Processing Post

I’ve had a hard time concentrating, a difficult time writing. The SCOTUS overturning of Roe v. Wade along with the Clarence Thomas quote about reconsidering other cases has me shook. In my nearly five decades on this planet—though I should probably limit that down to thirty years more diligently aware of civil liberties, political landscape, and argumentative fallacy—I can think of a few occurrences that have shocked me and rocked the foundation of my belief in my country.

Only this one has me rocked to the core. This can’t be real, right? Only it is.

A quick google search, and I discovered there is precedent for the Supreme Court overturning their own decisions. Since 1810, the Supreme Court has overturned 233 of its own rulings (this is tracked by the Library of Congress and I found the information on Constitution Center [dot] org.) As I read through the twenty highlighted case, it became clear to my critical but inexperienced eye why the overturning of Roe v Wade was so different. In the twenty cases listed, the courts overturned cases in which the original decision impeded a person’s constitutional rights. From separate but equal, to due process, and even to bodily autonomy rights, the court overturned prior decisions that reinforced, upheld, or violated the individual’s freedom protected by the constitution.

Overturning Roe v. Wade and the decision on July 4, 2022 to negate native peoples tribal rights to prosecute non-tribal members who commit crimes on tribal lands reverting the jurisdiction to federal or state systems both exemplify a disregard for people. With comments made to review gay marriage and other cases related to race, it’s no wonder people are afraid. When the institutions created as a means of “check and balances” and the “founding documents” we’ve all be propagandized to believe protect freedom and the individual rights from the tyranny of the masses, the tyranny of the rich and powerful, and the tyranny of government aren’t holding up, what are we to think?

So maybe it isn’t a wonder that writing has been difficult. I’m working on the second book for my other pen name (it’s an adult romantic fantasy) and at the heart of it is the subjugation of women at the hand of it’s government… yeah. That’s been tough.

I’m processing.

Hopefully, I’ll have a more coherent blog post for you next week, but for now, this is where I am… trying to stay afloat.