Constitutional liberty affirms ‘my body, my choice’

A recent, brief perusal of the U.S. Constitution made me aware of just how much that document does not say.

The opening lines state “… promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves …” There are many definitions of “liberty,” here’s one: “a state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views.”

So let’s suggest a test case, What if I were to take off all my clothes and walk naked through downtown Baltimore? No doubt I’d be restrained and arrested. But isn’t such an act “a blessing of liberty to myself?” After all, the Constitution doesn’t mandate wearing clothes!

I don’t plan such an egregious test, but isn’t the right to “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves,” imply what I do with my own body is declared by the Constitution? And that makes an interesting point regarding abortion, since liberty affirms “my body, my choice.”

— R.E. Heid, Baltimore City