fuckin' activist judges

On Wednesday, April 18, 2007, as the 24-hour news outlets gushed story after sensational story about the crazed VA Tech gunman and his innocent victims, the Supreme Court ruled to uphold W's "Partial Birth Abortion Ban," which he signed into law in 2003. The law hadn't been applied yet, as it smacked of unconstitutionality. But that all changed on Wednesday, as his ultra-conservative appointments to the Court made their presence felt. In a 5-4 decision, SCOTUS (aka, SCOTUM) opened the door to terrifying erosions of our reproductive rights, with, one can assume, more civil rights soon to follow.

Being a good little activista, I donated to NARAL, stirred up my hornets' nest of friends and wrote a letter to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. It was the least I could do to calm my blinding fury and remind those fuckers to keep their hands off my body. I'm posting my letter to Justice Ginsberg, in case anyone else wants to write her and thank her for her support, or if you just have a hankerin' for more of my voice. Plus, NARAL has started a petition and a letter to the editor campaign, both of which you can find here.

Ladies, gents, please stand with me now as I salute Justice Ruth "The Motherfuckin' Truth" Ginsberg.


Dear Justice Ginsberg,

I am writing you on my behalf and that of many friends who are deeply troubled over the Supreme Court’s decision today to uphold the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. We are not only troubled but terrified at the possible implications that this ruling could hold for reproductive rights in the future.

As we all know, the religious right and fundamentalist groups have been fighting for more ignorance and less necessary healthcare and prevention for years. In my 33 years, I’ve only known our country as a somewhat progressive nation, for legalizing abortion and making several strides for equal rights for women and minorities. But the tide seems to be changing, and what was a small group of like-minded individuals has become a political force with which to be reckoned.

This group has a hard time separating church and state, clearly demonstrated in the majority opinion, in which Justice Kennedy said the ruling reflects the government’s “legitimate, substantial interest in preserving and promoting fetal life.” We can also see it in Bush's response, "Today's decision affirms that the Constitution does not stand in the way of the people's representatives enacting laws reflecting the compassion and humanity of America." (emphasis mine) This from a government which has consistently sent thousands of young men and women to die in an unnecessary war, supports torture when it’s in their best interest, and is helping to take basic healthcare out of the reach of even the middle-class. The Constitution only stands in the way of zealous groups’ and individuals’ agendas.

I applaud and thank you for your strong dissent against this ruling, and I ask your advice for productive ways in which my friends and I can demonstrate our shock and dismay over this ruling. We are all active in our local pro-choice groups, and vote with passion and conviction, but 2008 is a long way away. The reasonable, pro-choice majority needs to be heard over the cacophony of cries for our country to revert to the Dark Ages from small fundamentalist groups.

Please, continue to stand strong for our Constitutional rights, and thank you for continuing to fight for reproductive rights, and the health of all American women. And please let us know how we can stand with you in fighting the good fight.

Sincerely,

Fifi
Brooklyn, NY