No Plan B for Salvation
One of the items seemingly buried amongst the more sensational news items this past week was the FDA’s approval of the over the counter sale of “Plan B,” also known on some fronts as ‘the morning after pill.” While I am certain that this is seen as a victory and cause for joy among women’s’ rights groups and others, it signals two very significant, and very tragic milestones for our country.
First, and clearly the most tragically, abortion is now available over the counter, simply for the asking, (no doctor’s endorsement necessary) to anyone over the age of 17. Certainly some groups, such as Planned Parenthood and others who consider themselves “reproductive rights” organizations, will provide “Plan B” at no cost at their clinics, to the poorest, and yet most promiscuous, of our population. Proponents of the drug assert that this should comfort Pro-Life groups, obviously ignorant of the fact that termination of a pregnancy—by surgery or by drug—IS a de facto abortion. Surely, too, there will be only the flimsiest of efforts made at preventing access and use of “Plan B” by those under 17. This points to the second tragic misstep our country takes with this development.
Newton’s third law of physics provides that “every Action has an equal and opposite reaction.” Interestingly, the same can be said of human life and experience. For every action, (or inaction) choice, decision, etc., that a person makes, there is a consequence. Sometimes, these consequences are immediate and obvious—if I drop this glass, it will shatter, and milk will splash over the floor.” Other times, the consequences are not so obvious, or so soon noticed. Taking all the “bunny” classes in high school, and then not being accepted at the college of one’s choice, for example. More and more frequently, these consequences either lack sting due to decaying values in our modern society, or such consequences are masked by intervening forces. Plan B is just such an intervening force.
The second impact of this trend is a growing scarcity of personal discipline, and the widespread, easy availability of Plan B will only further spur the momentum of this downward spiral towards loss of personal accountability and restraint. Every instance of sexual intercourse has consequences, in some cases, obvious: loss of innocence, enhanced, marital bonding, and commission of a crime when such union is unwanted. Other times, again, these consequences are slower, and perhaps more subtle in their appearance: transmission of an STD, pregnancy, and loss of self-respect. No matter how vocal the arguments of Plan B’s proponents may be to the contrary, this milestone will lead to more widespread promiscuity and subsequently, even more irresponsible behavior. Those who have postponed sexual activity for fear of pregnancy will have one more barrier removed. Those who have decided against unplanned or unprotected intercourse will be one step closer to irresponsible and potentially unsafe behavior. But what is left to mask the emotional impact of realizing that you have killed your own baby, or given your most intimate gift to a total stranger on a momentary impulse?
I have seen firsthand the impact of the diminishment of personal accountability of discipline. People who just can’t get themselves to work on time; people who just can’t manage their budget and pay their bills; people who just can’t remain faithful to their spouse; people who just can’t resist the temptations of drugs and alcohol abuse. Soon these same people are relying on government handouts and welfare for their income, filing bankruptcy to account for their financial misbehavior, and killing both their bodies and their souls, slowly or quickly, by substance abuse, to further avoid the consequences of their misspent lives.
First, and clearly the most tragically, abortion is now available over the counter, simply for the asking, (no doctor’s endorsement necessary) to anyone over the age of 17. Certainly some groups, such as Planned Parenthood and others who consider themselves “reproductive rights” organizations, will provide “Plan B” at no cost at their clinics, to the poorest, and yet most promiscuous, of our population. Proponents of the drug assert that this should comfort Pro-Life groups, obviously ignorant of the fact that termination of a pregnancy—by surgery or by drug—IS a de facto abortion. Surely, too, there will be only the flimsiest of efforts made at preventing access and use of “Plan B” by those under 17. This points to the second tragic misstep our country takes with this development.
Newton’s third law of physics provides that “every Action has an equal and opposite reaction.” Interestingly, the same can be said of human life and experience. For every action, (or inaction) choice, decision, etc., that a person makes, there is a consequence. Sometimes, these consequences are immediate and obvious—if I drop this glass, it will shatter, and milk will splash over the floor.” Other times, the consequences are not so obvious, or so soon noticed. Taking all the “bunny” classes in high school, and then not being accepted at the college of one’s choice, for example. More and more frequently, these consequences either lack sting due to decaying values in our modern society, or such consequences are masked by intervening forces. Plan B is just such an intervening force.
The second impact of this trend is a growing scarcity of personal discipline, and the widespread, easy availability of Plan B will only further spur the momentum of this downward spiral towards loss of personal accountability and restraint. Every instance of sexual intercourse has consequences, in some cases, obvious: loss of innocence, enhanced, marital bonding, and commission of a crime when such union is unwanted. Other times, again, these consequences are slower, and perhaps more subtle in their appearance: transmission of an STD, pregnancy, and loss of self-respect. No matter how vocal the arguments of Plan B’s proponents may be to the contrary, this milestone will lead to more widespread promiscuity and subsequently, even more irresponsible behavior. Those who have postponed sexual activity for fear of pregnancy will have one more barrier removed. Those who have decided against unplanned or unprotected intercourse will be one step closer to irresponsible and potentially unsafe behavior. But what is left to mask the emotional impact of realizing that you have killed your own baby, or given your most intimate gift to a total stranger on a momentary impulse?
I have seen firsthand the impact of the diminishment of personal accountability of discipline. People who just can’t get themselves to work on time; people who just can’t manage their budget and pay their bills; people who just can’t remain faithful to their spouse; people who just can’t resist the temptations of drugs and alcohol abuse. Soon these same people are relying on government handouts and welfare for their income, filing bankruptcy to account for their financial misbehavior, and killing both their bodies and their souls, slowly or quickly, by substance abuse, to further avoid the consequences of their misspent lives.
Liberals and media pundits are quick to refer to the “slippery slope” when any potential invasions of privacy or controls on the press are on the table. Yet, every step we take that allows the further masking of consequences of one’s actions is a very slippery slope, indeed—one that slopes towards loss of self-respect, loss of the precious value of life, and towards the ruin of souls.
posted by Beast7 | 9:04 AM
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2 Comments:
I have so many thoughts on this. First, that Plan B is not necessarily an abortion pill. Sometimes it prevents conception. But in some cases, it [revents a fertilized egg from attaching itself. In this case it would be an abortive agent, since I believe life starts at conception. The problem is there's no way of knowing at which point the drug will work. I wouldn't out and out call it an abortion pill though, considering the fact that if an egg has attached itself it will not work.
That said, I am not in favor of over the counter sales. Plan B is basically a revved-up version of the birth control pill, which requires a prescription, and for good reason. Serious side effects can result from it- how are these to be tracked and treated with no doctor involved?
Finally, I agree that it leads down a slippery slope. There are plenty of options for preventing pregnancy that can be used without a doctor's help, before the fact. Why do we need to help people with their screw-ups so easily? Should it be offered to rape victims, yes. But again- that needs a doctor's involvement. Someone who's trained in the effects of these drugs, and hopefully untempered by a night of stupid passion.
Wow, I was going to say what Nettie said. I guess the only thing I'd like to add is that birth control pills do the same thing. If an egg does happen to be fertilized, the lining of the uterus is changed because of the pill and the egg doesn't implant.
I do think that Plan B is far better than allowing months to pass before that pre-destined aborted fetus grows more and feels the pain of an abortion. Yes, they can feel their little bodies being chopped up.
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