Americans have been divided over abortion from the foundations of the nation. As early as 1832, states regulated under what conditions a woman could receive an abortion. Matters such as fetal viability, economics and women’s health were evaluated within medical, legal and government institutions. The Supreme Court’s ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut in 1965 established a right of privacy for the use of birth control and set a precedent. In 1973, Roe v. Wade legalized abortion under the Fourteenth Amendment’s right to privacy provision. The ruling far from settled the public debate or legal battles. Subsequent court cases on the state and federal level reviewed parental and spousal consent laws, counseling in federally-funded clinics and the use of emergency contraception. The development of ultrasound images and prenatal testing further complicated the ideas of fetal viability and whether prenatal diagnosis of disease or disability is reason to abort. While the pro-choice and pro-life movements stand at opposite ideological fences, many Americans advocate for abortion but on a limited basis. Regardless of public opinion, pro-life advocates battle to overturn Roe v. Wade while pro-choice forces strive to eliminate abortion restrictions.
The pro-choice movement supports the decision in Roe v. Wade, the use of emergency contraception and tougher legislation for crimes against pregnant women. Supporters overwhelmingly do not oppose stem-cell research. They believe that life begins when a fetus is viable. Jodi Enda in The Women’s View offers a history of the pro-choice movement and argues that pro-choice feminists must resort to some of the same emotion-filled tactics to counter pro-life efforts to undermine public support for abortion. Professor Francis Beckwith provides a point-by-point critique of Pro-Life rhetoric in Choice Words. Colorado Democrat Diana DeGette makes the argument for free access to the abortion pill RU486 in Restrict Access to the Abortion Drug. In Enough Is Enough: Why Now Is the Time to Act, the Zero Population Growth organization makes the case that the (George W.) Bush Administration’s stance on abortion is part of a larger global assault on women’s health and rights.
The pro-life movement wishes to overturn the ruling in Roe v. Wade, encourages women to choose adoption, is against emergency contraception and is fighting for legislation which recognizes the unborn as separate victims in crimes against pregnant women. Supporters typically oppose stem cell research because it destroys embryos considered to have life from the moment of conception. In Deciding Abortion: The Key Questions, Daniel Oliver deconstructs the Roe v. Wade decision and argues that the Precautionary Principle provides philosophical groundwork for opposing abortion. The history and current challenges to the pro-life movement are discussed in Abortion Now. The article Victims of Their Own Choice profiles women who have experienced “post-abortion syndrome” after their own abortion experiences and now oppose Roe v. Wade. Included is an interview with a pro-choice activist. Lousiana Representative David Vitter explains his opposition to access to RU-486 in Restrict Access to Abortion Drug.
Information from SIRS Researcher Pro/Con Online Database.
33 comments:
The argument that a baby should be protected only once it is viable is simply incorrect. If the baby is left alone starting at conception it will more than likely become viable. It is a human being from that point and without outside intervention will be born.
Just because a child is not an adult does not meant that it is any less of a human being. Children are just as much human beings as adults are and unborn babys are just as much human as babys that have been born.
I personally believe life at conception. I think that abortion is murder. We are killing people. What would happen if yall's parents decided to have an abortion? Yall wouldn't be here asking yourself, "is abortion a bad or good thing?" What if George Washington or Ben Franklin parents decided to have an abortion? There's a good chance that we'd be saying "righto" all the time, eh?
By having these abortions we loose great people. The person who was meant to find a cure for cancer could have never had a chance because he died without his consent. Why should he have to die? What did he do wrong?
Modern medicine gets better every day. The chances of pregnant women having their life at risk due to birth happens once in a blue moon. Even then, I would hope that the mother would love her child so much that she would give her life so that he could live. But that may be pushing it. It is easier said then done. And to be honest, I do not know what I would tell a good friend if this were to happen to her. Only in this rare occasion, should there be the slightest peep of having an abortion. A last resort. There is nothing you can do, somebody, unfortunately, will die. Whether it is the mother or the child, I do not know who I would choose. It is just horrible that a decision like this would have to be made.
