This seems to be an issue that stirs a lot of controversy between different people due to their beliefs and value systems. I can understand this because it is an important issue that many women face around the world on a day to day basis. There are unplanned pregnancies that result from many different walks of life and ages due to one reason or another. Some individuals decide to stay together to raise the child, others move towards adoption, and some decide to go through with an abortion. I hear (and have even used to describe myself in a previous post) many people refer to themselves as Pro-Choice or Pro-Life.

Here we are again at a label with which places certain polarized expectations and stereotypes on either side of the liberal or conservative stance towards abortion. Many individuals presume that people who are Pro-Choice are more or less for abortion. Yet in my case, I can honestly say I do not advocate abortion at all. In fact, I urge people to be more thoughtful and responsible so as to not bring a baby into this world if they are not willing to care for their child and are mature enough to be a parent. However, I still believe that women deserve the right to choose whether or not they wish to have an abortion.

There are extreme cases where the child could be the result of incest, rape, or even endanger the life of the mother in certain cases. These very problematic issues are what make Abortion not such a Pro-Choice or Pro-Life issue. I guess I take the stance of Pro-Women, to ensure they have every right and options afforded to them to make the right choice based on their unique situation. Now, I know it is foolish to think unplanned pregnancies won't continue to happen. This is why stronger education for protection and knowledge deriving from the school is so important.

It is astonishing how the media portrays a great deal of sexual situations on the television without really showing some potential consequences such as STD's, pregnancy, and other risks. If we were to focus on educating the youth, perhaps we could see a reduction in the number of abortions overall. Once again, I do not advocate that women have an abortion. Instead, I firmly believe it should be an option women should have. If the Supreme Court were to over-turn Roe Versus Wade and criminalize abortion, think of the women who are in those percentages of difficult situations like I mentioned above. These women would no longer have a choice in the matter. Therefore, although people are at times polarized as to believing abortion should be completely allowed to abortion should become criminalized, there is a middle ground who does not wish for either of those things to happen.

This middle ground is why I believe Roe Vs. Wade has never been over-turned, nor has abortion been completely legalized as some states have imposed restrictions on abortion. Personally, I think that the way abortion is being handled today is alright because it is still a choice women can make, but we are and hopefully will continue to educate our youth to make the right choices and be smart about their choices so they will not have to make that choice.

I agree with everything you said. I am not pro-abortion. I am pro-choice.

The issue of abortion in this country is very much tied to our society's mixed messages about sexuality which gets intimately tied up with religious doctrine. I don't think anyone is pro-abortion. Pro-choice is supporting a woman's right to make a most difficult decision if or when she is faced with an unwanted or life-threatening pregnancy. Opposed to the government making this decision. Or the religious right. Or anyone other than the woman who is actually holding this potential life in her womb. Or going back to the days when abortions were illegal, and the rate of women hurting or killing themselves in backalley abortions was a painful reality. And the number of unwanted children was substantially higher that it is today, with all of the problems that entails.

I look at the question of what best serves life? Welcoming a life when you have the means and ability to love, feed, and otherwise nurture another soul is a beautiful thing. When a person is not able to provide this sustenance for another, then it becomes entirely another thing. And for a government to force this decision, to me, is not what a compassionate society is about. Searching for solutions that respect all life - this is what I think we need to strive for.

Ultimately, this issue needs to be linked to sex education and complete and open access to safe and effective birth control for everyone, regardless of race, class or economic means. When we get to this state of society, the number of abortions will be reduced to a trickle. It's very interesting to me that the so-called pro-life movement would be so opposed to these measures which so serves the celebration of all life - women, men and children alike. And would ultimately lead to the goal of nearly eliminating abortions that people in this movement claim to be all about. Instead recently, we have gone the opposite direction, linking public funding to abstinence programs and limiting access to and funding for birth control and sex education. To me, not a sign of an evolved society - at all.

I agree with your solutions and ideas Movin2thabeet. Providing the proper education about prevention and protection is very intelligent. It's even tougher because teens are seeing the medias portrayal of sex as having no consequences while signing an abstinence pledge in their Health Class. It is very conflicting information and something many people shy away from talking about. Maybe if they discussed the medias warped way of portraying sex without consequences on television and in movies, this could help as well. Then you could move onto talking about the importance of knowing all that you risk and should be prepared for if you make the decision to have sex. Maybe if the schools started being more open to this discussion and true impact through education, we would see a difference.

I am against the ideal of abortion. However, considering the high number of abuses against children, I wonder which is the worst fate.

