The Silent Crisis Mortality Surge Among Women in their 20s and 30s

Page Content

• Fighting for her Life
• Growing Concern
• Unborn Fetus Suffers
• Population Decline
• Not Taking Care of the Children on Earth Already
• Increased Mortality Rates
• A Step Backwards
• A Betrayal of Values
• Upholding Equality and Defending Human Rights
• The Threat to Equality
• A Step Backwards

Fighting for her Life

You may have heard, in Texas right now, a woman is fighting for her life and to stop the suffering of her potential child. Her condition is such that her medical team has advised her that she needs an abortion to prevent a horrible outcome. But, because she is in Texas, she is not allowed to have one even though there is zero chance of the child surviving much past drawing its first breath.

Growing Concern

This kind of thing happens, and the Christians I know (besides myself) would agree the woman deserves to have her health and her potential child’s health protected. But we live in a country where different rules apply from state to state. Multiple states now make it difficult, if not impossible, for a woman to take charge of her healthcare. This is a growing concern for women and anyone who loves them.

Unborn Fetus Suffers

Despite a lower court ruling that she should be allowed to take care of her health, a corrupt and spiteful politician has taken into his own hands to block her healthcare. He is no doctor or scientist, but he is a white, middle-aged male with some ill-conceived notion of “morals”. Because of him, she and her potential child suffer.

If she survives the labor and delivery, her child will only live in pain for a few hours as she watches it slowly die. This is a child she wanted, prayed for, and loved. Can you imagine being in her hospital gown, watching her child take painful, excruciating moments of life before gasping for its last breath?

Having lost a child to Sudden Infant Death, the idea of having to watch this happen to my child is horrifying and inhumane. It is an inhuman thing to do to another person. Yet, in Texas, this seems to be the course women can expect to have to face should they become pregnant.

Population Decline

The impact of this action and the continued attack on women’s rights in this country will have long-lasting impact. Girls will consider having tubal ligations rather than risk being pregnant. Boys will fear the damage they could do to the woman they love if they got her pregnant, on accident or purpose. They will be getting vasectomies and giving up the idea of having children at all.

This is not the American Christian values I grew up believing in. This is not the constitutional promise of equal rights for all I believed our Supreme Court would protect. This is a country run by radical, women-hating, bigoted people who have no genuine respect for human life.

Not Taking Care of the Children on Earth Already

Sure, they want to “protect millions of babies from being murdered every year.” But do they care about the human being she becomes? I think not. Nothing Christian about a person who fights to make a woman carry a child who will die and risk her own life in the doing while vetoing providing free lunches for children in need and cutting back on grocery supplements for the poor.

Increased Mortality Rates

The U.S. is already considered an outlier in maternal health care across the globe. In 2020, in high-income countries, the average maternal mortality rate was 12 deaths per 100,000 live births. In the U.S. that number was nearly 24. In 2023, the number has increased to 30 for women in their 20s and 30s! This is the highest mortality rate we have seen since World War II.

While experts scramble to make sense of the loss of maternal lives, the courts in almost half of the states have made it more difficult, if not impossible, for women to take charge of their own maternal well-being. These rising rates already hit the most vulnerable populations, Native Americans and Black Americans. If that doesn’t reek of racism, I don’t know what does.

It is no longer safe to be a woman, let alone a Native American or Black Woman, in this country. As we celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the Human Rights Covenant, we watch our own rights diminishing.

Create Awareness

We MUST make more people aware of this growing lack of concern for our own citizens. This is why I make the films I make, and why I continue to push to make them. Be a part of the solution; or be a part of the problem.

The 14th Amendment of the Constitution has been a beacon of hope for marginalized communities, ensuring equality under the law. However, conservative justices have repeatedly challenged this fundamental principle. Despite these challenges, all of my life, the Supreme Court has consistently upheld fundamental rights, until now. The recent shift in the Court’s stance poses a significant threat to the progress we have made. It feels as though the clock is being turned back on equality, human rights, and the power of the federal government to care for its citizens.

A Step Backwards

The current trajectory of the Supreme Court suggests a desire to dismantle the entire federal government and revert to a pre-Civil War era. This vision undermines the notion of “one nation undivided” and advocates for each state to become whatever Banana Republic it chooses making it free to establish their own laws and regulations as if they were its own individual and separate country with whatever dictatorship manages to get in control. Such a scenario could lead to the reinstatement of slavery, regression in voting rights, and the erosion of essential rights for people of color and women, potentially restricting suffrage to landowners alone. This regressive direction contradicts the vision of our framers and poses a severe threat to the principles of justice, equality, and democracy for all.

