News & Politics - The abortion debate - Page 17

Violet-Shadow · 10-15-2009, 07:07 PM

I understand that you are concerned about the mother's health but there are many women who get abortions even though their health is not in jeopardy (and I'm not referring to rape or incest cases). To use a personal example (well, not personal, just a case I heard about from my mom), there was a woman who got pregnant, planned and everything, then her husband lost his job, so they aborted the baby. I'm sure there are cases where the women's life is at risk but I think too often women are using abortion as a means of birth control and, though I don't support abortion in any case, I believe that it shouldn't be viewed that way.

I also don't think that women who choose to give birth to children with genetic disorders (such as Down's Syndrome) should be judged. Since you brought it up, I wanted to address it, albeit briefly.

Yes, sexual education should inform teenagers that there are serious repurcussions to having sex - getting pregnant, STDs. I was taught all that in school but I believed, from an early age, that abstinence was the best course of action, for many reasons not excluding the repurcussions listed above.

spent cigarette · 10-15-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

I understand that you are concerned about the mother's health but there are many women who get abortions even though their health is not in jeopardy (and I'm not referring to rape or incest cases). To use a personal example (well, not personal, just a case I heard about from my mom), there was a woman who got pregnant, planned and everything, then her husband lost his job, so they aborted the baby. I'm sure there are cases where the women's life is at risk but I think too often women are using abortion as a means of birth control and, though I don't support abortion in any case, I believe that it shouldn't be viewed that way.

You do realise this example you've given is not an example of using abortion as a form of birth control. It's a devastating and IMO heartbreaking case of a couple wanting a child badly, but unfortunate circumstances meaning they could no longer provide for it. I 100% support said couple's decision. If two adults feel they can't support another human being the way they need to be supported, then that is their call.

I'm sure there are cases where immature, stupid girls use abortion as birth control, however I'd take a wager that they are few and far between. And MY right to choice should not be stripped away just because of a couple of idiots, especially when I am responsible with my birth control and take all the necessary precautions.

**TheAngel** · 10-16-2009, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spent cigarette (View Post)

You do realise this example you've given is not an example of using abortion as a form of birth control. It's a devastating and IMO heartbreaking case of a couple wanting a child badly, but unfortunate circumstances meaning they could no longer provide for it. I 100% support said couple's decision. If two adults feel they can't support another human being the way they need to be supported, then that is their call.

I'm sure there are cases where immature, stupid girls use abortion as birth control, however I'd take a wager that they are few and far between. And MY right to choice should not be stripped away just because of a couple of idiots, especially when I am responsible with my birth control and take all the necessary precautions.

I agree. I think using abortion as birth control is few and far between. In part, because it's getting very difficult to find doctors who perform abortions, but also because of the cost, the potential danger to the mother, the fact that scarring from an abortion can cause infertility, and a hundred other reasons. But, if they do want to use it for birth control, that's their right. I mean, I don't understand why there's so much outrage about abortion, but rarely do I see people standing outside their churches with signs that say, "Stop Abuse" and have pictures of children being beaten. Lets stop child abuse, increase the living wage, increase adoption and foster care services, increase sexual education programs, and increase the use of contraceptives, and then we can talk about getting rid of abortion. Until then, abortion should be available to women for whom having a baby is not a reasonable option.

Violet-Shadow · 10-16-2009, 10:38 AM

spent cigarette, you are correct, that wasn't the best example to use to prove my point and I apologize for using it as if it did.

I would like to now state for the record that I am outraged by child abuse as well as abortion. I know of plenty of christian organizations that seek to help children escape from lives of misery (Gospel for Asia, Far Reaching Ministries, and small orphanages in various countries around the world). However, the outrage over abortion has to do with the view of many pro lifers concerning abortion. Since we believe that life begins at conception and that this is the most innocent life there is, abortion is literally taking the life of an innocent. I know that most people who are pro choice don't see things the way that I, and many pro lifers, do but try to understand why we believe that abortion is a terrible practice even if you don't agree with that why.

**TheAngel** · 10-16-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Violet-Shadow (View Post)

spent cigarette, you are correct, that wasn't the best example to use to prove my point and I apologize for using it as if it did.

I would like to now state for the record that I am outraged by child abuse as well as abortion. I know of plenty of christian organizations that seek to help children escape from lives of misery (Gospel for Asia, Far Reaching Ministries, and small orphanages in various countries around the world). However, the outrage over abortion has to do with the view of many pro lifers concerning abortion. Since we believe that life begins at conception and that this is the most innocent life there is, abortion is literally taking the life of an innocent. I know that most people who are pro choice don't see things the way that I, and many pro lifers, do but try to understand why we believe that abortion is a terrible practice even if you don't agree with that why.

Hey, I totally can understand your views, but I expect that if I extend you that consideration, you do the same to me. If you believe life begins at conception, that's fine. I'd never force you or expect you to get an abortion. I'm never going to hold signs in front of my church talking about being pro-choice or pass out fliers about being pro-choice, but I expect the same in return. I don't believe life begins at conception. I don't believe life begins until the fetus is viable outside the womb. I would have no problems getting an abortion and I don't believe it's murder. I can understand why you would though, given your definition of life. But I'm not going to force you to have an abortion, I would appreciate it if you wouldn't try to get that right taken away from me, especially since I will find a way to get rid of an unwanted fetus whether its legal or not if something like that happens and I'd much rather be able to do it somewhere safe and comfortable than somewhere that isn't.

**sunnykerr** · 10-26-2009, 06:50 PM

For me, it really boils down to the right to choose.

And the fact that men, whatever the emotional interconnectivity of couples, will never have to make that decision. Whomever said that abortion would be a sacrament if men had to carry the baby was right.

I understand that, if you believe life begins at conception, then abortion is tantamount to murder. And I fully respect that position. I also fully understand how that makes abortion pretty serious as far as criminal acts go. Murder is a serious crime.

I don't know if it's the fact that my mum was an OR nurse for many years and that she had to assist on these operations where they have to remove the "wouldbe fetus" when conception leads nowhere. I don't know if it's because I would really resent someone telling me that, short of developing an illness, I have no control over my own body. But I believe in the right of all women to have safe medical care.

The fact that I have personal spiritual beliefs that would make it very difficult on me to undergo an abortion should never prevent another woman from obtaining safe medical care if she chooses to avail herself of it.

Just like my belief that no one should have sex before they're old enough to deal with the consequences will ever have any impact on people having sex at ever ridiculously young ages.