I do think people should use birth control. There are some men and women who behaved selfishly and refuse to use a condom, because it deprives sensation. That is sooooo wrong!
I think those people should get a vasectomy and tubes tied, if they want to have sex like that, and not faces the consequences. And I wish the medical field would endorse that.

I was faced with an unplanned pregancy and got some great help from Planned Parenthood. They gave me some counseling sessions, and it helped me to decide to keep my pregnancy. My son is the best part of my life. I also had some great support from a friend who is pro-life. I found out that I was pregnant after I broke up with a man who didn't tell me of his other life. So there were many complications. Again, I am very happy to have my son. But I am sure there other mothers who would not feel the same way.

Abortions will happen, illegal or legal. I think it is best to be able to provide women with safe resources, rather than have them endure the danger of back alley procedures.

Exactly. If Abortion was to be criminalized, it could create even more issues with women who still attempted to have abortions.

My reason for being a pro-lifer is because I believe that life is precious and a gift from God. I believe that life begins at conception. There is no question, it is how we all began. An embryo or fetus is just as much a human as a baby, a child and an adult. Many in society believe that the “right to life” is only granted to someone with personhood and those that are consciously able to make a decision on such. Due to my stance on this, it has formed my opinion on many different controversial “right to life” subjects. The subject here is abortion, so I will limit my views to that.
I understand that there are circumstances where an abortion seems to be the most logical choice, i.e. when the mother is a victim of rape or incest or in a life threatening pregnancy. However, most abortions are the choice of convenience and used as a form of birth control. I, too, believe that we should start in the homes of our children and with education in the schools. First, I believe that we our responsible for providing a safe environment for our children to be children, where their only concerns should be about school work, sports and having fun. We should also be teaching them that physical relationships require adult responsibilities and should be saved for adulthood. In the meantime, we should be living by example as responsible adults when it comes to relationships. Promiscuity and infidelity has no place in a home with children. When we leave it to our schools, we are subjecting our children to activities that they are too young to understand and deal with.
Note that public schools are teaching 7th grade girls how to fit props with a condom. They are handing out condoms and basically giving permission to children to explore in these areas. They may be requesting permission slips from home, but if you choose to decline this form of education, your child's peers are still being influenced. However, I do believe that the abstinence programs in many schools are a great thing and statistics have shown the results of their success. They are a great alternative to the programs that currently exist in the public middle schools.
Maybe someone can explain this to me…. If the age of consent is 16, and a young man can be charged with statutory rape if his partner is under this age (hence the term jailbait), how can the middle schools get away with teaching children how to have safe sex, when it is illegal in the first place? This just blows my mind!!
The school programs warn of unwanted pregnancies and STDs, but they neglect to teach the emotional and psychological injury that occurs with sexual activity at such a young age. I, personally, chose abstinence throughout my teenage years, because I knew that I did not want the responsibility nor could I handle the emotional problems associated with completely giving myself to someone. I never considered myself more mature than any of my friends, but their experiences taught me that I made the better choice. I know now, after having a few adult relationships, that teenagers are not equipped to deal with the ups and downs of a sexual relationship. Much less, the trauma associated with an abortion. It is hard enough on adults!
I don’t know any women that have chosen abortion who are proud of their choice and would make the same choice today. Inspite of that silly book that was recently released. On the contrary, I have friends and family members that are deeply scarred for making the wrong choice and wish they had chosen life. Furthermore, I don't know anyone that chose life that regrets that choice either!
I believe that reversing Roe v. Wade would force women and men alike to be more responsible with their bodies and to understand that their actions and lifestyle can have permanent consequences.
As far as the "back alley" abortionists, ninety percent of illegle abortions were being performed by actual doctors. When it became legal, they were able to put their name on the door. Many of the deaths were a result of self induced abortions. Over two hundred deaths have occurred since 1973 from legal abortions. One cause could be that clinics are performing abortions in an assembly line fashion to keep costs low.

Pregnancy is a natural condition, not a disease. Abortion is always an unnatural interruption of that condition.
In every abortion, someone dies.

Eight and a half years ago, I chose life, and she is truly a gift from God!

Moderate

I can honestly say that I am pro-choice. I am also against the death penalty.

I do feel that an abortion should be a mutually acceptable solution by both parties involved but, not at the expense of the woman's ultimate right to jurisdiction of her own body.

My stance is a result of experience at both ends of the spectrum. A very dear friend's son committed murder which was punishable by death in the state that he lived in.