I believe there are other options. There is always adoption. Why not send money to orphanages instead of abortion clinics. And of course, do not make a decision that you will regret 9 months later. Ok, so a guy rapes a girl. It was wrong, don't get me wrong. People should not rape anyone. But unfortunately, it happens. Instead of having an abortion like so many victims do, why not save the baby and raise he or she or if you do not want a baby, send he or she to an orphanage. It's a better choice than killing an innocent life.
Abortion is used as a solution when adoption is available and an innocent life would not be lost. Because, who knows, you may be killing the next einstein.
There is a vast difference between being pro-choice and pro-abortion. As a general rule, when someone says they are pro-choice, they are automatically labled as an unsympathetic, unresponsible person. This is usually not the case. I am pro-choice.I belive that being pro-choice means simply maximizing personal freedoms. That does not mean I support the "murdering" or "babies." Most pro-life citizens are religious, employed, and have an average or above average income. They have absolutely NO idea what raising a child entails. When they picture a baby on the way they imagine raising it under their conditions, not one of a single mother with no income. There are many conditions that can make a mother not fit. Money,drugs,abuse,incest,age,endless forces play into it. No matter what the reason, her not being ready is reason enough to not have it.It is argued that it is not the womans choice to decide, but then who's is it? Yours? Ultimately, she knows best. Not the Middle aged male pastors, Suburban Church groups or any other compitent person who is not her. The fetus is a parasite to the mother.The definition of parasite:
par·a·site [par-uh-sahyt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, known as the host, from the body of which it obtains nutriment.
2. a person who receives support, advantage, or the like, from another or others without giving any useful or proper return, as one who lives on the hospitality of others.
It needs the mother to survive. Without her it dies. That in itself disqualifies it from being considered life-within the first trimester. There are indeed laws which make it harder to obtain within 3rd, even 2nd trimester. If we did illeaglize abortion, here's what would happen. Women would turn to unsafe options. We've all heard the stories of horror stories where women are punched,throw themselves down stairs,drink/use drugs,even use coat hangers to rid themselves of the fetus. By illeagalizing abortion, theses methods would hit an all time high. It's like drugs, guns, anything "bad"-just because it is illeagle doesn't mean people won't still do it. Abortion clinics counsel,and act in a controled enviornment. People have the idea you walk in feeling great and everyone makes it seem as though its not big deal, you walk out not feeling remorse, pain, GUILT. Being greeted by protesters doesn't help much either. In closing, I belive that ultimatley the mother knows whats best for her, and her fetus. If she is financially stable, healthy and most importantly ready, she will make the right descision-like our consititution allows.
to me, abortion is flat out wrong except for 2 circumstances. if the mother will die when she is giving birth, or if the baby will die. To me, abortion is nothing except for doctor assisted murder. And as far as privacy goes, if someone gets murdered out on the streets, do the police just let them have thier privacy? no! they take action, and arrest the person who did it. Abortion should be outlawed. Its wrong. Also people who have an abortion because thier kid has a mental problem... why would you do such a thing? your baby isnt going to be perfect in life, so you have to kill it. If you really dont want the baby, give it to the homeless shelter. They will take care of it. As far as rape, i have nothing to say, because i cant figure that one out for myself. Why should you carry a child that was forced on you anyway? i have no answer for that. im stuck in between the fact that i consider it murder and that it was forced and you had no choice. i dont know if i made my opinion clear or not, but that is what i feel is necessary
Maclbo231 says that they are pro choice because "being pro-choice means simply maximizing personal freedoms." You can not maximize personal freedom when you deny freedom to the most innocent indivicuals in our society.
I belive that life begins at conception. A fetis is a human life going through the stages to make it a viable person. Yes, there are times when a mother may die from having the child but that is what cessarian sections are for. I know that there are people who don't believe in God so i do not want to offend anyone by saying that God wants the child here for a reason. So... I will say that there is a reason the child was concieved even if it happened from rape or incest. Some onknown force, or Buddha, or alla or anything that you believed in wanted that child here why kill a human being???
