On Jan. 31, the Hillsborough Beacon published several comments from Assemblyman Neil Cohen, D-Union, in the Capitol News article “Roe v. Wade lauded.”
In the article Mr. Cohen praised the decision of Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion in 1973. He made two claims which I feel are inaccurate.
Mr. Cohen claimed that the ruling by the Supreme Court was, “to uphold gender equality and protect a woman’s reproductive rights.”
Also, he proclaimed, “we move forward into a century where women are finally being treated as peers and equals… government should not and cannot be in the business of violating people’s privacy.”
Both of these claims are mistaken. The truth that society does not recognize is that abortion does not only concern a woman’s reproductive rights: the moment of conception begins a new human life, in which a soul is created at the precise moment of conception.
This fundamental truth leads into a point adverse of Mr. Cohen’s — it’s not women’s rights that are threatened, but rather the rights of the children. Unborn babies cannot speak to us, and we must act on their behalf.
I reject the idea that the destruction of human life must be allowed because it lies within freedom of choice.
It is not a matter of choice — to kill an unborn baby is the same as homicide.
Does freedom of choice permit murder? Of course not. There is no question that the unalienable right to life supersedes this arbitrary “right to choice.”
Concerning an individual’s right to privacy, I recognize and agree to the belief that the government should not be involved in the private matters of one’s life. However, I also agree that the government must intervene on behalf of others when they are being unfairly persecuted.
Unborn children who don’t have a voice are being unfairly persecuted through abortion. The government has the right, and more importantly, the responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
This is why I appeal to you as the reader to recognize that abortion is morally wrong and must not be allowed in a civilized society. The legal interpretation of Roe v. Wade is skewed because the right to abortion was never mentioned in the Constitution.
Let me ask you — is it not repulsive that innocent children have their lives taken away daily without the opportunity to choose life and have the right to the pursuit of happiness? Is it not disgraceful that more unborn babies are aborted each year in the U.S., than American troops have died in all previous wars put together?
Life is a gift, not a choice or a decision. This precious gift is a right for all people, regardless of age, race, or status. We must protect their right because they are unable to protect it themselves.
We must stand together not only to save these babies, but to stop the overall degradation of our society.
William Mineo, of Railsedge Road
