If you’re against abortion then kindly don’t have one

Today we’re proud to present a guest post from Julie Fairey, often found posting at The Hand Mirror:

I’m trying to see the High Court decision regarding our abortion laws as an opportunity. It could be a chance to change the law to reflect the generally accepted practice in our society and make abortion more readily available for women. A rational and civilised debate could take place, dwelling on points such as respecting a woman’s right to control her own body, the fact that abortion is legal on request in most of the countries New Zealand aspires to emulate (hat tip: No Right Turn), and the actual real experiences of actual real women who have had abortions. We might even have a national discussion where progressive voices are heard, even those of women. And we could end up with a better law than we have now, one that treats women as adults who can make decisions about their own lives.

Sadly I’m not sure that we can do that in this country right now, in the fervour of an election year party where past debates on s59, Civil Unions and Prostitution Reform have already spiked the punch of many Christian fundamentalists. This High Court decision will give groups like Right to Life and Family First the impression that their moral outrage is justified, when actually it’s sexist, factually dubious and frequently ignores the real consequences of outlawing abortion. I can already imagine the offensive placards, the pictures of fetuses being emailed to MPs, the harassment women will face outside abortion clinics, the abuse of all those innocent statistics, and the cyber-squatting aimed at those who express their support for a woman’s right to choose. A respectful debate seems unlikely.

I really hope I’m wrong. And I really really really hope we don’t end up with a violent American-style campaign of hate.