This Saturday marks the 49th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. The 7-2 Supreme Court ruling in January 1973 has colored so much of our culture and discourse in the decades that have followed. The legalization of abortion has led to the end of more than 62 million unborn lives, according to the most recent Guttmacher Institute figures. That legacy is one that the public can’t turn away from, no matter their political stripe.
It’s clear that the old phrase of “safe, legal, rare” used by Democrats of the 1990s is gone forever. In its place is an extremism that views abortion as a medical procedure similar to any other gynecological need. This is pure nonsense. Abortion isn’t a Pap smear or a mammogram. It is the targeted killing of an innocent life. It should never be seen as anything else. That feminists demand the “stigma” of abortion be removed doesn’t mean those in the pro-life camp should acquiesce.
One year ago, the newly inaugurated team of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris issued a short statement on the 48th anniversary of Roe. Among other things, the “right to choose” was described as under “relentless and extreme attack.” Ironically, the statement ends with the promise of support “so that all parents can raise their families with dignity.”
Protecting the right to life for all, including the unborn, is a task this administration isn’t worthy of. Voters who value life should continue to take notice. Abortions have declined through the years, but the fight is never over.
On Dec. 1, 2021, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments considering the merits of Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban. The decision, which will most likely come in June, is sure to affect abortion proponents and those in the pro-life crowd. Even if the justices uphold the Mississippi ban, abortion will remain. Even if Roe v. Wade or Planned Parenthood v. Casey are reconsidered and overturned, abortion will remain. So long as federalism is a guiding principle, individual states can and should be allowed to create laws that best represent their populations. Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi, a pro-life Republican, even said as much.
The decadeslong struggle against the abortion movement can seem daunting. It is marked by exhaustion as advances toward a culture of life are few and far between. National, legislative changes will always be a major goal. But grassroots influence in local communities is just as important. Women possess the emotional and physical strength to navigate pregnancy and motherhood, even if it was not in their plan. Women who face unplanned or even unwanted pregnancies should be met with a measure of compassion and understanding. They must feel their worth is equal to that of the child they carry. They should be helped with support and tangible resources. The pro-life movement is unabashedly pro-baby and pro-woman.
The anniversary of Roe v. Wade is always a sobering day. Abortion is a heartbreaking reality in this supposed “land of the free.” But pro-life individuals should neither wallow in despair nor unbridled anger. There is much work to do. We have great hope for legislative and judicial gains, neonatal technology is only improving, and the moral certitude that says all life is precious and worthy of protection sits firmly on our side.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