The number of people affected deeply by the death of that young man would have been considerable and the effects on those left behind devastating.

On the other hand, to kill him in retaliation for death he caused wouldn't have assuaged the family of his victim either. Their hurt couldn't be erased by putting an 18 year old to death.

My balancing point is this - if someone has entered this world in love, lived with the love of others for his life, and his death leaves a hole in anyone's heart - then that life is worthy, has value. If, on the other hand, that life or pre-life has left no one to mourn it, then that supreme being (who you may believe makes those judgements and controls all life) can welcome it home with no affect on those concerned.

So an abortion of a mass of cells in the embryonic state, more correctly termed a blastocyte leaves no hurt, no mourning, no everlasting regret. I can state that without prejudice. But.... the person or persons making that decision MUST be comfortable with it. NO pressure from anyone except their own conscience.

A life loved is a life worth living.

I've also heard of some very extreme cases where Abortion Clinics have recieved various threats to the doctors and even building itself. It's fine that Pro-Life individuals protest for their beliefs as we have the right to assemble and voice our opinion. However, it really crosses the line when threats like that towards Doctors and clinics are made and in some cases carried out. That is disturbing to me.

I am moderate. But. I would never abort a baby in my life, unless it was going to physically destroy the mother.

Wow! All that criteria just to be worthy of existence?
So orphans, the homeless, the abandoned elderly in nursing homes are all lives not worth their existence? That is the most depressig thing I've ever heard! All life has worth, whether it is loved by someone on earth or not. There is a plan and a purpose for every person, no matter what stage of life they are in.

You mentioned that both parties should agree to use abortion as their solution. Does this mean that the mother has a responsibility to inform the father, if she chooses to have an abortion? What if he does not agree to this and is willing to take care of his child?

And last, that mass of cells (beginning stages of life for you and me) once it's flushed or gotten rid of leaves no hurt, no mourning, no everlasting regret? There are many, many women who suffer from Post Abortion Stress Syndrome. I have friends and relatives that have gone through this and will always suffer regret. It may not happen to everyone, but it is real for those who do suffer. Don't discount it.

It is important that women who go through an Abortion also get counseling to help them through the difficult time. No one ever said the choices we make in life will be simple and easy. However, it is our duty to ensure that we provide the right to choose as well as support for those women afterwards as well.

I don't believe that there is no one who cares for the homeless, or orphans, or even the aged who seem to be without family. There are people who care for them and about them. There shouldn't even be orphans considering the numbers of people who protest abortions.

Just as there are people who care about the murderers, rapists, or those accused of any other violent crimes. In either case there would be mourners for those lives lost. There would be memories of those lost. There would be regrets for those lives lost.

If a mother-to-be has any doubt whatsoever about making a decision to discontinue her pregnancy - she should certainly seek help from someone. If those doubts are such that they would haunt her - then her decision should be to carry the blastocytes to full term.

If on the other hand, she felt she could go forward with her life without the pregnancy - then it shouldn't be up to you or me to "save" a child for her to raise without love.

What about in circumstances where the baby won't survive long in extrauterine life. They may be on life sustaining therapy for a while depending on the severity of the disorder. Obviously when this happens it causes signifcant physical strain to the baby and emotional to the family and caregivers .

There are a ton of congenital anomalies (cardiac, GI, Neuro..) that are incompatible with life. Some of these disorders can be detected on fetal ultrasound. After a diagnosis the parents can elect to abort the pregnancy.

What are your opinions of this?

I personally am Pro-Life but at the same time I believe that simply overturning Roe vs. Wade will not do what PSAs will and showing people the psychological and physical dangers of abortions. Plus, they will still happen, I mean, drugs are illegal yet so many people get hooked on them and end up going into rehab!

That is an extremely tough issue to deal with. I think it takes a great deal of courage and care to be able to help those with various genetic and psychological disorders. This issue becomes even more complicated as science and technology furthers our capacity to see into the genetic future for potentially severe disorders genetic or psychological in nature. I believe there is the amniocentesis (SP?) which is one of those examples of being able to detect possible issues.

Parents have to really weigh the options and should likely do a thorough amount of research of whatever disorder they could be faced with. If they feel they have the emotional, intellectual, and financial means to be able to cope with such a thing, then they would likely keep the pregnancy. However, some parents may feel like they do not have the above means to do justice as a parent and they may decide to opt for adoption or the abortion.

I honestly hope I never have to deal with something like that in my life. You can never know what something as difficult as that is unless you've been in that situation yourself. This is why I support extending full rights of choice in addition to the necessary emotional and psychological support for the family.