I am not totally on one side or the other on this issue. My belief on abortion comes from the situation of each female and their pregnancy. I think that if the mother will die from carrying the baby she should have the right to abort it. I also think that if a baby could possibly be harmed during pregnancy because of a mother's bad judgement, it should be considered, for no child wants to grow up with a problem that was caused by their mother's alcoholism. So even though many of the situations I find myself standing more towards the side of pro-life, I believe there will always be exceptions to the rules.
Abortion: hmm... what can i say that has not already been said.... The one issue that has not been addressed and the one i personally feel is the most disturbing, is the fact that an increasing number of people are having prenatal testing and upon finding that their child will have some sort of disabity; downsyndrome, autism, physical disability,l or whatever, they decide to terminate the pregnancy. This is absolutely, utterly, and completely stupid! what are we trying to do?!? creat a utopia where everyone is perfect? no, people see these disabilities as something that will take away from the lifestyle of the child. umm.... have any of these people ever been around someone with a disability? well i've lived with one for 10 years and i can tell you that children with these disabilities live the type of life that everyone should strive to live. they do not judge, they do not hate, they are the greatest example of how humans should act. why would anyone want to deny these types of people the right to live. thats all i have to say, my rant is done.
I completely agree with scooby....those children born with disabilities only carry the traits that those "normal" people lack and should honestly try a lot harder to display. I have lived with one for several years as well...the things that come out of my cousins mouth are amazing and some of the most profound things anyone could say. He loves and cares unconditionally. If anything i think he has an advantage, a certain uniquness about him that i envy honestly.
With that said. yea scooby your right. whos to say thats a good reason to terminate your pregnancy?! thats stupid and you as a mother would be missing out on one of the best experiences.
There is not much id like to say about abortion. No matter what i say, someone will agree with me completly, and everyone else will hate me for the rest of my life. There is no way to have a winner here. If you are pro-choice, you will always be pro-choice. The same is true of pro-lifers.
I personally believe that it is up to the woman to choose. This is mainly because in order to be free we must be able to choose what we believe. If you are pro-life, fine, dont have an abortion. But dont try to stop others from being able to choose what happens in their lives. You should not bother yourself with what others do. If they want to kill their babys, mourn for the child all you want, but it is their choice to have a baby.
Alot of those with opposing views of mine will say that adoption is the better choice than "murder". What those people dont know is how hard adoption can be on a child. No matter what you do, you cannot choose who adopts you and though they try, those in charge of the adoption proccess cannot be 100% sure that the people who will care for you are good people.
in reply to durden....how can you say that giving the child life and choosing adoption is worse than killing the child?
It seems to me that most people feel that abortion is wrong but that women should have a choice. It is after all, her private life. I used to feel this way too. I won't help anyone have one but the choice is up to the parent.
But one day I thought some more about this. I determined that I felt that abortion is legalized murder. Ok, so a woman decides to have an abortion and government should not intervene. They would violate her personal freedom. There is somebody Jimbo Jones* does not like in his private life. So he decides to take this person to a back ally and kill him. It is his private life; why is the police after him? He killed someone. Likewise, the mother killed a baby. Why isn't the police after her?
If we legalize abortion, will we legalize murder on the back streets?
(*please note, Jimbo Jones is just a random name I always use and does not point to a particular person.)
i agree completely with wild wx man. murder is murder, personal life or no. and to justified, at least if you give the child up for adoption, it has a chance to get somewhere in life. who knows? a child given up for adoption instead of aborted could become the next Bill Gates or Warren Buffet.
So the real question comes down to convenience then? The way I see it, unless the mother is in danger of losing her life the whole issue of abortion is solely solved on the reasoning of 'convenience'. Wow, how American can you get?
Our country is so spoiled! We've decided that we even have the right to end a form of life just because we don't want to deal with responsibility. And no, don't give me the "girl who was raped by whoever" thing. That still comes down to being OUR responsibility for not teaching the men of our country about respect.
