The controversy surrounding the proposed Amendment 26 to the Mississippi Constitution is overwhelming, or at least it was until I had an epiphany of sorts yesterday.
I’ve had discussions with members of the medical field, attorneys, friends, family, and even co-workers all in the name of trying to come to a conclusion about how to vote in November. My initial reaction after reading the proposed amendment was “ok, so this makes sense based on my view of human life” but then I began researching further. I read articles and blogs and there seemed to be valid reasons not to support this amendment. I read about how this could affect birth control, women’s health, and IVF methods. I had a discussion with an attorney I truly respect and find to be an all around likable guy. He mentioned a doctor friend who specialized in IVF and feared the amendment would put him out of business. I was hearing all this and began thinking that maybe my initial gut reaction was not the right one.
Then I came across comment sections on various blogs and newspaper articles. Wow, people sure are quick to bash good ole Mississippi. Mississippians and Non-Mississippians alike were making all kinds of insulting comments about how stupid this proposed amendment makes our state appear. There were laments about moving backwards, taking away years of women’s rights, and religious zealots trying to interfere with the separation of church and state. I must admit my first reaction to most of these comments were “Whoa buddy, back up – I am religious and I am a Mississippian, and I am also a woman. Who the heck do you think you are to insult my friends and neighbors?” I told myself those nasty comments couldn’t possibly be aimed at me personally!
And then I came across the comments that some might see as giving credence to those insulting comments. I love a passionate Christian as much as the next girl, but not everyone should try to spread the word if you know what I mean. A basic understanding of the English language or at least the use of spell check goes a long way in getting your message across in a clear and intelligent manner. *Note to self – Please, please remember to proof and use spell check before sharing these meanderings.
Ok, now let’s get back to topic at hand, Mississippi’s proposed Amendment 26 or Personhood Amendment. Based on the actual wording of the amendment, human life is defined as beginning at fertilization. There is no mention of abortion, IVF methods, birth control, or any of the other topics that seem to be such cause for concern. Now I am not so naive as to think that the creators of this amendment do not have an agenda, but all of the sudden I had one of those light bulb moments when things seemed to become very clear. My inner voice (yes, I watched a good bit of Oprah over the years) spoke to me and I found what it said to be profound within the context of this argument.
Do I think human life begins at conception? Why yes, yes I do. And ironically enough, most everyone I’ve talked to agrees with me. To be fair, I’ve talked to more mothers than not, but most every discussion I’ve had was similar in that no one was willing to say that life didn’t begin until birth. As a woman who carried a child in her womb, I know, beyond any doubt, that my son was a little person as soon as he was conceived. I knew I was pregnant before the six week mark and “butterbean” as he was affectionately known was already consuming my heart and mind. I think most mothers probably agree that they too felt their little one was a person way before they actually held him or her in their arms. I also think that most women who have suffered miscarriage will tell you that they felt the loss of their child rather than the loss of some scientifically explained mass of tissue or whatever the proper science and medical terms might be.
So, back to my epiphany – I now realized that my definition of human life aligned perfectly with the definition as stated in Amendment 26. It then became clear to me that all the other gray areas were just that – gray areas in a black and white issue. I believe that human life begins at conception. I believe in the value of all human life. I believe that as human beings we should all respect other’s right to life. I believe there is no reason this definition should not exist in law. Now, as for all the arguments about a women’s right to choose, possible birth control ramifications, IVF complications, etc. – I believe that when I go to the polls in November I vote for this amendment because I agree with every word. I then know that I did not allow fear of messes created within our legal system sway me from standing up for what I know to be right in my heart. I’m not saying there isn’t still plenty to debate when it comes to abortion and birth control methods as well as fertilization methods. I’m just saying that maybe each one of those discussions needs to be based on the principal that human life is affected, and I’m not talking about just the life of the woman involved. As a woman and a mother I feel it is my responsibility to vote in favor of this amendment. Until my child has a voice of his own, and even after, it is my job to stand up and speak for him. That wonderful, frightening, and all important responsibility was given to me the moment he was conceived.
Shannon A. Wallace
West Point, MS
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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