On Jan. 20 GOP nomination candidate Rick Santorum enlightened the world with his views on abortion. His stance promotes equality for all — Santorum believes that no one should be allowed to have an abortion, including women who have been raped.
Even more inspirational was Santorum’s message to those who have an unexpected pregnancy from rape: “make the best out of a bad situation.”
According to Santorum, a child is a gift. Even if it is a gift who will constantly remind a woman of the horrors of rape.
While Santorum’s respect for the life rights of fetuses is unwaveringly powerful, it seems his understanding of a woman’s right to her body leaves something to be desired.
Science has not yet determined the exact moment a fetus becomes a human, and as such, its right to life is somewhat fuzzy — something that isn’t alive can’t really have a right to life, can it?
However, a woman is alive. A woman is human. And as such, a woman does have a right to bodily autonomy — especially in cases of rape.
While Santorum’s blatant ignorance of individual rights is infurating at times, it is also a chance to show those on the abortion fence how outlandish his proposals truly are.
Make the best out of a bad situation? Is that really his advice to women who have had to bare the brunt of human malice and cruelty?
Even those who hesitate when asked about a woman’s right to choose would deem this kind of decalaration unacceptable.
For this staff, we see Santorum’s extreme stance on the issue of abortion as a potential for an even stronger backlash — at least, that is our hope.
As Mills women, we can change the attitudes of so many who do not value bodily autonomy and the woman’s right to choose. We have the resources to speak for those who cannot.
We have the education and the critical thinking skills to create effective, rational arguments for women’s rights instead of resorting to fallacious, emotional arguments as so many discussions surrounding abortion become.
With great power comes great responsibility — and we, as Mills women — have both. So let’s use our power and create some change.
