Extreme conservatives want to run this country according to their personal religious beliefs, an idea that the founding fathers opposed. Such a change would clearly violate the principle of separation of church and state.
Such people oppose both birth control and social welfare programs, which is illogical since the lack of contraceptives would increase the number of children and families needing government assistance and lead to many more abortions. If conservatives are really serious about stopping abortion they should be handing out contraceptives, not trying to stop their use.
Contraception and abortion are not new issues; both have been legal in all U.S. states since the early 1970s. (Abortions were actually legal in the U.S. at the time the Constitution was adopted but were made illegal in the 1800s.)
Abortion is not mentioned specifically in the Bible, and Jewish law says that an embryo is not reckoned a viable living thing until 30 days after it is born. In any case, conservatives who hate abortion shouldn’t have one; if they don’t approve of birth control, they shouldn’t use birth control. No one is forcing them to do either.
It is ironic that people who are so frightened of Sharia law want to promote their own version of it. They should stop trying to repress civil liberties and imposing their personal beliefs on other people.
The government was legally kicked out of American bedrooms 40 years ago and should stay out.
Ellen Field, New Gloucester
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