This is a very difficult historical period for political and religious institutions in the United States. The first in terms of a very real struggle to maintain a democratic form of government in the face of a pervasive and profound threat of surrendering to an autocratic system. In the other sphere, the abortion dilemma seems more like the story of the “tar baby” than the social/moral debate that it is. No matter how or where the issue of abortion is raised those involved are stuck in a morass of conflict. No, I’m not going to offer a panacea to cure our divides, but maybe I can offer an alternate perspective that will ease the tension a bit.

Instead of an attitude of “damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead,” we must understand both of our problems in terms of a deep-seated evolutionary change. Tribal, community and family units will have to parse this out on their own turf. For example, abortion, at its core involves a death, the ultimate human event. Is it a societal or a woman’s pain? Obviously, both, but as is evident for us here and now: “...ner the twain shall meet.” We Americans have about eleven months to get the recipe right. One that will bring democracy, imperialism and abortion into a workable relationship before the pot boils over in November into a future that we will not be able to sustain.

Charlie Stepanek

Concord