A Few Thoughts About The Response to SCOTUS Roe Decision

After more than a month since a draft opinion was leaked, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) released its decision last Friday on DOBBS, STATE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ET AL. v. JACKSON WOMEN'S HEALTH ORGANIZATION ET AL.

Throughout the weekend I watched various protests, some became violent.  During some of the violent ones I saw groups, ANTIFA, join protests and commit acts of violence.  Others did not denounce the violence or move away from the violence in order that their cause doesn’t become tainted or distracted.    As I watched I wondered if the anger/ outrage over the SCOTUS decision was genuine?  If the anger is sincere and genuine it is directed at the wrong place.

 

First, I wondered if the anger was sincere because it appeared that many hadn’t read the Supreme Court decision, instead they let politicians (and others) tell them that abortions have been made illegal in the United States.  That’s not what the decision has done but the old adage is in full affect with protesters, “my mind’s made up don’t confuse me with facts”.  There are politicians that have gone out with protesters around the Supreme Court denouncing the decision and the crowd cheers them on when they should confront these politicians and demand to know why they haven’t made a real effort while in Congress to ensure the legalization of a woman’s right to chose to have an abortion?

 

From the time the original “Roe” decision was issued by the Supreme Court legal experts have said that it was a poorly written decision that lacked the in-depth facts to withstand a reversal in the future.  Even Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was a fierce advocate for woman rights throughout her legal career criticized the original decision.  Instead of taking her thoughts on the original decision as a warning and using Justice Ginsburg’s thoughts as a guide to correct the deficiencies by legislative action politicians let it be.  They let it be because the issue is a great campaign fundraising tool, it is also a great weapon to attack one’s opponent.  Both political parties are guilty of using this issue as a campaign tactic and neither genuinely wanted it resolved.

 

Was anyone really surprised at the violence that occurred?  For the past couple of years politicians from all parties have not united to denounce violence.  Excuses and justifications for the conduct have been made, some politicians have even made threats towards SCOTUS Justices.  When a man was arrested recently by a Justice home and admitted that he planned to kill the Justice and harm his family we heard very little from our “leaders”.  When threats were made against the children of another Justice there was hardly a word. 

 

Finally, after the threats began targeting the children of SCOTUS Justices the U.S. Senate passed legislation to enhance security for the Justices and expand that security to their family members.  Those that wish to threaten to, and commit violence directed at the Justices and their families were encouraged and believed they had tacit support by the Speaker of the House because of her response.  When legislation was sent to the House from the Senate for action the Speaker did not immediately take it to the Floor for a vote, she decided that the safety of the Justices and their families was not important enough, it could wait until the next week.  The Speaker’s actions basically said to those wishing to do harm that you better hurry up, you have the weekend.

 

As far as the violence that occurred during protests this past weekend; the President eventually called for the protesters to remain peaceful, however, there was no condemnation of the violence from the White House or President.

 

Yes, politicians are responsible for what they say, their either supporting or refusing to denounce violence but they are not the only ones at fault.  We the voters are also responsible because we elect and reelect these politicians.  Despite what we say, violence is ok as long as it is against something, like a Supreme Court decision, that we disagree with.  Until we stop yelling at one another and start listening to opposing points of view nothing will change.

 

Even if we begin to talk with one another instead of yelling at each other, things will not change because it would also require that we hold our elected officials as well as ourselves accountable for our actions!  That is something society does not seem prepared to do.

 

That’s My Opinion, What’s Yours