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STUDENT NHD MEMOS

Essential Question: REVOLUTION, REACTION, REFORM-- Who speaks for the unborn? Abortion should be a women's personal decision over her own body without government interference.

Sarah Heuerman

=**MEMO 1**= Date: April 5th, 2012 To: Mrs. Sidor From:Sarah Heuerman Subject: Memo 1:Abortion Debate

Ever since the Roe vs. Wade court case over 36 years ago, abortion has been and freedom of choice of a pregnant women's body has been a controversy and naturally the government has taken a side as well. After many years of the government restricting women the right to make decisions for their own body, finally in "2009 was the first time since 1994 that both houses of congress are under pro-abortion majority control at the same time as a pro-abortion president is in office" according to National Rights News. Women around the country have been waiting for this moment, to be able to make their own personal decisions regarding their own bodies without government interference. President Obama, a pro-choice president, was expected to achieve great things to give women more choice over their pregnancy. In Pro-Life Obamanistas by William Murchison he states" "My sense of the matter, nevertheless, is that Obama may do less to entrench abortion rights than the let's-move-on vanguard they think they have a right to expect"(Murchison, Pro-Life Obamanistas). He expected to cut federal funding for abortions and republicans are taking a stronger stand against it. The government needs to better protect a women's right of choice with funding and laws instead of ignoring or restricting a women's right of choice.

Essential question
Who speaks for the unborn?

Thesis Statement Our government needs to protect abortion rights instead of restricting and treat it the same as any other personal medical operation.

=**MEMO 2**= Date: April 10,2012 To: Mrs. Sidor From: Sarah Heuerman Subject: Memo 2: Abortion Debate

When the Obama administration took office it was a a big step in the abortion debate. Previously abortion in the Bush administration were downed upon but now a new pro-choice president was in place. Due to the "state ballots, some provocatively pro-life measures went down"(Panel debates ethical issues of Abortion), Obama took a stride toward pro-coice for the peoples wants. He has supported pro-choice and letting women have a choice over their body instead of the government. Now "current laws even allow for the abortion of fetuses that could survive outside the womb"(Panel debates ethical issues of abortion). Obama also has bigger plans for the abortion debate. He promised of the first things he would do is sign the "Freedom of Choice Act, a proposed federal law that would nullify virtually every state and federal law and policy that in any way limits access to abortion, ... inaddtion, the FOCA prohibits any level of government from enforcing any policy that would discriminate against against abortion"(Obama Administration). Anyway we have a pro-choice president, the senate and other republicans have been able to obstruct Obama's plans as pro- life supporters continue to revolt.

In result of the revolution of choice, naturally, people are going to have strong opinions. one people think it is morally wrong and considered murder, while some people believe they have to right to their own body and decisions. Pro-choice believes “ The government ’ s role is to help women ’ s health and decision making. It is not to make life-altering decisions for them, ” (Panel debates on ethical issues of Abortion). Pro-choice is the majority of people and support the option to have an abortion without the government factoring into their decision. The other pro-life group is " notgoing to give up on the abortion fight until abortion is no longer accepted aspart of our culture." (Cain wades into Abortion controversy again). They perceive abortion as the same as murder and think the government should make it illegal excluding exceptions. This debate is more important as the election comes closer. Republicans canidates such as Mitt Romney state they are "pro-life [and]believe that abortion is the wrong choice". The votes of the people reflecting in the election is important to the fate of the abortion revolution.