I don't know about you but I get sick just thinking about how much you people argue about how right or wrong it is...It doesn't really matter does it? Because our society is just as spoiled and corrupt and whether we argue or not isn't going to change that sad fact.
Scooby makes an exteremly valid point.. who are we as humans to say whether or not a human should live if they are different. My Nana always said "children with disabilities are angels sent down by God to show us what we are missing in life and teach us something we will never learn without them here." That is something you can never take away. The amazing and utterly talented people these few that have disablilitis are. We must look up to them the way they look up to us. For them they are the norm, and who are we to say what is normal, what is weird....It is up to US to believe in everyone and learn from all around us whether or not in your book these people are normal, weird or anything else. SO for a women to take away the rights of any child is wrong; love everyone the same whether or not they are different.
"Maclbo231 says that they are pro choice because "being pro-choice means simply maximizing personal freedoms." You can not maximize personal freedom when you deny freedom to the most innocent indivicuals in our society."
Mother's rights take presidence over that of their unborn fetus.Afterall, it is part of HER body.
Also, When I used the term "parasite" it was not meant to be implied in a derogatory fashion.If you read the deffinition carefully it really does make sense, no matter what your stance may be.
I strongly believe that life begins at the moment of conception. Abortion is wrong. Everyone is always asking "What if this or that happens?" but the only exeption I can think of is if the mother's life is in danger. In cases like that, the mother should be able to choose. Her life or the baby's?
There is no other reason to deny a baby it's right to live. It's an innocent being and having an abortion is murdering it.
I'm pretty sure everything has been touched on this issue so I'll just give my opinion. A lot of you agree with me and a lot of you don't.
Life begins when sperm meets egg.
Abortion is murder.
Women should keep their babies, no matter what the circumstances are.
If you can't take care of your baby or just don't want it,there's always adoption. It's better than taking away somone's life.
Deciding you don't want a baby only after finding out it will have a disabiliy is just plain cruel.
As I said before,I know these are things that have already been said and argued. And I doubt that anything anyone says is going to alter other people's opinions.
I think that life begins at conception as well. But for everyone who says that we could have possibly killed the great people like Ben Franklin and George Washington, then you can apply that same principle to the opposite affect. What if Hitler's mother decided to have an abortion? or Stalin? I'm kind of sick of hearing people saying that sending the babies away to orphanages is the solution. You guys incessantly spew out how abortion is murder and how we should try to save as many lives as we can. But as soon as the kid is born you easily cast it aside to a crappy orphanage? Also i have to say that people get killed everyday, but the only reason that you guy's care about abortion is that the victims are cute, cuddly, babies and that no-one really cares about a starving African man, because he's not cute enough to invoke as much pity.
I would like to start out by posing this question: If a pregnant woman very much wanted to keep her fetus child and an outside party purposefully killed it would you consider that murder? The only reason that anyone should be answering "no" to that question is because they know the point I am about to make.
If it is not okay for someone else to kill a woman's fetus then what makes it okay for her, herself to do it. Is it because it is in her body and it is her child and will impact her life? Because the way I look at it no matter who makes the decision it is murder. Just as it would be considered murder whether some random guy killed a 4 year old girl or her own mother did. Murder is murder.
Another argument against pro-life concerns rape victims. Many people say that victims of rape [especially teenagers] should be able to get an abortion to avoid embarassment and having the baby of the guy who raped them. As far as embarassment goes is being embarassed really worth taking away a baby's life. Is that justifiable? NO! Just as it would not be justifiable to kill someone that knew you got raped and was going to tell everyone <-- that would be murder! The second part of the argument about having to care for and live with the child of your rapist for the rest of your life also has an easy solution: Put the baby up for adoption [there are plenty of people willing to adopt in this country] orrrrr get over it-it's your baby too.
To Mr. huskercubs...wesuck,
First off, we tax unborn cattle. If we are able to tax unborn cattle then why is an unborn HUMAN BEING not afforded the same rights.
Second, we can not stop murder and rape and yet we continue to keep those illegal. Why not get rid of all laws if we are concerned about them not being followed?