I am passionately pro-choice & passionately against the death penalty.

I oppose the Death Penalty as well. To me it embodies what cruel and unusual punishment would be characterized as.

it's just so hypocritical..America should follow it's western counterparts & abolish it. Why should any governing body be allowed to commit murder? Isn't that why we went after a dictator in Iraq..because he killed? It doesn't matter how 'controlled' or 'sterile' you conduct it..the act is barbaric whichever way you sugarcoat it.
People that commit heinous crimes should be put in jail & allowed to rot. I don't mind a penny of my taxes going towards that..money well spent. If killing is wrong then it's wrong...no exceptions.

Exactly.

This is why those who are Pro-Life should logically be opposed to the Death Penalty and vice versa. However, I view Abortion and the Death Penalty differently at the sametime. If a womans life is compromised or other genuine reasons for the need to have an Abortion, I strongly believe that the choice should be there. That's why I say Roe V. Wade should be left alone and if anything, people should advocate Sex Education and personal responsibility more so it doesn't arrive at that.

This is a topic that I don't really talk about because I end up almost killing people when they argue with me.I respect peoples opinions, but at the same time, they need to respect mine, which is something I don't get still being in High School.

Ok, so I think that abortion is wrong. Why kill something that didn't have the choice to be born? The baby didn't say "Hey go have sex, have me in your stomach, and then kill me." I think that if you're going to have sex, be it for 'fun' or whatever, you need to think about the future, and what COULD happen. Yes, there are also the what ifs.
What if the woman got raped, or What if it was in danger to the woman or the baby.

In that case, things for me don't change all that much. I think that if a women got raped, and got pregnant, I don't think that she should get an abortion, just because there are adoption 'clinics' and she could put it up for adoption.
If the prenancy is going to effect the woman or baby, then thats something that I see would be alright. Atleast the women didn't try to get rid of the baby before she realized it could potenially injure her or the baby.

Yes, I believe that a woman should have a chance to do what she wants, because if they take the freedom from us that we have choices to make, what else are they going to take away from us?

A lot of people, when I put my inputs in are like, "You're a teenager, you haven't been in the situation, you're not old enough to be in the situation, you can't have an input, you're just ignorant." Stuff like that is wrong, yes I'm a teenager, but I still have a BRAIN. I know what I feel is right and wrong, just like people who are older and have seen more of this. I had to add that :D

It's great that you are processing the implications of these social issues on a moral and political level.

I totally agree about personal responsibility. If a person has sex, then that should mean that they are prepared to be a parent. The sad truth is that most teen pregnancies do not have that luxury because they are not ready to raise a baby. They are not emotionally, intellectually, or socially ready for the immense responsibility that being a good and effective parent requires.

Could and should the # of Abortions in the US be a lot lower? Of course. But that means proper Education as well as personal responsibility that derives from maturity and awareness of responsibility. Ultimately, I wish Abortion was not even an issue. If people were more careful and planned things better, there would not be a need for it.

However, as you stated, cases of: rape, incest, or compromising of the Mom's health does complicate the situation. There probably are irresponsible people out there who acted without thinking. Yet, what about those who truly do need or want an Abortion for a substantiated reason?

Thanks for your commentary.

Isn't that sort of what adoption is for?
I mean they shouldn't get an abortion..
If you can't tell, this is one subject I HATE! =[

These are very difficult issues to discuss and debate. It's very understandable. Women can either A) Keep the baby B) Have an Abortion or C) Turn to Adoption. When you look at these 3 choices, none of them are easy. Being a parent means being patient, supportive, and nurturing while raising a baby for 18 years. Having an Abortion means social implications of people judging you and the psychological stress associated with the process. And opting for Adoption may ultimately mean being placed in multiple foster care homes or orphanages. There is no choice that is simple or easy in life. However, we have to have the freedom of choice in the first place.

Yes. They are difficult, but at the same time, I feel as if it would be A LOT harder to abort the baby than give it away for adoption, or even have a family member adopt it. I have seen that happen before, my best friend got adopted by her Aunt and Uncle.

But people feel like, "If they take away my choice to have this baby, then what other choices of mine, being female, are they going to take from me?" I can understand that. I don't know. There are MANY things you have to think about when disscussing this topic, just like "Same Sex Marriages" it goes on and on, and the US is pretty much split 50/50.

