Written by David Starr   

What do Texas Governor Rick Perry's signing of a restrictive abortion law and the acquittal of vigilante George Zimmerman have in common?

One with a Tea Party IQ would simplistically say "respecting life." But what about civil rights violations based on medieval-like stereotypes which threaten life itself?

The Texas Senate introduced a harsh bill comprising some of the toughest restrictions on abortion. The GOP-dominated senate was intending to quickly pass the bill. But then Ms. Davis went to Austin (as with the title of the film, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"). Democrat Wendy Davis of Fort Worth put up such resistance, in the form of an-over 12 hour filibuster against the bill, as hardly seen before from a party member. The evidence of a political spine was beyond a reasonable doubt.

Davis, with protesters in the gallery backing her, stopped the bill in its tracks, temporarily. The Senate's GOP leader, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, was hell-bent on bringing up House Bill 2 again for a vote in a "special session." And with the GOP dominating, it passed. It was anti-climatic when Governor Rick Perry, receiving the bill, signed it into law.

Abortions are banned after 20 weeks, based on the unproven notion that a fetus can feel pain; 37 abortion clinics are in danger of closing because of not following the guidelines of ambulatory "surgical centers"; only five clinics qualify so far; limited access to clinics, while greatly affecting low-income women, won't affect wealthy women, who can afford to go to surgical centers; regulated clinics (contradicting the rights' opposition to government intrusion); doctors working at clinics needing hospital "admitting" privileges; and dictating birth control use.

The restrictions are further evidence of right-wing/conservatives determining to make inevitable the banning of abortion. It would be a regression back to women's civil rights being violated in the case of abortion as a necessary choice against unreliable and impossible circumstances. Illegal abortions would proceed, nevertheless, under secrecy and in unsafe circumstances. It would be a return to coat hanger procedures. And raising the odds of death as a result.

Women, because of outdated Biblical verses, would not be allowed the right to make a choice in a strictly personal matter, whether alone, with a partner, and/or from others close to them if called upon for advice.

A valid question can be asked to "Pro-lifers": How many of them supported/support imperial war, where life is taken on a mass scale?

As men in the Texas Senate dictate what is good for a woman (never mind what she thinks) with genderist discrimination, the controversial issue of race is still discriminating.

George Zimmerman, half-white/half-Hispanic, was a man with a mission: to protect his gated community as a virtual Marshall Dillon, the main character from the TV series, "Gunsmoke." Zimmerman wasn't acting, however. The would-be sheriff, having the mentality of a holier-than-thou, "True American," was determined to keep the streets clean of "threats, bad guys and evil-doers."

Enter Trayvon Martin, whose father lived in the same gated community. It was apparently a routine walk for Martin after buying soda and a pack of skittles. But the "sheriff" was on the alert, gun in hand. Zimmerman has called blacks "coons" and "assholes." Martin, of course, fit this racist description for Zimmerman. The bad guy wearing the black hat was in town (well, in this case, hoodie).

Zimmerman was in contact with police. The latter explicitly told Zimmerman to stay in his car and not confront Martin. But here is the provocation that lead to the murder of Trayvon Martin: Zimmerman got out of his car, the only reason being to confront Martin.

Zimmerman has that habitual mentality of seeing African-Americans/Blacks as "The Other." This mentality has roots back in U.S. history to slavery, and still clings to life today in the U.S. psyche, particularly on the right side of the political spectrum in its various shades.

With "The Other" in mind, Zimmerman's trial was anti-climatic. The six-member jury acquitted him of murder; as what has happened in past trials involving this kind of racial controversy. Notably, as one excuse, the prosecution didn't prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman didn't act in self-defense. But the same could be said for Martin, seeing a gun pointed at him by a zealous vigilante, and thus, quickly assaulting Zimmerman in self-defense.

But another excuse absurdly conflicts with reason itself: Zimmerman's lawyer claimed that Martin "weaponized" the sidewalk. One does not carry a concealed sidewalk with them. One, however, can carry a concealed weapon like a gun. Also, one can't do a background check with a sidewalk. With a gun? Of course.

So, reality is turned upside down: "Sheriff" Zimmerman, with the gun and provocation, is victim; and Martin, "The Other," holding a soda and skittles, is villain.

The regressive legislating of "Stand Your Ground (in Arizona, the childish-sounding, "Make My Day"), and trying to put women "in their place," has raised the reactionary bar. There's more encouragement to go trigger-happy and make use of a symbolic chastity belt.

The right has shown more its distaste for civil rights. It would rather go backward to an era where civil rights were few and far in between, the exception being for white, rich males with property.

Dwelling in the past can retard human evolvement. Learning from the past can enhance it.

Biblical verses? Stand your ground? Make my day? No way.

© David Starr 2013

www.leftstarrjournal.blogspot.com