TO THE EDITOR:
If there was ever a time to be loud and passionate at UNC, April 22 was that day. But fear not my fellow classmates, because another opportunity is bound to present itself soon!
Monday’s opportunity came in the form of a little protesting. No matter which side you chose to stand with, whether that was with Planned Parenthood (pro-abortion rights) or against Planned Parenthood (anti-abortion), it was obvious that there was work to be done. As I braved the front lines, standing with my favorite pro-abortion rights supporters, I began to engage my anti-abortion counterparts. I discovered that: A. We fundamentally disagreed, and B. There exists some middle ground.
The anti-abortion community fundamentally disagrees on platforms of sexual responsibility, contraception, reproductive health/education, intercourse and abortion. Arguing “where life begins” is extremely personal and not meant to be debated.
But alas, there is a middle ground upon which we should be able to stand: stopping the oppression! Can we agree that it is in our best interest to end the classist, racist, sexist systems of oppression and patriarchy in which we live?
Let’s do substantially more to end hunger, illiteracy, poverty, HIV/AIDS, obesity, etc. Instead of eradicating a safeguard for women’s autonomy, we should end the influences that would cause her to consider an abortion.
Coming to Carolina has taught me that it matters where you stand. Stand with Roe! Stand for reproductive justice! Stand with Planned Parenthood!
Ishmael Bishop ’16
Mathematics
