The Personhood Amendment

In the State of Mississippi, residents are getting ready to vote on the so-called 'Personhood Amendment' to their state laws, which would in effect, expand the definition of 'person' and 'persons' to include all human forms from conception to the point of death.

The aim of this legislation is not to recognize that life begins at conception (which is a religious and scientific fact), rather it is to expand the eligibility of all privileges under the Civil Rights Act and other laws to zygotes, embros and fetuses as well.

This is the latest move by the Pro Lifers...

Now for the requisite disclosures - I am not against abortion, I am not Pro-Choice, I am simply an existentialist.

I believe some decisions cannot be made until we come to them; just as I know that no one, not even Israelis would have ever voted in favor of a ratio of one Israeli to a thousand Palestinians had this been up for ballot six months ago.

There are situations to which we cannot predict our responses...

However, I do not seek to debate the merits or demerits of this issue, I merely wish to outline some of the consequences of such an amendment.

If zygotes, embryos and fetuses become entitled to all civil rights, then by implication;

1. All cases of pregnancy loss would become coroner cases

2. Mothers could be held liable (by the State) for some cases of pregnancy loss [spontaneous abortion due to strenous activity] for instance

3. As assisted fertility clinics woul be unable to dispose of the 'unneeded' embryos from each cycle, they would be forced to fertilize fewer eggs, the yield would thus become poorer and the process more tedious, time consuming and expensive

4. Stem cell researchers would become a sub-species of child molesters

5. Women would be eligible during pregnancy, for child support, as well as tax exemptions and college grants

6. Every legal age restriction would be shortened by 9 months

7. Unborn babies would be entitled to Social Security Numbers, State IDs and travel passports

8. Speaking of travel, the unborn would also be entitled to baggage allowances on flights

9. All hitherto 'legal' medical abortions would require a court order or would otherwise be extra-judicial killings

9b. All cause mortality in the US would swell by 10million annually (the contribution of voluntary abortion)

10. Women would become subjugated to the status of a secondary party for the sake of the unborn

11. Jogging, cycling, dancing, even driving could become 'acts (potentially) detrimental to the well-being of another'

12. Citizenship and Nationality may become more related to place of conception rather than place of birth

13. AND it would become more complicated to have consensual sexual relations with a pregnant woman, as there is another person whose presence (and involvement) must be considered

Please feel to express your opinion(s) on this issue... 

#DeadSerious and sincerely yours,

Oyebola Agoro