We disagree on a great deal (and often with great panache) but on this we are completely aligned. It is reprehensible to force someone to take a pregnancy to term, take note of their financial concerns, listen to their rationale and emotional maturity and then ignore this and subsequently prove them right.

I can understand (to a degree) the pro-life movement, though I disagree with it on principle and think it has no place in the legislature. I can at least understand strong religious beliefs in a multicultural society and the desire to hold ‘traditional’ values. A liberal society allows dissent.

What I have always failed to understand is the Jekyll and Hyde approach from the religious right. It seems entirely incompatible to me to defend the rights of unborn children and then flip away from collective socialism at the point of birth. To care about ‘life’ but not ‘quality of life’ seems shortsighted and counter intuitive.

I hope Giselle gets help soon and I hope the American legal system develops a little more introspective compassion for the population.