Marriage, abortion and US election

THE EDITOR, Sir: IT IS evident that many persons find the personality of both candidates for the US presidential election a bit toxic. Donald Trump is seen as bombastic, while others question Hillary Clinton’s honesty. Some Americans have decided to look beyond the candidates’ personalities and are now focusing on their respective party’s 2016 platform as per below:

MARRIAGE:

Republicans (presidential nominee – Donald Trump)

Traditional marriage and family are based on marriage between one man and one woman. It is the foundation for a free society and has, for millennia, been entrusted with rearing children and instilling cultural values.

Democrats (presidential nominee – Hillary Clinton)

Democrats applaud last year’s decision by the Supreme Court that recognised that LGBT people, like other Americans, have the right to marry the person they love.

ABORTION:

Republicans: The Constitution’s guarantee that no one be deprived of life, liberty or property deliberately echoes the Declaration of Independence’s proclamation that “all are endowed by their Creator with the unalienable right to life”. Accordingly, we assert the sanctify of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life that cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the constitution and legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to children before birth. We oppose the use of public funds to perform or promote abortion.

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION TIME: JULY 18, 2016

Democrats No mention of abortion rights is made in this year’s Democratic platform.

However, when the abortion issue came up in the third debate between the two candidates, Clinton did not disavow or express any misgivings about partial birth abortion, while the other candidate expressed strong disapproval. Partial birth abortion is usually performed during the last trimester of gestation, up to the ninth month. The baby is pulled into the birth canal. The baby’s body and feet are delivered first, but the baby’s head remains in the birth canal. A sharp object is then inserted into the back of the baby’s head, then a vacuum is inserted, and the baby’s brain is sucked out. The head of the baby collapses at this point and the aborted baby is then delivered lifeless.

These are some of the differences between the two parties that are worth considering as Americans go to the polls on Tuesday. All Jamaicans are wishing for a peaceful election. The result of this election has worldwide implications. MARSHA THOMAS marshburns@hotmail.com