Ultimately it all boils down to when you believe that 'life' comes into existence. Some feel it's the moment the sperm penetrates the egg & the blastocyst begins to take form..others do not acknowledge a fetus at 5 or 6 months in the womb as a human life. It is way too complex an issue .....that is why it must be left to the woman to choose. There is no other 'reasonable' solution or answer.

I agree.
Not everyone is going to agree, so i think just giving the women the choice, is the best thing.

That was a great post ElliottCrazy. Everyone has a different percpetion as to when life begins. Therefore, who are we to deny women the right to chose based on our personal beliefs? I apply that thinking to all social issues. Yes, everyone has a right to think something is immoral. But does that mean we should institute public policies that deny rights and take away freedom? To me, nope.

I just always see such a conflict when I picture in one room, a mother aborting a baby of 4-5 mo. gestation, and in another room , an infant of the same age is being born pre-term and there are life saving efforts going on to save this child.

I agree with you that we should do everything to provide the best pre-natal and post-partum care possible for both the Mom and the baby. Especially when it comes to situations where a surprise complication occurs. However, IMO, I think abortion is a choice that can and should happen well before later pregnancy.

That's why I'm all for educating men and women alike about the importance of contraception and or birth control use. The more knowledgeable people are, the less likely they will have to face the choice of abortion or the other options they have in the event that they can not take care of the baby. In the end, personal responsibility and education about Sex is what will help everyone to never have to face that choice.

There was a major protest against planned parenthood around where I live. I'm so sad that people continue to be so against providing education on these important issues. If anything, it is another way to REDUCE the number of abortions, but alas, it falls on deaf ears.

One thing I can't stand is that some people who are allegedly "pro-life" are against education on birth control/contraception. Although I think that teens should be taught to wait until marriage before having sex, it's just stupid and naive to think that everybody is going to listen. If condoms are given out, then even if those people don't listen, there is a much smaller chance of having unplanned pregnancies, and ultimately, less abortions. So it is because I am pro-life that I am pro-birth control.

That's a very good point. This is one aspect people who are both "pro-choice" and "pro-life" can agree upon. As it stands, women have control over their bodies to make the choice on their own. Why not facilitate the necessary protection and knowledge? It may make younger people realize sex has many consequences even beyond just unplanned pregnancy. Planned Parenthood is an extension of resources that enable people to be better prepared and cognizant of the path they take if they decide to engage in sex while still not ready to raise a family.

I'm not against planned parenthood at all. I may be pro-life, but I am realistic, and know that there are always going to be those stubborn people who don't listen to the abstinence lecture in health class and who don't know to use contraception. Plus, even those unplanned pregnancies that are not ended by abortion will most likely result in a child who has parents that are incompetant, too young, on drugs, etc. Basically, by not providing contraception to teens as a backup, you are either condemning their potential children to a crappy life or depriving them of their right to life. :jmo:, but I'm rather opinionated on this.

I actually should mention that I am passionately pro-life in all aspects. Anti-abortion, anti-death penalty, anti-war. In other words, I support life.

Pro-choice individuals are for life too :) We just approach the issue in a different line of logic. I'm glad you are for education and Planned Parenthood.

So would you say that this applies also to 11 yr olds in the state of Maine? Or other states that permit tweens access to birth control WITHOUT parental notification? And since we all have rights except the unborn, maybe we should extend this to 4th and 5th graders that would like to participate in sexual activity as well.

We could just take parents out of the equation all together and let the states raise them. How interestingly different they would turn out compared to their own grandparents and the society they grew up in! It is a SCARY thought!!

The problem is when life begins is not an opinion. There is a fact in there somewhere. If every human life begins the same way every time, then it is all a part of life, every stage of it. You can't pick and choose where you want it to start so that it justifies an action.

I'm not so sure that it would really change the position of a "pro choicer" to know when life begins. For them, it is still a matter of choice and convenience. The "how does this affect me and my life" question is of the utmost importance. You will find that question in many life or death situations for someone that holds their own life higher than that of another.

I remember being in that situation with many friends, roommates, and even family members. At the time, it was shameful to make a particular "choice". You could tell on the faces in the lobby that they were not proud of their lifestyle and the situation they had put themselves in. Unfortunately, times have changed and "choice" has become empowerment. Whether educated or not, is has become a form of birth control for many. All those lives lost is very sad to me.

Oh I know, never said you weren't. And I'm not saying I support outlawing abortion entirely, but I want it severely restricted. For example, if some young girl was raped and having the baby would put her in serious danger then that's different from situations where people use it as a method of birth control. Unfortunately, that's why most people get abortions. Birth control :no: