Reasons for Being Pro-Life or Pro-Choice

[guywithashovel]

Sometimes when abortion is being discussed, people will say things like, "I oppose abortion except for in cases of rape and incest." Admittedly, I have made similar statements in the past, too.

I've been thinking about this lately. Now, in most cases, people who think that abortion should never be considered and should be illegal do so because they see it as murder. They believe that terminating a pregnancy at any stage equals premeditated homicide. If this is true, why would it be any different if the woman is seeking an abortion because she was raped? That is, if the fetus really is a human life in your view, why does that change with the woman's situation?

Likewise, if the fetus is not a human life, and having an abortion is (in your view) no different than using contraception, then why would it matter what the woman's reason is for wanting an abortion?

[crashhelmet]

I'm one of these types and will admit it is hypocritical. I consider myself "Pro-Life." When the fetus has its own heart beat (as early as 3 weeks) and its own brain activity (at 25 weeks, IIRC), I consider it to meet the requirements of both clinical and biological "life."

I have always supported the idea of allowing an abortion in the event of rape due to the psychological stress it could possibly cause for the mother. The constant day in / day out reminder may be too much for her. With the growing use of drugs like RU486, I'd be inclined to support a program that would involve its usage along with the treatment of rape victims instead of allowing the "normal" abortive methods. Getting the women to admit and report the rape would be the hard part.

I used to say that I'd support an abortion in the event of incest, however after thinking about it more, I no longer support it. I do not support Eugenics. It's too much of a slippery slope.

The only other way that I would support an abortion would be if it was a proven life risk for the mother. When a family needs to make the decision that comes down to either Mommy or baby that continues on in the world, it then becomes a decision that no one but that family has the right to make.

CH

[Lace Neil Singer]

My view is that a woman has the right to choose what she does with her own body. Sorry, but until a fetus can viably survive outside the mother, it's a parasite. I believe that in a lot of cases, it's actually better for a woman to abort rather than have the child; like in the case of mothers who'd abuse or neglect their babies. I really don't see how forcing women to go thru pregnancy and labour is any better than rape; it's pretty much forcing a woman to endure what is basically an attack on both her mind and body.

As for what most pro-lifers say, ie, "They can always adopt!" they don't seem to understand just how much physical strain a pregnancy can cause on a woman's body. In fact, pregnancy and childbirth is just as risky as abortion; in some cases, more so; for example, in the case of ectopic pregnancy. Why should someone be forced to go thru that, when they don't want the child? Also, the idealistic view that every single child given up for adoption gets a lovely home with nice parents is, quite frankly, a load of crap. Not every child gets adopted out; a lot get shuttled around children's homes and foster parents.

[Boozy]

I've been thinking about this lately. Now, in most cases, people who think that abortion should never be considered and should be illegal do so because they see it as murder. They believe that terminating a pregnancy at any stage equals premeditated homicide. If this is true, why would it be any different if the woman is seeking an abortion because she was raped? That is, if the fetus really is a human life in your view, why does that change with the woman's situation?

Because it's not really about saving a fetus. It's about controlling women and punishing them for being sexually active.

[AdminAssistant]

Because it's not really about saving a fetus. It's about controlling women and punishing them for being sexually active.

QFT.

An abortion is a medical procedure. Banning legal abortion does not stop abortion, it prevents access to a legal and safe medical procedure. Desperate women will find a way. If I'm raped, I'm taking the morning after pill, getting an abortion, etc. because I will NOT give up 9 months of my life and go through the physical and psychological trauma of pregnancy and birth just to pass on some fucking sicko's genetics. NO. Same thing with incest - since I'm guessing the vast majority of incest cases are also rapes.

Now, if my boyfriend and I have an oopsie, that's different. I still believe these women should have the right to an abortion if that's the path they choose. I may not choose that option, but I want the right to a choice.

My biggest concern is that if they ban outright abortion...what's next? Get rid of the morning after pill? Birth control? Where's the line?

[kiwi]

I am pro choice, I personally would never have an abortion but that is MY choice. My choice should not be forced on anyone else.

Women should have the right to domain over their own body. Their rights should not become secondary with pregnancy, they are not a ship carrying cargo.

[telecom_goddess]

QFT.

An abortion is a medical procedure. (snip)
My biggest concern is that if they ban outright abortion...what's next? Get rid of the morning after pill? Birth control? Where's the line?

Yeah why not take away the right to vote? We can just rocket back to 1900

[AdminAssistant]

Yeah why not take away the right to vote? We can just rocket back to 1900

The sad thing is, there are women like Wendy Shalit who think we SHOULD go back to the good ol' days. (Her books include A Return to Modesty, The Good Girl Revolution and, ugh, Girls Gone Mild).

If you wish to give up your rights for a patriarchial theocracy, I hear Turkey and Iran are lovely this time of year. But don't take my fucking rights, that a lot of women (and men) have fought for.

[KnitShoni]

I'm sorry. I just really feel that the time for a woman to decide she doesn't want to have a baby is before she has sex without taking the required steps to prevent getting pregnant. I think this is part of the reason a lot of us (pro-lifers) make exceptions for rape and incest, and cases where the mother's life in in danger. Otherwise, to me, it's just another example in a long list of people not wanting to deal with the consequences of their actions.

[telecom_goddess]

The sad thing is, there are women like Wendy Shalit who think we SHOULD go back to the good ol' days. (Her books include A Return to Modesty, The Good Girl Revolution and, ugh, Girls Gone Mild).

If you wish to give up your rights for a patriarchial theocracy, I hear Turkey and Iran are lovely this time of year. But don't take my fucking rights, that a lot of women (and men) have fought for.

Ok that just scares me to no end.

[MaggieTheCat]

I'm sorry. I just really feel that the time for a woman to decide she doesn't want to have a baby is before she has sex without taking the required steps to prevent getting pregnant. I think this is part of the reason a lot of us (pro-lifers) make exceptions for rape and incest, and cases where the mother's life in in danger. Otherwise, to me, it's just another example in a long list of people not wanting to deal with the consequences of their actions.

So, what about women like me, who DO take precautions to prevent pregnancy? I'm on the pill, and my husband uses condoms every time we have sex. If I get pregnant (god forbid), I will have an abortion, because neither one of us want children, we're not very good around children and we don't have the patience for screaming babies. We would never be abusive or neglectful if we did have a child, but there's also the firm belief that there are way too many people in the world as it is, so why should we add to the population when we don't want to in the first place? As someone already pointed out, adoption is a farce, a lot of kids who get put up for adoption get shunted back and forth between foster homes and end up pretty messed up when they grow up. Should we, as a happily married, responsible couple, give up sex for our entire lives for fear that our BC methods may one day fail?

[Boozy]

Otherwise, to me, it's just another example in a long list of people not wanting to deal with the consequences of their actions.

So you believe that a woman should be denied the right to control her own body as punishment for lack of foresight?

Do you believe that antibiotics should be given to those who contract an std, or should they suffer as well?

How about someone who made the poor decision to ride a bicycle without a helmet? Should they sustain a head injury, they shouldn't be allowed to make decisions about their treatment, correct? Because if they wanted to control their own bodies, then they should have worn a helmet.

The only people who are allowed to make medical decisions for themselves are those who have never made an error in judgement?

[KnitShoni]

So, what about women like me, who DO take precautions to prevent pregnancy? I'm on the pill, and my husband uses condoms every time we have sex. If I get pregnant (god forbid), I will have an abortion, because neither one of us want children, we're not very good around children and we don't have the patience for screaming babies. We would never be abusive or neglectful if we did have a child, but there's also the firm belief that there are way too many people in the world as it is, so why should we add to the population when we don't want to in the first place? As someone already pointed out, adoption is a farce, a lot of kids who get put up for adoption get shunted back and forth between foster homes and end up pretty messed up when they grow up. Should we, as a happily married, responsible couple, give up sex for our entire lives for fear that our BC methods may one day fail?

Honestly, how likely is it that BOTH forms of birth control will fail at the same time? And, if it's that big a deal for you to not have children, why not have him get a vasectomy, or you get your tubes tied?

And, I don't know about all women who have abortions, but I do know that the women I know who've had them, got pregnant because they used NO birth control.

[guywithashovel]

I'm sorry. I just really feel that the time for a woman to decide she doesn't want to have a baby is before she has sex without taking the required steps to prevent getting pregnant. I think this is part of the reason a lot of us (pro-lifers) make exceptions for rape and incest, and cases where the mother's life in in danger. Otherwise, to me, it's just another example in a long list of people not wanting to deal with the consequences of their actions.

Do you see abortion as murder, no different than breaking into someone's house and stabbing them to death? If you're just against it because you see it as people "not wanting to live with the consequences of their actions," then couldn't you make the same argument about contraception?

[KnitShoni]

So you believe that a woman should be denied the right to control her own body as punishment for lack of foresight?

Do you believe that antibiotics should be given to those who contract an std, or should they suffer as well?

How about someone who made the poor decision to ride a bicycle without a helmet? Should they sustain a head injury, they shouldn't be allowed to make decisions about their treatment, correct? Because if they wanted to control their own bodies, then they should have worn a helmet.

The only people who are allowed to make medical decisions for themselves are those who have never made an error in judgement?

It amazes me that a child is being compared to a disease or a life-changing injury.

But, to answer your question: When a woman gets an abortion, she's not just deciding what happens to her own body. She's making a decision on whether another life is allowed to continue. Why does she have that right?