I offer the suggestion of required blood and organ donation for all citizens in this op-ed. It has led to some very heated responses, especially coming from those who are professed anti-choice when it comes to reproductive rights, about their rights to bodily autonomy. I thought this group might appreciate a view that has really helped me when it comes to these discussions. It's very interesting how perspectives change when we're talking about something that could also save lives but could be applied to all genders and situations. It illuminates how so much of the anti-choice movement is about forced morality and controlling women and not about "saving lives." https://open.substack.com/pub/danismart/p/autonomy-to-donate-life?r=1c5095&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Another polarizing suggestion is mandatory vasectomies. It elicits the same outrage from the people who see no issue with forcing women to give birth or carry unviable or dead fetuses.
As the saying goes, one definition of privilege is deciding something isn't an issue unless it's an issue for you. Now we just need to chip away that male privilege.