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HALLI CASSER-JAYNE - bio
RED, WHITE 'N TRUE™
THE EGG WAR^sm
Posted, September 8, 2008,  12:01 p.m

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If woman ever want to see one of their own reside in the OVA-L office, then something needs to change, really change. But the kind of change that needs to be made cannot be forwarded by either Barack Obama or John McCain.

Real change will have to come through the efforts of American women who must find a way to unite and stop fighting against each other in The Egg War. ^sm

The Egg War^sm? The war between women over a women’s right to choose, the subject once again in the foreground of our presidential debate and the War very much escalating since John McCain named the anti-abortion Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate. (Since both sides of the issue are Pro-Life, I will not use that term for either side).

Once again American women find themselves having to weigh their vote for our next President within the framework of where they stand on the controversial abortion issue. Advocates for the right to choose, of course, favor Obama-Biden and anti-choice women favor McCain-Palin.

Since the passing of Roe vs. Wade in 1973, The Egg War^sm has had a key role in women’s politics. Women speak to other issues in the political narrative, but the deciding factor in casting their ballot for president is the future of Roe vs. Wade.

This is counterproductive to the ability of women to garner power in Washington, as well as in their personal lives. One can argue that the good ol’ boy’s network likes to keep The Egg War^sm alive if for no other reason than it divides women and allows men to keep control of the political dialogue. Both political parties’ have been complicit in the promulgation of The Egg War^sm.

Working off the premise that there is no one who happily chooses abortion as an option in the ending of an unwanted pregnancy, we arrive at where we are today for absolutely no reason. Similarly, can anyone be absolutely sure when life begins?  Advocates of choice can be no more certain that their side of the argument is any more "right" than can that of those against abortion who call themselves “pro-life” despite their cry that they answer to a Higher Authority. What they answer to is faith, and faith is no more sound an argument on their behalf than is choice. This country was founded on the notion that faith is a personal choice.

And yet each side stands steadfast in their position of choice and faith, self-righteous all.

The truth is that The Egg War^sm will go on forever and women will therefore remain divided and half as powerful as they might be if each side compromised with the other.

The option of leaving it up to the Court will serve neither side’s best interest. Is either party in litigation ever wholly satisfied with a Court decision? And let’s be honest, the Court is loathe to revisit Roe vs. Wade. Even with George W. Bush, a religious zealot at the country’s helm, a man beholden to the Fundamentalist right who helped get him elected, and with control of the Court and for a time Congress, Roe vs. Wade remains the law of the land.

In this year of “bipartisanship” let’s put our desire to change things in Washington to a test.  There is a scenario that could mark the beginning of the end of this polarizing quagmire women find themselves in. Surely no one can change hearts, but minds can be changed. And the way to do that is to form a bi-partisan commission headed by two women from either side of the aisle, two women who have captured the hearts and minds of women all over the world, to end The Egg War^sm.

Let’s call on Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin to head the commission whose goal will be to work out a compromise on the issue of abortion, and to come up with viable alternatives to  aborting unwanted pregnancies. Sound options  hardly exist today. We must address the fact that not all single and pregnant mothers have intact families to support them not only through their pregnancies, but also through their parenting.

What happens if we don’t do this? Obviously The Egg War^sm continues, and women as a powerful voting bloc remain marginalized. Organizations such as NARAL and Emily’s List will continue to fund $30 million dollar campaigns against anti-abortion candidates like John McCain and Sarah Palin, and the Right will invest its funds against Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

How many young mothers could $60 million dollars help if put to their use rather than in a fight without end? How many young women who find themselves alone and pregnant would make the choice to keep their child if there was true money and support behind them? How many young, unmarried women would find themselves pregnant if they were taught alternative behaviors using some of that money that has been spent fighting against each another?

American women, young and old, can only benefit from finding a compromise on the issue of abortion. For you who say there is no compromise, you can live with the fact that no compromise will senselessly kill thousands of unwanted babies despite your cry of the moral high-ground in the argument. Pro-choice women who aren’t respectful of their opponents, you risk a future of inequality for your daughters and their daughters.

Here’s the bottom line: At the end of the day it is not about choice. It’s about solution, the future of life.