Follow Up

In a follow up to the previous post, an article on cnn.com examines the rights of a man when it comes to unintended pregnancies. The article centers around a gentleman Matt Dubay, who currently pays child support for the child he helped create with his ex girlfriend. According to Dubay, he was told by his ex that due to a medical condition, she was unable to get pregnant. Subsequently, she did get pregnant and he is forced to pay 500 dollars in child support. Dubay is a computer programmer.

What is unique about this article is that the lawyers in the case feel Dubay is most likely going to lose the care. However, the hope is that this will generate discussion in the general public about whether or not men deserve to have a say in being responsible for an unintended pregnancy. Mel Feit argues in this case that “There's such a spectrum of choice that women have -- it's her body, her pregnancy and she has the ultimate right to make decisions. I'm trying to find a way for a man also to have some say over decisions that affect his life profoundly.” Ironically enough, this case has been dubbed Roe v. Wade for men.

Needless to say, women’s groups have now come into action on this issue, namely because of the name this case has been given. Jennifer Brown, who is a member of the group Legal Momentum, objected to this title for the case, saying, “Roe is based on an extreme intrusion by the government -- literally to force a woman to continue a pregnancy she doesn't want. There's nothing equivalent for men. They have the same ability as women to use contraception, to get sterilized.”

Mel Feit counter this argument by saying, “Roe says a woman can choose to have intimacy and still have control over subsequent consequences. No one has ever asked a federal court if that means men should have some similar say. The problem is this is so politically incorrect. The public is still dealing with the pre-Roe ethic when it comes to men, that if a man fathers a child, he should accept responsibility.”

What if the woman decides to keep the child instead of getting an abortion? Feit says after a small waiting period that, “If the woman changes her mind and wants the child, she should be responsible. If she can't take care of the child, adoption is a good alternative.”

In the final paragraph of the article, an interesting comment was made from the head of NOW. “None of these are easy questions,” said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women. “But most courts say it's not about what he did or didn't do or what she did or didn't do. It's about the rights of the child.”

Fact of the Matter

The fact of the matter on this issue is this: in an age of political correctness, it is rather ironic how women will want to be equal when it benefits them and also be unequal when it benefits them. Think about it. A woman always says she wants to be treated as an equal and be given a level playing field. Uh oh, she becomes pregnant with a child she didn’t see coming. Now she wants the man to support her because it is all his fault. See the irony?

Let’s look at two quotes from the article again and consider a few things. Jennifer Brown says that Roe was based on an extreme intrusion by the government. Well, last time I checked, the judiciary is part of the government. When a man is served with papers of a lawsuit which states he has to pay child support, it can be socially damaging to him. Would this not qualify as government intrusion into his life?

And then there is Kim Gandy. As I chuckle at this point, I should point out that the National Organization for Women is notoriously well known for be pro abortion. Yet, Kim Gandy said, “Most courts say it's not about what he did or didn't do or what she did or didn't do. It's about the rights of the child.” WAIT A SECOND! “Rights of the child?” Does this mean that a fetus in the womb is a person? Is the president of NOW admitting that the fetus has rights?

While I doubt this case will resolve any of the issues that have come up, I do believe we must remember a couple of things. First, when a man and a woman engage in sexual activities, they should realize that there is the potential for creating a new life. Second, BOTH individuals should accept responsibility for their actions. Finally, STOP WHINING! There is a more important concern to think about and that is the baby. This is a person who still deserves the right to live and have an opportunity to do something with this life. So for both sides: GROW UP. GET OVER YOURSELVES.