Posted by
Jeremy Randolph on Friday, November 09, 2007 1:56:56 PM
According to most Federal and state law, minors, and adults in some cases are not mature or reasonable enough to make certain decisions. Even when those decisions only effect the person making the "choice." I don't necessarily disagree with all of those laws. However, one must look a little deeper to understand these laws. Lets look at a possible scenario of an average American, 15 year old girl. Maybe it will shed some light on the issue.
So by law,
15 year old Amy can't "choose" to ride without a seat belt in the family SUV.
Amy can't "choose" to ride her scooter without wearing a helmet.
Amy can't "choose" to buy cigarettes or booze.
Amy can't "choose" to have Hank's name tattooed on to her thigh, unless mom or dad approve.
Amy can't "choose" to get medical treatment if her tattoo gets infected, unless mom or dad approve.
Amy can't "choose" to get spikes through her nose, unless mom or dad approve.
Amy can't "choose" to have sexual contact with Hank because he's 21. Although, most states wouldn't legally allow her to have sex with Hank even if he was 15.
So, with no respect for the wise lawmakers of our time, Amy rides her scooter over to Hank's place while not wearing a helmet. Then, she gets in to Hank's '83 Camaro, and cruises town while not wearing a seat belt. Then, Hank stops off at he EZ-Stop to score her some Marlboro's and Bud-Light. After, Amy gets sloshed, she then decides to take her physical relationship with Hank to a new level. If that wasn't enough for one night, she finds a seedy place to get that tattoo she's always wanted, and don't forget the new oversized diaper pin stuck through her nose. Finally, Amy starts to feel ill from all the booze and Hank is forced to forge the parental consent form at the E.R.
Wow! What a night! The only problem is, Amy has broken seven or eight different laws and Hank is looking at some hard time. To make matters worse, Amy just found out that there's going to be a "little Hank" in nine months. Not to worry though, the government (or wise lawmakers of our time) has deemed Amy mature and reasonable enough to make some decisions by herself. Besides, it's her body and she should be able to "choose" to do what she wants with it. So she exercises her "God given, Constitutional right" to "choose" to have a medically complex procedure, that will no doubt affect her physically and most certainly emotionally for a long time. Well, there won't be a "little Hank" in nine months. By the way, mom and dad will never know.
So, the next time you see a "pro-choice" rally check for any signs that read "seat belts are for sissys" or "helmets make my hair look bad".
Maybe, just maybe, it's not about "choice " at all.