Ray Hanania
Centrists are few in abortion debate
By Ray Hanania
I support abortions when they occur very early in a pregnancy or when they involve situations where the mother’s life might be in jeopardy.
I also believe that a woman should have the right to abortion when she becomes pregnant as a result of rape or incest.
But I don’t support abortion as a form of birth control.
Mother’s Day this past week means a lot to me and always has. My mom passed, but I thank her every day for not turning to abortion when she learned her pregnancy with me might be a problem.
Thank you, Mom, for having me, giving me the chance to live and not choosing to abort me. You gave me life, and for that I will forever love you.
I am sure there are a few politicians — extremists — who wish my mom had chosen abortion. I was a blue baby with a large bubble of water around my head. My heart had issues, and I lived with a heart murmur.
Growing up as a child, having a heart murmur was cool. My friends could put their ear to my chest and hear the whoosh of the blood each time my heart pumped.
Of course, I didn’t realize it would lead to complications like AFib or worse.
Still, my mom gave me a chance. For that I am grateful.
Of course, had she not, I wouldn’t be here to be grateful.
My mother and father were from Palestine, the Holy Land. Dad was from Jerusalem, and my mom was from Bethlehem, the one where Jesus was born, not the one where the nation’s first municipal water pumping station arose.
Immigrants, including from the Arab and Muslim world, don’t believe in abortion. Most are conservative on many of the issues like being anti-abortion, or supporting religious expression including in schools and work and in everyday life.
They are the centrists of the world, where they embrace some issues from the right and some issues from the left, like supporting free speech and opposing censorship.
It puts them in a situation where they often are bullied and disparaged for their views, compounding the problems of racism and stereotypes associated with the worlds from which they come.
There is also the issue of fathers and fathers’ rights. I think fathers have an absolute right to be a part of a baby’s birth, and I am offended when fathers are told to stand down.
Maybe we should move the process of giving birth away from women and put it in a test tube in a clinic, where both parents would have equal rights and women wouldn’t have to worry about someone else telling them what to do with their bodies.
Abortion is one of those anger issues where no one compromises and no one respects the views that are different. It’s like gun control.
People blame crime on the presence of guns. Others note that violence is the result of people who use guns for bad reasons. Still others believe that owning guns is a constitutional right because one day, government might crackdown on us and we might turn into Russia.
Usually, I avoid it. But when someone at the U.S. Supreme Court decided to take matters into their own hands and released to the public, anonymously, a draft opinion written by conservative Justice Samuel Alito, that person took actions that were designed to undermine our democracy.
I hope they find and punish that person to the extreme for betraying the sanctity of the nation’s highest judicial office.
Still, I know there are people out there who believe abortion is more important — for and against — than the democracy in which we live.
Alito argues basically that the decision on abortion should be made by the people directly, not by a political movement and the federal court. Each state should determine what to do and how to handle it.
Others believe that Roe v Wade took the issues out of the hands of the public, which in the 50 states would mean many would go one way and many would go the other. They want a federal ruling to impose it on everyone.
Me? Well, I believe in democracy and the right to express an opinion. I’m sure that anger, hate and even politics will drive much of the response.
But I don’t care. That’s how I feel. I think I am the moderate here. There are so few that remain in this country.
Check out Ray Hanania’s columns and political podcasts at hanania.com.
1 Comment
Local News
College Football | Marian (Indiana) and St. Francis highlight Saint Xavier 2024 home slate
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Saint Xavier has released its 2024 football schedule, which has the Cougars opening the season in Michigan. SXU will travel to the Detroit suburb of Southfield to play Lawrence Tech on Sept. 7 in a Mid-States Football Association crossover. The Cougars’ home opener kicks off at noon on Sept.…
Morton College women’s hoops takes fifth in nation
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent For the second year in a row, the Morton College women’s basketball team finished fifth in the country. The Panthers closed out the 2023-24 campaign in Joplin, Missouri, with a 75-67 victory over Iowa Western on March 23 in the consolation championship game at the NJCAA Division II National…
Boys Volleyball | Marist tops Lockport for Gold at RedHawks Invite
Spread the loveBy Randy Whalen Correspondent Marist enjoys getting its season going by hosting a tournament that is now in its 20th year. They had a good time again this season, going unbeaten over five matches in two days to win the Marist RedHawks Invitational for the sixth consecutive time. The RedHawks ended the tournament…
City wants to buy armory at MDW
Spread the love. Has been vacant since 2017 . By Tim Hadac For decades, it served military purposes, as well as Chicago’s gateway for Presidents stopping off in the city. But the Army National Guard Midway Armory, 5400 W. 63rd St., has been mostly vacant since 2017, when the Illinois Army National Guard ceased operations…
2 charged in Summit junkyard burglary
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Two men have been charged in connection with a break-in last month at the Pick-n-Pull used auto parts store and junkyard in Summit. George Ainalakis, 39, of Carol Stream, was arrested February 26 at the business, while Chad Wickert, 40, of Brookfield, was arrested March 13 by Hodgkins police. Police…
A successful career serving thousands
Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Editor Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound (708)-496-0265 . Most folks work for years at their jobs, expecting and receiving little fanfare, then retire quietly. Garfield Ridge resident Mary Ellen Fox planned to retire from her 30-year job in the City Clerk’s Office quietly; and she did, earlier this year. But…
Casten secures $11M for district; invites Bridge Teen founder to State of Union
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Congressman Sean Casten is bringing some big bucks home. Casten (D-6th) announced that he helped secure more than $11 million in federal funding for local community projects. Included in that bounty is: $1.28 million to Evergreen Park for water main replacement. $500,000 to La Grange for storm and sanitary sewer…
Forest View swears in new police officers
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Village of Forest View has a new full-time police officer and a newly promoted corporal on the force. In front of a full-house at their February 27 Board of Trustees meeting, Clerk Laura McGuffey did the honors swearing-in Maria Guzman as a full-time officer, and promoting Officer Jorge Sanchez…
Burbank businessman sentenced for income tax evasion
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong A Burbank businessman has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for willfully evading more than $3.7 million in federal and state income taxes. Abraham Kiswani, 54, pleaded guilty last year to a federal tax evasion charge. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah…
Oak Lawn ups fines for blowing off illegal fireworks
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Oak Lawn residents who blow off illegal fireworks this summer will find that doing so will be more expensive. An ordinance was passed by a 5-0 vote by the Oak Lawn Village Board on March 12 that will increase the fine from $50 to $100 for residents who are lighting…
Neighbors
Countryside City Council tackles long list of items
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Water leaks, a new truck and abandoned vehicles were among a laundry list of items tackled by the Countryside City Council at its latest meeting. They were all from the infrastructure committee chaired by Ald. Mark Benson (3rd). All of the following were approved by a unanimous 6-0 vote on…
Argo High School holds Iftar Dinner for community
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan More than 100 people gathered at Argo Community High School last week for a now annual Ramadan Iftar dinner organized by Argo teacher Nadia Elkhatib. Elkhatib was happy with the turnout for those coming Thursday night to break bread with the school’s Muslim students and their families. “I will continue…
Pool improvements advance in Palos Heights
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Palos Heights aldermen last week approved contracts advancing improvements at the municipal pool. Alderman Jefry Key motioned for approval of a letter of agreement with the American Institute of Architects between Williams Architect and the City of Palos Heights for the pool improvement project. Since first proposing pool improvements in…
Teens enjoy Green Hills karaoke party
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Palos Hills tweens and teens sang their hearts out for karaoke night at a neighborhood coffee house. Green Hills Library invited all tweens and teens for a karaoke night at Strange Brew Cafe on West 103rd Street and 87th Street on Feb. 22. Organized by Green Hill Library Youth Program…
Cervantinos Authentic Mexican Restaurant opens in Palos Heights
Spread the loveBy Kelly White When choosing a location for his second business location, Luis Garcia knew he wanted it to be Palos Heights. “I absolutely love it here,” Luis Garcia, of Oak Forest and the owner and chef of Cervantinos Authentic Mexican Restaurant #2, said. “It’s a great area, nice clientele and I’m happy…
Worth Polar Plunge raises record amount
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle The FOP Worth Polar Plunge has been deemed a major success and local officials said the amount raised has set a new record. The annual event, sponsored by the Worth Police Department, took place in a large swimming pool that was put up in the parking lot of the Marrs-Meyer…
Green Hills Public Library hosts Eid Clothing Drive
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The Islamic calendar has two major holidays each year: Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan and celebrates an entire month of fasting, and Eid al-Adha, the festival of the sacrifice that occurs during the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage season. It takes place two lunar months after Ramadan.…
Police Blotter
Spread the loveCHICAGO RIDGE DUI Orlando De La Rosa, 32, of Berwyn, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic stop at 2:29 a.m. March 8 in the 9200 block of South Harlem Avenue. Police said he failed field sobriety tests and refused to submit a breath sample. He was also…
Oak Lawn seeks participants for Fourth of July parade
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle It may be spring, but it is not too early to talk about a summer parade. The Oak Lawn Village Board approved a resolution Tuesday morning authorizing the submission of a permit request to the Illinois Department of Transportation for the 2024 Fourth of July Parade. The resolution approves the…
Sandburg welcomes new associate principal of instruction
Spread the loveConsolidated High School District 230 Board of Education is welcoming Dr. Veronica Shaw to Carl Sandburg High School as its new Associate Principal of Instruction. She begins July 1 and replaces Anita Huffman who was recently appointed as District 230’s Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services. With ample education leadership experience, Shaw is currently…
Ray, you seem to support abortion but only with conditions. I believe one has to be either all for or all against, similar to how one can’t be a little pregnant, you either are or your not. Also, what right do we (men or women) have to say what a women can do with her own body? Would you want a man or woman deciding if it were legal for you to have a vasectomy? Of course not, that would be your right to choose. Why can’t we just let everyone choose for themselves on what they want to do with their own bodies..