=**Memo 3**= Date: April 12, 2012 To: Mrs. Sidor From: Sarah Heurman Subject: Memo 3: Aboriton Debate The abortion controversy arose in the United States during the 1970's in result of one women's battle. She was the first to take steps against the anti-abortion laws and started created an unknown issue into a high-rise conflict we still debate over today. " In the early 1970's, a national policy regarding abortion did not exist, and abortion rights were dependent upon the laws in the fifty states- each state decided abortion policy for itself"(Abortion Rights) and "most state laws banned abortion"(Roe vs. Wade). Norma McCorvey, also known as Jane Roe was out to changed that though. McCorvey, a divorced woman with a child from Texas, was allegedly raped while walking home and wanted an abortion. She ended up giving birth to the child and giving it up for adoption but she was set out to challenge the Texas law. It went all the way to the supreme court in 1973, known as the Roe vs. Wade trial which determined "that abortion is constitutionally protected, and no legislature may oppose more than trivial restrictions on it" (Abortion Timeline). Anyway it was an overall success; the trials decision still had restrictions to cause future conflict. The court ruled that "women have an unimpeded right to abortion only in the first three months of pregnancy"(Abortion: Outlook) but after the first trimester, the government has control over the decision of abortion for the mother. For some people, this wasn't enough and for others, the law was corrupt and unmoral creating future conflict over abortion laws. Since, Roe vs. Wade, there have been a fight between the pro-choice and pro-life groups to pass laws to restrict or protect a right to an abortion. Over the years after Roe vs. Wade the controversy has thickened, and new laws have been passed. Less than seven years later, in 1980 "Harris v McRae declared that the state is not required to fun "medically necessary" abortions for the poor ”  (Abortion Timeline). Anyway there were clear restrictions the U.S. state Judiciary Committee believed "that there are no significant legal barriers of any kind whatsoever [that existed then] in the United States for a woman to obtain an abortion for any reason during any stage of her pregnancy". Although the Supreme Court stated there were no restriction more continued but for short periods of time were interrupted by pro-choice laws. In 1983 an "informed consent was not required, waiting periods were shortened and women had right to obtain an abortion and be hospitalized during the second semester" (Abortion Timeline). From then on, pro-life supporters have seemed to overrule most government decisions on abortion. In 2003, the U.S. senate "passed a bill to ban nationwide the practice of partial-birth abortion. Saying that the law does not violate a woman's constitutional right to an abortion" (Abortion Timeline). Abortions are becoming more and more restricted due to states restrictions. By the first quarter in the year 201, " 15 new laws had been enacted in 7 different states that restrict abortion rights" (Abortion : Outlook). For example in Ohio it became illegal for public hospitals to perform abortions and cut the budget to stop funding for health care plans that allow abortions. In result of the Roe vs. Wade trial, the reaction of the pro-life supporter has grown more powerful and involved in our government, shaping it towards their views. The history of the abortion debate has had such an inconsistent stance in our society. Over the years, and in different states, the issue of abortion has different restrictions due to the many different perspective of the topic. People ’ s views on abortion are based primarily on "religious and moral convictions that play an important role in shaping individuals attitudes" (Abortion and Gender Politics). People view abortion as a issue on gender, government having too much control, moral values and religion. “ The issue of abortion as a women's right issue is rendered more complex than it was originally envisioned" (Abortion Rights). With the issue being so complex, anti-abortion and pro- choice activist have more to conflict about. Recently though anti-abortionist have been successful and "congress and state legislatures have restricted access to abortions with parental notification laws, waiting periods, bans on particular types of procedures and limits on abortion coverage on health plans". Anti- abortionist have been taking little steps to restrict abortion to over time get to their goal, to ban abortion, but abortion rights groups continue to fight for abortion rights.

=**Memo 4** = Date: April 18, 2012 To: Mrs. Sidor From:Sarah Heuerman Subject" Abortion Debate; Memo 4

To deal with the abortion issue correctly, the government should protect the right of an abortion. Instead of restricting a personal choice, the government ’ s role in this should be to create an Amendment to forever allow people to make decisions best for them, on their own body. Even though we live in “ the land of the free ”, “ no woman can call herself free who does not own and control her own body ” said Margaret Sanger, a women who devoted her life, (1879-1966), to making reproductive freedom universal. All people in America are ensured equal freedom; not letting women make decisions for themselves with the government ’ s interference should be unconstitutional and is discrimination. Congress set up Medicaid to equalize medical services to the poor and rich, but defunding abortion is discrimination against poor women. “ To deny poor women abortion services while paying for childbirth is unfair. It removes reproductive freedom and defies both common sense and humane public policy. Cutting off Medicaid abortion actually increased poverty by trapping mothers of young children in the poverty/welfare cycle ” (National Organization of Women). With the government restricting abortions has turned into a discrimination against women who cannot afford them and put them to be deeper in poverty, not benefiting our countries economic crisis. With an Amendment protecting the right to an abortion, it eliminates discrimination and allows everyone to make their own personal decision based on their views about their pregnancy. “ The decision to have an abortion is a personal issue and that the government should not have the authority to dictate what a woman can and cannot do in this matter “ (Gender Politics). With a freedom of choice amendment, people cannot be controlled by others religious or moral values, benefiting everyone.