A Betrayal of Values

The recent ruling on Dobb’s decision sent shockwaves through my soul. It became evident that the Supreme Court is no longer committed to equality, they do not care for our federal government, or upholding ethical standards. This pattern of disregard for the law and ethical conduct has persisted, and it is disheartening to witness the erosion of the very foundations that our nation was built upon.

Upholding Equality and Defending Human Rights

As an activist and filmmaker deeply committed to upholding equality and defending human rights, I cannot remain silent in the face of the concerning challenges we are witnessing. The recent decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States have raised alarming questions about the future of our nation, our values, and the principles upon which it was founded. In this blog post, I aim to shed light on the potential consequences of these decisions and emphasize the urgent need for collective action to protect our democracy, human rights, and the well-being of all citizens.

The Threat to Equality

The 14th Amendment of the Constitution has been a beacon of hope for marginalized communities, ensuring equality under the law. However, conservative justices have repeatedly challenged this fundamental principle. Despite these challenges, all of my life, the Supreme Court has consistently upheld fundamental rights, until now. The recent shift in the Court’s stance poses a significant threat to the progress we have made. It feels as though the clock is being turned back on equality, human rights, and the power of the federal government to care for its citizens.

A Step Backwards

The current trajectory of the Supreme Court suggests a desire to dismantle the entire federal government and revert to a pre-Civil War era. This vision undermines the notion of “one nation undivided” and advocates for each state to become whatever Banana Republic it chooses making it free to establish their own laws and regulations as if they were its own individual and separate country with whatever dictatorship manages to get in control. Such a scenario could lead to the reinstatement of slavery, regression in voting rights, and the erosion of essential rights for people of color and women, potentially restricting suffrage to landowners alone. This regressive direction contradicts the vision of our framers and poses a severe threat to the principles of justice, equality, and democracy for all.

A Betrayal of Values

The recent ruling on Dobb’s decision sent shockwaves through my soul. It became evident that the Supreme Court is no longer committed to equality, they do not care for our federal government, or upholding ethical standards. This pattern of disregard for the law and ethical conduct has persisted, and it is disheartening to witness the erosion of the very foundations that our nation was built upon.

The Role of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, comprised of appointed judges, bears the responsibility of ensuring the constitutionality of our laws. It is essential that they comprehend the intentions of our nation’s framers and adhere to the principles enshrined in our founding documents. They must also be held accountable for any actions that betray the trust placed in them, and their decisions should not go unchecked. It is deeply concerning that the highest court dictates what women can do with their bodies, restricts the powers of Congress, and hinders efforts to alleviate the burdens faced by students burdened by high debt.

The Threat to Human Rights:

Each passing day, we witness a regression towards a socio-political culture where human rights, women’s rights, and the rights of individuals based on their gender or sexual orientation are no longer protected. The freedom to make choices about one’s body, the freedom to marry whomever one loves, and the freedom to exercise voting rights equally are all at risk. If we fail to take action, we risk reverting to a society reminiscent of a hundred years ago, where countless individuals suffered under the weight of oppression and discrimination.

The Urgent Call to Action

 We must escalate what we do to draw attention to what is taking place. The time has come for us to rise together, raising our voices in every way we can, to draw attention to the grave challenges we face. We are heading towards a future as horrific for those groups of people as it was a hundred years ago . . . or more. We must not stand idly by while the fabric of our democracy unravels. Our loved ones—our mothers, daughters, sisters, and those whose orientations and identities differ from societal norms—are in danger of losing the freedoms we have come to cherish. The rising maternal death rate over the past year serves as a somber reminder that lives are already being lost.

Conclusion

Can we simply stand by and witness the erosion of the rights and well-being of our loved ones? I refuse to do so. Recently, someone questioned why I still care deeply about the issue of abortion, given that I am no longer able to conceive. The mere fact that this question was posed speaks volumes about their lack of understanding. They fail to grasp the profound consequences of losing our democracy bit by bit, as we succumb to the rule of an oligarchy that seeks to strip away the freedoms and voices of 98% of the population. If we allow this to happen, we risk descending into a society devoid of empathy, where self-interest prevails and the collective welfare is disregarded.

In the face of a Supreme Court that threatens our democracy, human rights, and the principles upon which this great nation was built, we cannot afford to remain complacent. As an activist and filmmaker, I implore you to join me in defending equality, human rights, and the dignity of every individual. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past but instead work together to create a future where empathy, justice, and freedom prevail. Our voices, our actions, and our unwavering commitment can shape the course of our nation and secure a brighter future for all.”