My understanding of the scope of village government has always been fixing streets, police protection, disposing of garbage and putting out fires. Weighing in on abortion seems a little outside that purview.
The Aug. 4 resolution passed by the Riverside Board of Trustees does not speak for me. Put me on record as opposed to this resolution along with opposed to abortion.
This resolution is antithetical to our founding document. The Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” You see it leads with Life because you have nothing else without life first.
I agree with: “to make autonomous decisions about one’s own reproductive health, including the fundamental right to use or refuse reproductive health care.” However, it does not go far enough. This should be applied to all men, women, children (born and unborn) and elderly for any type of healthcare or medical procedure.
But let’s be honest, abortion is not healthcare unless medically necessary to save the life of the mother, which is rare.
Abortion is the exact opposite of the Orwellian phrase “reproductive healthcare.” Nothing is reproduced in an abortion. A life (or lives) is terminated in an abortion. Death results for one or more of the participants in the process. This is basic science.
The fact that the resolution uses the phrases “healthcare” and “reproductive healthcare” belies the fact that you at a basic level realize killing an unborn child is wrong. So you cloak your resolution in flowery language only daring to say the word “abortion” twice in the entire document.
Everyone has a right to life which is our most fundamental right.
The village of Riverside and its residents have a long and wonderful history. Unfortunately, this resolution will now tie them to the ugly legacy of abortion.
Michael Flight, Riverside
