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Freedom is Common Sense: Why I’m A Tennessee Student Voting No On 1

September 24, 2014 by Hannah Phillips 5 Comments

This post is the transcript of a speech Hannah delivered at a recent event on Amendment 1.


In November, Tennesseans will be voting on whether or not to amend the Tennessee constitution. If Amendment 1 passes, it would give politicians unlimited authority to ban or restrict abortion without consideration for cases of rape, incest, or instances where life of the woman is at risk. Many people are arguing that this amendment is “common sense.” In response to that, let me share with you what happened this weekend as we were volunteering for the Vote No On 1 campaign.

ETSU students phone banking for the No On 1 Campaign!

ETSU students phone banking for the No On 1 Campaign!

One of our members spoke with an elderly man who shared with her that many years ago his sister died due to complications from an illegal abortion, and he stated he would be voting no to keep it legal. Banning or restricting abortion puts the life and health of women at risk. This is common sense. Therefore, the common sense thing to do would be to vote no on this amendment.

Beyond common sense, this is about keeping politicians out of our personal lives, out of our private lives, and out of our medical decisions. This kind of decision should be left up to women, their families, and their faith and should not be left in the hands of politicians. I’m speaking to you today, not because I believe this is a certain political party’s issue, but because I believe this is a human issue.

All people should have the right to bodily autonomy. Now, bodily autonomy means that a person has control over who and over what uses their body, for what purpose, and for how long. This is why you can’t be forced to donate blood or have sex with someone. Even in death, you have bodily autonomy, which is why, even though it would save lives, your organs and tissues could not be given to someone else unless you consented to it prior to your death.

This amendment would open the doors to take away a woman’s right to bodily autonomy and would be placing that right in the hands of politicians. In other words, a dead person would have more bodily autonomy than a living, breathing woman.

Let’s preserve our right to bodily autonomy by keeping politicians out of our private and personal lives and by keeping these procedures safe and legal.

How do we do that? By voting.

Some of you may be thinking right now, “Why? It’s 2014 and we’re still talking about the same issues my grandparents talked about 50 years ago. What’s the point. Where’s the hope?”

I’ll tell you where it is: it’s in you, and in you, and in you, and in everyone here today.

We are the hope. We are the change. We are the future.

hannah

I’m here speaking to you right now, today, because I believe that we have a voice. A voice that needs to be heard. A voice of transformation. A voice that will make a difference.

Let’s be sure that our voices are heard all the way in Nashville this November telling our politicians to keep out of our private lives by voting NO on 1.

Topics: Abortion, Action and Advocacy, Blog, Leaders and Government, Vote Feminist Tags: Ballot Measures

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About Hannah Phillips

Hannah is a 25-year-old senior at East Tennessee State University earning a degree in English and Women's Studies. She's lived across the state of Tennessee from Memphis to Nashville to Knoxville and currently resides in Johnson City. Hannah's goal in life is to make the world a better place for everyone in whatever way she can and wherever she can.

Comments

  1. AvatarRichard says

    September 24, 2014 at 11:38 pm

    Great speach. Very we’ll written. Nice job.

    Reply
  2. AvatarMargret K. Parker says

    September 25, 2014 at 7:41 pm

    I enjoyed reading this because it was so understandable & relatable. I feel now that I know exactly what’s going on & what needs to be done so I will definitely be voting No on 1!!! I also enjoyed the fact that this article was written by another ETSU student. 🙂 I graduated from their this past May & currently live in Nashville.

    Reply
  3. AvatarRichard says

    September 26, 2014 at 1:43 am

    well

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. All of Tennessee’s Major Newspapers Have Urged Voters to Reject Anti-Abortion Amendment 1 – Feminist Newswire says:
    March 12, 2020 at 2:47 pm

    […] The editorials echo the voices of 40 faith leaders in Memphis as well as the voices of student activists in the state working on the Vote No on 1 campaign, including members of Feminist Majority Foundation’s Feminist Majority Alliance groups at Vanderbilt and East Tennessee State Universities who are working to mobilize and educate voters. Students have been training fellow students on activism, encouraging students to vote, disseminating information, and staging visibility events. […]

    Reply
  2. Women of Color in Tennessee Are United in Opposition to Amendment 1 – Feminist Newswire says:
    March 12, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    […] Tennessee-based women’s rights and civil rights groups, medical doctors, religious leaders, students across the state, and every major Tennessee newspaper have come out swinging against the […]

    Reply

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