A clear, amendment that cannot be changed based of off minorities of the citizen ’ s view will benefit our future health and government. With freedom of choice women will find better sources to get safe legal abortions and our government will revolve around what the majority wants, not few individuals. With abortion restriction not allowing some to obtain them, "many women died or suffered serious medical problems after attempting to self-induce their abortions or going to untrained practitioners who performed abortions with primitive methods or in unsanitary conditions" ( National Abortion Federation). In result of restriction, many women still set out to get abortions but ended up in serious health condition or dieing. For the safety and wants of women, an amendment would assure their are safe places to get an abortion. Also, if the government makes decisions over our bodies, they do not know what is best for everyone and result in a lack of privacy. National Organization for Women's president Terry O'Neill said the law is "devastating" because it creates a bureaucracy that will ultimately lead to private insurance companies stripping away abortion coverage altogether"(The Heart of the Matter). The government decisions should reflect what most people want, and what they want is freedom of choice abortion rights to benefit lives of American citizens. Currently " a majority of Americans agree with the Roe v. Wade decision and support a woman's right to safe and legal abortion care. One in three women will have an abortion in their lifetime. Yet the current GOP presidential candidates are so out of touch that Mitt Romney supports overturning Roe, Newt Gingrich wants to defund family planning, and Rick Santorum favors a constitutional ban on abortion" (National organization of Women). With such a big decision in the presidential election, closing in on abortion, it is important we pass an amendment that allows the overall population to have laws that suit their health needs and personal interest.

Memo 5 To: Mrs. Sidor From: Sarah Heuerman Date: April 23, 2012 Task: Memo 5: Abortion Debate

Government should intervene with abortion rights because it is harmful to a women’s health. The medical procedure, is mess, pain full leaves bad side effects, has even risk of death and has gotten worse. Since 1995” the percent of unsafe abortions rose 5%” (ABC News, Unsafe Abortions on the Rise). Even after many years, the issue of unsafe abortions has not been solved. Unsafe abortions are an unsolvable problem unless the government makes it illegal or restricts it. The reasons abortions are unsafe are due to government restrictions. In result of the government taking away the right legally, many women have not been able to access affordable or safe abortion clinics, such as ever since 1995. According to the World Health Organization just in the “year 2006, “black alley” abortions caused 68,000 maternal deaths in countries where it is not legal”(Pro Con Abortions). The result of government limiting abortion rights it causes more deaths than before. Regulating a person’s right to choice drives people to unsafe abortion, which hurts America’s health. Funds and a personal right to choice without government barriers is a safe solution. Abortions will always be in demand, by closing up access to reliable and reasonable clinics, creates a risky path for women. “Access to legal, professionally-preformed abortions reduces injury and death caused by unsafe illegal abortion” (Pro Con Abortion). Anyway safe abortion has risk” it is important to understand these risk are rare and that some of these are also associated with child birth” (Health Concerns, Abortions). There is always a risk in almost every medical procedure, but with abortion, the government hurts a women’s health with restraining the right.

Memo 6 Date: April 25, 2012 To: Mrs. Sidor From: Sarah Heuerman Subject: Memo 6: Abortion Debate

An abortion kills and hurts the unborn so should be considered murder and made a government decision. Life begins at fertilization, an abortion is taking away a life and is immoral and should be illegal. “Life beings at conception and is present throughout pregnancy, and that, therefore, the state has a compelling interest to protect life the day after conception” (Respecting Human Life). The unborn have faced serious loss of rights due to abortion. Not only does it end their life, but also it is a painful end. According to Kanwalijeet Anad, “If the fetus is beyond 20 weeks of gestation, I would assume that there will be pain caused to the fetus. And I believe it will be severe excruciating pain”. For the unborn, life begins at conception, to ensure they experience the same rights as any other living person, the government should control and make abortions illegal.

