To those of you that have been on edge, feeling the weight of the entire world’s greed and anger on your back. To those of you who had voted and screamed with fear in your heart and with compassion in your intention. To those of you who dream of a world that accepts our whole being…bask in the sun today. It’s shining in hope and progress.
In the beautiful state of Colorado, we all shared victory on night one of Election Night, after all of our ballots were counted. Once again, we decided to lead the country in progressiveness and voted for justice and dignity for all of our neighbors. While the entire ballot was filled with critical propositions and policy, Colorado made a statement on Proposition 115. So, let’s talk about it.
In simpler words, the Proposition wished to ban any and all abortions after a pregnancy reaches twenty-two weeks. This would essentially force women to continue a pregnancy with no exceptions for risks to her health, a lethal fetal diagnosis, or even in cases of rape. Not only that, but it proposed to punish those involved in an attempted abortion with a misdemeanor and monetary fine. The facts of Proposition 115 are cruel and unjust to people who may go through pregnancy. It is dangerous for so many reasons, and thank goodness Colorado knew better.
Banning abortion, to any degree, does not discourage abortions, it simply eliminates the option of safe abortion. In this case, twenty-two weeks is fairly far along, so let’s start there, with the thought that ran through many voter’s minds, “That is so far along, why would someone need an abortion, and why should they be allowed to have one even when the fetus is over five months?” In actuality, abortion later in pregnancy is a serious and rare medical procedure that represents about 1% of all abortion in the United States. Most situations include a mother in danger for her own health or her own life. Seriously, imagine the heartbreak and worry of needing one so desperately, and not being able to access a procedure that is clean, safe, and professional – no one deserves that and no one should be able to impose that pain on another human being.
My intention here is this: For all of us to mature, learn, and prosper into our futures. Then, someday when I have a daughter because I chose to have a child, I’ll tell her about these constant attempts from politicians and organizations to put a limit on the freedom we have, and I’ll say, “…but we won.” Colorado, we won. We win when we stand together, we win when we defend one another, and we win when we all are dignified and free.