Thread by @DrSherryPagoto

Fellow liberals, in this time when abortion rights are under attack, it is paramount that we do not let conservatives bait us into philosophical debates about the moment during pregnancy when “life” begins. Here is why 1/x

The abortion debate is not, I repeat NOT, a consequence of differing views about when life begins during a pregnancy. Conservatives want us to fall down this rabbit hole to distract from the true purpose of the anti-abortion agenda. 2/x

The anti-abortion agenda is 100% about securing the power of white male nationalism by controlling the reproduction of white women and women of color, but each for very different reasons. 3/x

The desire to control repro in white women is to ⬆️ births, i.e., the white population. White male nationalists are terrified of the⬆️minority population. To the extent that white women remain in the home and have babies they can recoup their numbers, i.e. votes, i.e., power. 4/x

For this reason, white women will be very unlikely to suffer the criminal punishment described in the Georgia law. That is just to scare them into having babies. Mark my words. 5/x

The desire to control reproduction in WOC is to decrease births. White male nationalists can accomplish this by imprisoning as many WOC as possible. The Georgia law is the new mass incarceration plot which is all about eliminating votes for the opposition. 6/x

When we debate about when “personhood” begins, we reinforce their cover story that abortion is a "moral" issue. This allows them to cloak their “higher” moral ground in religion—making it very difficult for devout folks to break from. 7/x

There has never in this country been a true debate about when personhood begins. The government has always (loooooong before Roe v Wade) acknowledged when personhood begins because they send you a document confirming it and that would be your BIRTH CERTIFICATE. 8/x

There is no conception certificate. No fetal pole cardiac activity certificate. No third trimester certificate. Notice we celebrate birthdays not our conceptions or when our fetal poles kicked off a cardiac-ish signal. 9/x

The debate about when life begins is complete and utter BS. This ends up framing repro rights as a “feminist” issue, which doesn’t rile male liberals as much as we’d like. Conservatives know this. 10/x

If liberals get baited into the distraction, we miss the opportunity to call out at every chance we get what is really happening, which is a sick agenda that uses religion as a veneer to reinforce white male nationalism. 11/x

It’s happening in front of our eyes.