An abortion is a medical procedure to terminate a pregnancy but does not hurt or kill a human’s life. It is a process to help the mother, but does not hurt anyone so is not considered murder. “A fetus is not a human being. Abortion is terminating a pregnancy, not a baby. Personhood at conception is not a proven biological fact. Personhood begins at birth” (Pros and Cons of Abortion). Not only is abortion not murder but it does not harm the fetus. According to Stuart Derbyshire during pregnancy “not only has biological development not yet occurred to support pain experience, but the environment after birth, so necessary to the development of pain experience, has also not occurred”. A fetus has been proven to be reliable on the mother till birth making abortion a medical decision for the mother instead of a government decision on life. Abortion does not harm any life so it is a personal decision for a women’s body and not a governments decision.

Memo 7 Date: April 29, 2012 To: Mrs. Sidor From: Sarah Heuerman Subject: Memo 7 abortion debate

Abortion breaks the law in the eyes of god and is immoral so should not be allowed in our country. Te United States has been built and based upon good christian values which has led us to be successful. If we allow these immoral practices, our success will be ruined. The Bible states that life begins at conception and we shall not kill, so it is against abortion. Going against the values the bible states will bring " dramatic consequences to faith, family and the education system that radically changes the moral fabric of our society" said Pennsylavania Senator, Rick Santorum. If abortion is made legal, it is breaking the basic backbone to our country and will create a corrupt moral shift in our society.

The United States is one of few countries that allows its citizens to practice freedom of religion, and if abortions based of off religous views were taken away, it would be unconsitituional. Freedom of choice is granted in thsi country but shoul dnot be taken away based of off another persons religous views on what other people should do. "The anti-abortion position is usually a religous belief and threatens the vital seperation of church and state. Religous ideology should not be foundaion for law in the United States"( Abortion Pro Con). It is more corrupt to take away citizens right to choice and religion so the United States should stop restrictions and refund abortion since it is unconsitutional. Memo 8 Date: May 1, 2012 To: Mrs. Sidor From: Sarah Heuerman Subject: Memo 8: Abortion Debate Women’s decisions over reproducing are being taken over from the government more and more ever since abortion was made legal. Anti- abortion groups have been gaining more and more support from government officials resulting in more and more restrictions. Jus this pass year there have been 70 laws that restrict abortion. By keeping women from getting abortions it has led them to black alley abortions and more deaths from across our nation. The government has killed more women from their laws than fetuses. It is immoral to allow living women to die instead of a fetus who does not have a life. Our government is suppose to allow women the have rights over their own body and it is unconstitutional for the government to decide when they reproduce. The United states needs to have the government protect citizens instead of hurt them. Abortions should be a personal decision instead of a government decision. "No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her body. No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother." Margaret Sanger

"abortion and gender politics." //Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society//. ABC-CLIO,2012. Web. 18 Apr. 2012 "Aboriton and Gender Politics" was a secondary journal written for ABC-CLIOS issues section.
 * ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY **

Bohn, Kevin, and Ashely Killough. "Cain wades into abortion controvery." //CNN//. Turner broadcasting system, 28 Oct. 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2012.  This is a secondary source I found on CNN's website and it is an article written by Kevin Bohn and Ashely Killough, both senior producers for CNN political section. The article is about McCain involving himself again in the abortion debate and also other republicans view. I tookk 1-2 sentence on this about pro- lifer's stance.

Halder, Alaka. "Panel debates ethical issues of Abortion." //Dailey Princetonian// (Oct. 2010): n. pag. //The Dailey Princetonian//. Web. 9 Apr. 2012. . This is a secondary journal article from the Daily Princetonian, a newspaper created by Princeton University writers. The article is about a meeting Obama had at Notre Dame regarding the abortion controversy and what the people want. I took 4-5 sentences from this article that has information on the different opinions and the current standing point on the issue.

