We Should All Adopt A New York State Of Mind
When you think about New York, what comes to mind? Is it the Empire State building that sits a hundred stories up in the sky? What about the jumbled concrete sidewalks that pave the way to the American Dream? Since the beginning of time, the world has recognized New York to be a hub for success and ambition with a melting pot of different cultures flocking to its snow covered skyscrapers and celebrity filled hotspots. But the state’s dreamy appeal doesn’t end there. New York has just added a new attraction: a government teeming with left-leaning politicians determined to accomplish a diverse agenda.
Packed with headquarters of multi-billion dollar corporations and built by some of the most renowned innovators of our time, it seems only natural that New York should set an example of efficient local politics for the rest of the world. Despite the inflamed gridlock of the national administration, the political leaders of New York have managed to pass the Reproductive Health Act, secure same-day voter registration, permit early voting, allow any New Yorker to access an absentee ballot with no excuses necessary, give sixteen and seventeen year olds the option to pre-register to vote, close its LLC loophole, and synchronize federal and state primaries all within the first one hundred days of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s third term. But, this is only the beginning.
The leaders of the New York Assembly and Senate have also announced plans to address bail reforms, marijuana law, environmental concerns and solutions to the opioid crisis. All of this new legislation has opened the eyes - and mouths - of residents not just of New York, but all over the United States. A conflicted fog of anger and elation spread through the states as many citizens took to social media to openly broadcast their thoughts, specifically regarding the Reproductive Health Act. Cyber fights broke out, abortion was the hot topic of conversation at the dinner table, and people questioned whether the newly established act is a leap in the right direction for women’s rights or a complete horror, adopting black and white mindsets before they could fully understand the inner-workings of an intricate set of statutes.
To those who consider the act an excuse for unnecessary abortion at any time during pregnancy, I say make sure that you are educated. Read between the lines. Fully chew, swallow, and digest the information at your fingertips before expressing your rage.
Many people, including our president, have presented the public with inaccurate descriptions of the RHA, which only perpetuates the spreading of “false news.” In his State of the Union address, Donald Trump alleged that the Reproductive Health Act would “allow a baby to be ripped from the mother’s womb moments before birth,” rendering “living, feeling, beautiful babies” without the “chance to share their love and dreams with the world.” This paints the picture of a woman now having the ability to abort a child for any reason at any moment throughout her pregnancy. Cuomo’s office refutes this statement, explaining that the act merely “codifies Roe v. Wade into New York law.” The RHA was originally put into place to protect women who are tasked with making the utterly unimaginable decision between their life or death if fatal issues surface late in their pregnancy. Instead of waiting for the government to determine what happens to her or her child, a woman in New York who finds herself in this dire situation, can now look to her healthcare professionals to help her make the best, most informed decision .Additionally, the RHA ensures that abortion is categorized as healthcare, not as a criminal act. This means that doctors no longer run the risk of receiving jail time if they perform the procedure. Although Trump claims that he will be appealing to Congress to “pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother’s womb,” the bill only allows abortion after the 24th week of pregnancy if a woman’s life is in jeopardy or the fetus is not viable. New York officials further justified the act by stating that “politicians are not medical experts and this is not an area where they should be interfering,” which is especially true when said politicians are misinformed. What is your role in all of this? Take a step back and examine your position. Are you, or have you ever been, pregnant? Can you step into the shoes of a teenage girl who has just seen the two pink lines that will alter the course of her life? Is it possible for you to comprehend the conditions under which an expecting mother knows she will not be able to care for her unborn child? Or the psychological damage it may cause to deliver a baby who is in pain, who will die shortly after taking her first breath, or who is already dead? What if, in order to live, you had to terminate a pregnancy that was threatening your own life? There are infinitely many medical, financial, and emotional circumstances that could result in a pregnant woman’s inability to be a mother. Should it be up to us, people who have never experienced every unique situation, to make a decision for women all over the world? Can the rest of the world put aside their limited perspectives and follow suit with New York?