Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Here I am. It is three in the morning. I was sleeping soundly until a bodily function encouraged me to awake. When I returned to bed my mind was turning over the events of yesterday and here I am. I had to sit with my computer and talk to you about my thoughts. I am not sure when or if you will read this. I begin this morning and when I believe I have expressed myself clearly, I may share it with you. Or I may not.

That is the lot of a writer. I learned over fifty years ago not to publish something too quickly. Thank you, Miss Backlund. I still remember that day when you returned the article to me and asked me to hold it for a few days and decide if I wanted to change anything about it. I did and the result was a better piece. I continue to do that.

Emotions are flowing because of the Supreme Court decision reversing Rowe vs. Wade, the passing of legislation to change gun laws nationwide, and the continuing trial of a former President. It isn’t really a trial. Only a Congressional hearing on the January sixth, 2021, attack on the Capital building.

 Currently, I want to state that I am Pro-Choice. What does that mean? For me, it means that I believe a woman has the right to decide if she should have a child. This decision should be made before she has sex. Not after she is pregnant. This is my opinion, and I don’t care if you agree with me or not. Opinions are like noses. We all have them, and you can change yours if you want. Someday I may decide to change mine. My opinion, not my nose.

I am also Pro-Life. I am not anti-abortion. Don’t call me that. I will define that term for myself, also. I agree with the words in The Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident. That all men (and women) are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. That among these rights are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

After this document was written and signed by the Continental Congress we fought for our freedom from England. And, if you weren’t listening in class that day, we won. Our Constitution was drafted and approved years later. It was decided to add amendments to it to spell out other rights of the states and individuals. In 1973 The Supreme Court of the “United States” determined that state laws prohibiting abortion were not Constitutional. This is the main function they have. They are educated in our laws and documents and should be able to decide what is correct and what is not.

At that time many learned men and women thought those men, yes, they were all men at that time, had made a mistake. Almost fifty years later the court overturned that determination and gave the states back the right to make their own laws concerning abortion. In 1973 I read The Constitution and the decision by those men. I did not find what they thought they had found. My interpretation was with the minority group of judges.

The Constitution has not been changed since then. This court made their decision about another case and determined to correct the error that they believe was made. I believed it as a college student, and I still believe that the child in its mother should be protected by our laws. If I am wrong, we need to amend The Constitution. Contact your state legislators to start that process.

Why do I say that I am Pro-Life and not anti-abortion? I think that the mother and her doctor should have the ability to decide if the pregnancy should continue. I would like to say the mother and the father should make that decision. Sometimes they would disagree and the one whose life is in danger should have the final say. Fortunately, my wife and I never had to make that kind of decision.

I know a family that did. They were told that the baby had some defects and would not live long after it was born. The mother’s life could be in danger as well. They decided to continue the pregnancy. The mom believed that God was telling her to trust Him, and He would take care of her and the child. Her husband agreed and the little girl was born some months later.

She is no longer little. She is a grown woman with children of her own. Her parents made the decision that was best for the three of them. I understand if you do not have that kind of faith. I am not sure that I do either.

©Copyright 2022 by Charles Kensinger