Third, you want to know how we can say that abortion is murder after we have had it legal for a number of years. Well sir, by the same token how is it that we made slavery illegal? After all didn't the dred scott decision say that slaves were merely the property of their owners? Didn't we say in the CONSTITUTION of the United States of America that slaves were only three-fifths of a person? Didn't we allow the forced sterilization of so called "imbeciles" in Buck vs Bell? And yet some how we managed to correct these errors. I pray to God that some day we will realize that we have made such a grave error here as well.
Finally, I personally would appreciate if you would stop using this blog as a means to proclaim your disdain for religion. Nobody else feels that it is necessary to attack anti-religious people such as Richard Dawkins as a means to discredit the atheistic/agnostic/relativistic beliefs that you propose so it would be wonderful if you would have the same curtesy. Thank you.
huskercubs...wesuck: i believe you said this:So which God are you talking about?
The one who wants homosexuals murdered,or the one who says those who work on the Sabbath should be put to be put to death?
Sorry but I hold no stock in religion, especially in this issue.
First off, I am not super religious, after all it was the super religious who put Jesus to death. Anyway, I have read a couple verses in the Bible before pertaining to this. It never said the God wanted homosexuals killed or that you would die if you worked on the Sabbath. Its HUMANS who made up extensions of these rules. Also, only old people say "eh", when they cant hear you. It is mostly a Canadian term. Ya'll is a southern term. And by now even if our forefathers hadn't been born we might have been saying that anyway. Puerto Ricans don't always say like or ya'll or burn, do they?
My view on abortion is that it is murder. Even though the baby can not live on its own, once the sperm hits the egg that is a new life, there is no reason to denie it life. All of you got the chance why not everyone else.
If the excuses where to be used; she was raped, the baby has a sickness/disability, they're not ready money wise, or she's too younge, those are still not vaid excuses. The baby did nothing wrong so why give it death? They're so many options to do and abortion it not one.
I think the first error in the terms pro life and pro choice is simply the fact that you can be both. Life begins at conception... wild wx man put that perfectly. I believe abortion is the murder of an innocent life who hasn't been given the chance to live yet. These fetus' could be great people when they are grown. Murder is against the law... plain and simple. However, it is the woman's choice. There are certain situations that are debateable. I am not supporting abortion in anyway at all. But I know someone whose story went like this. She had a beautiful baby boy. He was healthy and perfect. Her husban left her after he got her pregnant for a second time. She was told very early on the pregnancy that if she had this child, she would most likely die. If she were to die, she would leave a 2 year old and a baby as orphans with no father. It's a really hard and touchy issue. All in all, however, I believe it should be illegal.
The fact of the matter is the only difference from the baby at conception(which has a soul) and the mother whether she is 17, 25, or 37 is TIME. The same rights should be allotted to the child as the mother receives. The right of LIFE. For example, I do not support the death penalty or abortion or euthanasia because it is killing life....so if people dont support the death penalty why do they respect abortion
Alrighty, here's my two cents.
Abortion should be legal, but only within limiting circumstances and by real, trained doctors. These circumstances include: when the life of the mother is threatened, and with Rape- or Incest-baies. Not being ready or fearing for the child's disabilities is crap if nothing else, adoption.
I will give a quick overview on my circumstances:
1. Mother's Life Threatened: Which is more important to you... people? A life already in motion, or one that might survive? Just chew on that.
2. Rape/Incest Babies: Uhhh... not her fault? And you'll never really root out rape and incest. Maybe in the future, being hopeful here, but that's a looong way away. And, again, think of the mother. How would you deal with the fact that this child in front of you is a living symbol of one of your greatest pains? Even if you gave it up, and that might even make the haunting memories worse. Or what if she keeps it? How do you say to your kid, "Mommy was taken advantage of by a man, used against her will, and that's how you came out!" I'd like to see some (holding myself back) of you to try that.
And, for the record, this one comes close to my heart; I have several good friends who were raped. They're scarred enough as it is, and I doubt most, if any of them would be here if they had had, and then had to give birth to a child. So, please, never attack me for this reason, at least. You couldn't understand that kind of life in the least.
