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WHY CAN'T WE LOVE THEM BOTH
by Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Willke
CHAPTER 6
TWO INFAMOUS DAYS IN THE U.S.A.
MARCH 6, 1857 JANUARY 22, 1973
1857: On March 6, 1857 the U.S. Supreme Court finally decided a
very vexing question which had troubled the citizens of the United States for many years.
In the landmark Dred Scott Decision the court ruled once and for all that black people
were not legal "persons" ac-cording to the U.S. Constitution. A slave was the
property of the owner and could be bought and sold, used, or even killed by the owner at
the owner’s discretion. The ruling was final. It was by the highest court in the
land.
Those who opposed slavery protested, but were met with the retort:
"So you oppose slavery? It is against your moral, religious, and ethical convictions?
Well, you don’t have to own a slave, but don’t impose your morality on the slave
owner. He has the right to choose to own a slave. The Supreme Court has spoken. Slavery is
legal." But not for long. It took a bloody civil war to stop slavery. It took the
13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution to legally grant freedom, civil
rights, and voting rights. From a socioeconomic view, we are still striving for full
equality.
1973: On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court finally
decided a very vexing question which had troubled the citizens of the United States for
many years. In a landmark Decision, the court ruled once and for all that unborn humans
were not legal "persons" according to the U.S. Constitution. An unborn baby was
the property of the owner (mother), and she could have the baby killed at her request
because of her health (social distress). This could be done at any time until birth. The
ruling was final. It was by the highest court in the land. On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court finally
decided a very vexing question which had troubled the citizens of the United States for
many years. In a landmark Decision, the court ruled once and for all that unborn humans
were not legal "persons" according to the U.S. Constitution. An unborn baby was
the property of the owner (mother), and she could have the baby killed at her request
because of her health (social distress). This could be done at any time until birth. The
ruling was final. It was by the highest court in the land.
Those who opposed abortion protested but were met with a retort that
seemed an echo of slavery days. "So you oppose abortion? It is against your moral,
religious, and ethical convictions? Well, you don’t have to have an abortion, but
don’t impose your morality on the mother (the owner). She has the right to choose to
have an abortion. The Supreme Court has spoken. Abortion is legal."
The goal of a Constitutional Amendment or reversal by the Court is
still ahead. But the pro-life movement continues to grow. It is now the largest grass
roots movement in the history of the U.S.A. Then, the discrimination was on the basis of
skin color. Now, it is on the basis of age and place of residence (living in the womb).
| SLAVERY |
ABORTION |
Dred Scott 1857
7-2 Decision |
Roe vs. Wade
7-2 Decision |
| Property of owner |
Property of Owner (Mother) |
Black
Non-person |
Unborn
Non-person |
| Choose to Buy-Sell-Kill |
Choose to Keep or Kill |
| Abolitionists Should Not
Impose Morality Impose Morality on Slave owners |
Pro-lifers Should Not Impose
Morality Impose Morality on Mother Slavery |
| Was Legal |
Abortion Is Legal |
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