I am a woman who marched in the Boston Women’s March, and I share the outrage that we have a president who is ill-equipped in nearly every aspect to perform the duties of his office. However, I was a misfit in the crowd in that I disagree with the assertion that the right to abortion on demand is a fundamental human right that our nation must guarantee and a cornerstone of women’s rights.

Girls as young as 9 or 10 carried signs demanding the right to control their bodies. Of course, natural law and our Constitution guarantee such. But as these girls mature, they become part of a society that must also protect the rights of others. When we create a new life, that young life must be protected, must it not?

What has happened to us that we think we have the unreserved right to discard a child because of economic pressures, fear, or personal constraints? When a mother’s life is at risk, it is an entirely different question. But we no longer seem to value our responsibilities toward others as much as we do our individual rights. How is this different from Donald Trump’s approach to things?

Colleen Brennan

Carlisle