Just because abortion is currently legal, doesn't mean that it is right. You also can't go by popular public opinion. My (PRO-LIFE) view on abortion is based on neither law or public opinion, but instead what is taught in the Bible.
Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
This verse shows that a baby is alive while it is in the mother's womb. Therefore, if we were to destroy it during that time, it would be murder!
I also realize that the Bible teaches forgiveness. Abortion is a sin and people will be forgiven for it. However, this still does not make it right!
Life begins at conception. It does not matter the ability of the baby to live on its own. There is a reason why we live with our parents through high school. It is so that they can care for us. A four year old child can not care for himself with out a mother or a father. Does this make him not human? Does it make it ok to kill him. I often hear people say that they do not believe in abortion but they believe in the women’s right to choose. If a mother does not want her child after he is born is it ok to kill him? Why would it matter whether he is still a baby, still developing, or a child? In this world it is wrong to even kill your self much less the lives of innocent people. Why should this murder be allowed to continue?
Two things that I would like to add to this debate and also a question that I would like someone to answer.
First, Maclbo231 says:
"Mother's rights take presidence over that of their unborn fetus. Afterall, it is part of HER body."
An unborn baby is not a part of the mother's body. Rather it is a human being that depends upon her to stay alive. Just the same as a new born baby relies totally upon its parents for the means to stay alive. The only difference is the location of the baby.
Second, there is a famous quote from Dante that says:
"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality."
I suggest that those who believe that you can somehow separate your personal beliefs from your support for allowing abortion to continue think about this statement.
You could use the same argument to justify not condemning the Holocaust. "Well, I don't believe that we should exterminate the Jews but it was legal and I don't think I should personally tell people that murder is wrong becaus I respect their views."
Finally, would someone please explain this to me? We have killed over forty million children in the US since 1973. This is more people than Stalin and Hitler killed combined. And yet supposedly we are somehow the greatest nation in the world.
Logically speaking, I believe abortion is wrong and should be illegal. I do not believe this because of what my parents have told me or what anyone else has told me. I believe this because I am a human being and was once a fetus, too. There is no fiber in my being that says it is logical to end even the possibility of life, and I only listen to logic. To end life is cruel and those who think it is right are also. Plain and simple.
Abortion is wrong. Period. End of discussion. A lot of people on here commented, saying that abortion is okay in some cases, but what about all the teenage girls out there who do whatever they want and don't think about the consequences to their actions and when they get pregnant, and because they don't want to accept responsibility for them, they get an abortion?
I believe that a baby is a person at the time of conception, it is growing therefore it is alive. I don’t think that they should have a law banning abortion because at that point we are taking away women’s freedom of choice. But maybe if we outlawed it we could have the next Einstein like someone else on here said!
This is a tough subject for me to decide a side on... I think it is completely wrong to have abotion simply because you made a wrong choice and you aren't ready for a child... but at the same time I have a problem saying that if you are like 13 or 14 and have been raped and are pregant because of that that you shouldn't be allowed to not have an abortion I mean obviously you are too young to care for a child and that is not your choice and is a very tramatic situation. Or if because of health reasons the mother is going to die and in return then the baby will die anyways why for those health resons should the mother and her doctor not be allowed to make that decision to have an abortion and save at least one life... I don't know these factors make it hard for me to say aborition should be completely illegal... I do think it shouldn't be allowed to just anyone though!
I will just come out and say I am pro-life... however think of this:
If the mother has a chance of death due to the pregnancy... what makes you all so sure she is going to die? Doctors are not God. They don't really know without a doubt. Wierd things happen sometimes. There are medical miracles that are unexplanable. So basically, you could have killed a baby for no reason at all(assuming the mother would have lived...) Besides all that, maybe she was meant to die in order to fulfill God's plan.
I also feel that rape or incest cases should not have double standards. If my mother was a rape victim (and no she wasn't...) I would sure hope she would choose to have me.
Maybe we can all just put ourselves in the other person's shoes(in the baby's place) and see how we feel about abortion now.
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