Boonstra, Heather D. "The Heart if the Matter: Public Funding of Abortion for Poor Women in the United States." //Guttmacher Institute//. N.p., Winter 2007. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. .// //This Secondary source is a web article written by Heather D. Boonstra,// a Senior Public Policy Associate in the Guttmacher Institute's Washington, DC office and is responsible for promoting the Institute’s sexual and reproductive health agenda in federal law and policy. The source summarizes the Governments current position with funds for abortions. I used this information to support the fact that our government is not funding abortions enough and has led to discrimination.

National Organization for Women. "Reproductive Justice is Every Women's Right." //NOW//. N.p., 2012. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://www.now.org/issues/ abortion/reproductive_justice.html>. This article is a secondary source i found on the National Organization for Women webpage. NOW is an organization ever since 1966 has been fighting for equality for women and is the largest women activist group. The article is about a women;s right over her own body. I used this to get information on the benefits and reasons of abortion.

//Johnson, Scott P. "Abortion rights."// The Seventies in America//. Ed. John C. Super. 3 vols. Salem Press, 2006.// Salem History //Web. 11 Apr. 2012// //"Abortion Rights", is a secondary source i found in Salem History ebooks by Scott p. Johnson, a former professor at University of California and studied infant perception and a woman's body development during pregnancy. This article is about the uprise in abortion rights in the United Sates and Canada.//

//"Obama Administration, New Congress Poised to Push Broad Pro-Abortion Agenda."// National Right to Life News //Jan. 2009, natl ed.: 1, 16, 17. PDF file.// //The article "Obama Administration, New Congress Poised to push Broad Pro-Abortion Agenda" is a secondary source from the newspaper National Right to Life News. The Nation Right to Life News is a national newspaper organized by anti-abortianist in Washington D.C. The news article is about Obama's decision to cut federal funding for abortion and is ignoring the issue. I used the source for 1 or 2 sentences about the facts of our government's past beliefs of abortion//

//Merriman, Scott A. "Roe v. Wade."// The Seventies in America//. Ed. John C. Super. 3 vols. Salem Press, 2006.// Salem History //Web. 11 Apr. 2012.// //"Roe vs. Wade" is a secondary article i found in the Salem history books written by Scott A. Merriman,a professor of history at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, and teaches online for the University of Maryland University College and the American Public University System. His published works include ABC-CLIO's// Religion and the Law in America: An Encyclopedia of Personal Belief and Public Policy//,// History Highway. //This article is about the Roe vs. Wade case, which started the abortion revolution in America.//

//American Civil Liberities Union. "Public Funding for Abortions."// ACLU//. N.p., 21// //July 2004. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. <http://www.aclu.org>.// //Murchison, William. "Pro-Life Obamanistas." Fall 2008. PDF file// //"Pro-Life Obamanistas" is a secondary journal written by William Murchison, a senior editor of Human Life Review. This article is about how Obama orginally planned to strongly support pro-choice but has started to send mixed signals by cutting funding and not paying attention to the issue as republican pro-lifers attack it. I took a couple sentences in the article about his opinion of what obama will do in the future with abortion.//

National Abortion Federation. "Public Funding For Abortion." //NAF//. N.p., 2006. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://www.prochoice.org/> "Public Funding for Abortions" is a secondary source i found on the website of the Nation Abortion Federation,a professional association of abortion providers in North America. They believe, as the stated in the article, that women and people have a right to make a decision over their own body. I used this to support my idea that the government should back of on restricting women from making decisions for themselves.

//<span style="color: #121917; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'sans serif';">" //<span style="color: #121917; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'sans serif'; vertical-align: baseline;">Roe v. Wade //<span style="color: #121917; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'sans serif';">(1973)." //<span style="color: #121917; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'sans serif'; vertical-align: baseline;">Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society <span style="color: #121917; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'sans serif';">. ABC-CLIO,<span style="color: #121917; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'sans serif';"> 2012. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. .