I get that the topic of abortion generates an emotional response. Babies are vulnerable, cute, our future, etc.; however, babies grow into children, adolescents and adults who need health care, education, housing, food security and jobs. Babies need to be nurtured and supported to grow into healthy children and productive adults. We know that children who are exposed to adverse childhood experiences such as neglect, parental absence, stress or abuse are more likely to have physical and behavioral health issues throughout their lives.
I hope that one of the positive things that comes from the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade is that all citizens — those who vote, those who make laws, and those who set policy, will no longer argue about full funding for social programs. We can stop having discussions about cutting Medicaid services, lowering base student allocations, not funding behavioral health services or providing access to affordable safe housing — because we believe in the sanctity of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, right? I hope that’s the case and that this time of polarization, incivility and disrespect for each other’s choices can be one that history can learn not to repeat.
— Sandra Heffern
Anchorage
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