To many people that live in our modern world, an abortion is an "easy" way out of an unwanted or troubled pregnancy. An abortion is the magic answer to a life that they did not want, or that they weren't ready for. The people that support abortion either do not realize or do not adress the fact that their choices affect the lives of other people. And yes, I do consider a fetus, in whatever stage of development, a person. A mother may think that her circumstances give reason for her to make a decision to end the life of a human being. That mother may be in control of the fetus, but she has no right to end that small person's life when it has no say in the matter. Many people give reasons for abortions like these: medical problems, difficult family lives, and emotional problems. These problems do not change the fact that that little person's life is being taken away. Supporting reasons for abortion are given here at Public Agenda. One reason this article gives to support abortion is that, "Women have an inalienable right to determine the circumstances of their lives", yet the supporters are not considering the fact that the fetus is being denied the same right. The article also talks about how unfair it is to "ban abortion when pregnancy results from rape or incest." The woman's personal privacies and freedoms were abused during rape or incest. So why does that give her a right to choose the freedoms of the baby that she was to abort?
Imagine every good and wonderful moment in the life of a normal person. Every milestone, every life change, every moment of joy in the life of a human is being denied the fetus who's mother thought it better to abort that child than to let it have a chance at life. What if you or I had been the fetus whose mother had considered abortion? Would you still think it a good idea to allow and push for the development of abortion programs that make it so easy to "erase" a messed up pregnancy? Would you want to have been considered a burden to your mother and nothing more than an object in her belly? So many people take this view on abortion, and I believe that providing the option so easily is a mistake.
"The fetus, though itself innocent, is the victim of a circumstance the woman is not responsible for; and good samaritanism cannot demand the kind of sacrifice she would have to make to carry the fetus toward term if she does not want to."-- so far as cases of rape and incest, this man says it better than I ever could (http://www.garlikov.com/abortion.html)
ReplyDeleteAbortion is, occasionally, the best out option out of a bunch of bad options (I believe the concept is called Morton's Fork-- wiki it.)
Don't bother mentioning the numerous problems in society that contribute to the number of abortions.. Abstinence, for one, obviously isn't the type of birth control we should rely on-- just like we shouldn't rely on abortion for birth control.
Also, way to make the entire thing sound trivial. "The 'easy' way out"? For "people"? For many *women*, it's a huge decision-- not "easy"-- and it is *very* important.
No matter what, the argument isn't about aborting fetuses-- if, say, we had technology that could support the fetus outside of the womb (idea stolen from Garlikov's article), aborting wouldn't be bad.
No. The abortion debate revolves around what the definition of life is. I don't know if we will ever be able to set limits on what life is. It's not like anyone ever considered how the bacteria felt about the end of it's life before they wiped off the counters.
So how far will you go to define a life? Do you agree with the hardcore Catholics, that denying sperm the chance to meet eggs is wrong? Is Plan B wrong?
Where does the insanity end?
This always makes for a very interesting debate in class!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I agree with you. I mean I don't believe that ANYONE should have an abortion because if you can kill, get rid of, or erase your child from your life...there has to be something wrong in your head. I mean I understand adoption. If you don't think you can give your child the best life and support her/him, then let someone who is able. On the other hand I don't think anyone should be able to tell you what you can and can't do with your body. It's kind of a twisted ordeal but...hey over all I think you are a GREAT writer!and you make GOOD points.
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