Comments on: Some Criticism for Both Sides of the Abortion Debate

By: Amphipolis

Amphipolis — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:53:55 +0000

Good point. I like it.

On a related note, I have always said that birth control ought to be called pregnancy control. Abortion is, after all, a form of birth control.

By: aunursa

aunursa — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:36:39 +0000

Yes, pro-live can refer to other issues, but the abortion issue is the primary life issue.

In that case, abortion opponents should be called “pro-birth“.

By: Amphipolis

Amphipolis — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:43:36 +0000

Just about the only point I take issue with is the one concerning the pro-life label. Yes, pro-live can refer to other issues, but the abortion issue is the primary life issue. Over a million children are aborted every year in the US. I suspect that the instances of all the other life issues are far more rare, indeed in comparison they barely exist at all today in the US.

The crux of the issue is life. Choice conveniently skips the life discussion you correctly identify as the central issue. A fetus is a living human being. Calling the issue pro-life frames the debate as it should be framed.

But the real reason for the term is that negative slogans like anti-abortion turn people off and play into the stereotype that it is all about choice and life has nothing to do with it. This should not matter, but it does when dealing with a largely thoughtless and easily influenced public.

And it is accurate. We want the baby to survive. They don’t.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:21:29 +0000

Ack! Above post truncated parenthetical remarks. Deaths sentences should be executed in less than 1 year, not greater than 10. Hope this text version passes the filter…

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:18:04 +0000

I am opposed to euthanasia, assisted suicide, and population control for exactly the same reasons I oppose abortion. And I extend my opposition to include all circumstances outside those which threaten the health of the mother. I’m not for those, but that choice, albeit difficult, is one that should be left to those whose lives are actually affected.

As for capital punishment, it is my opinion that some acts forfeit the perp’s right to life on this earth. I hope and pray that those so sentenced use the time (should be 10) to ponder his/(her?) relationship with whatever deity they choose to recognize, but they need to answer for their crime. The only caveat is if I can be pursuaded that the punishment is not handed down in a uniformly just manner and that this flaw cannot be fixed. I suspect the former but doubt the latter.

Ergo, I claim the mantle, Right to Lifer.

By: Stu707

Stu707 — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:54:28 +0000

Having said all that, I don’t mind making some horse trades to lower the number of legal abortions performed. So, if a rape and incest exception will get more people on board to abortion restrictions, then I can live with that. I don’t want the best to be the enemy of the good.

Very good. You don't like the rape and incest exclusions but are willing to tolerate them in order to reduce the far greater number of abortions that are performed for pregnancies other than those due to rape or incest. In fact less than 1% of US abortions are performed upon women who are victims of rape or incest.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:47:31 +0000

1. It seems to me that being pro-life can include at least one exception to the whole “we gotta be 100% pure” thing. I’m for capital punishment, and, as others have said, I see a big difference between innocent life and the lives of those who kill in cold blood. Also, using this reasoning, if you eat anything at all, then you couldn’t be “pro-life” because even plants are living. This is ridiculous.

2. I don’t agree with rape and incest exceptions because it’s just a way to excuse the inexcusable.

3. I don’t think grisly posters do much good. Posters of babies in utero do work better.

Having said all that, I don’t mind making some horse trades to lower the number of legal abortions performed. So, if a rape and incest exception will get more people on board to abortion restrictions, then I can live with that. I don’t want the best to be the enemy of the good.

By: Stu707

Stu707 — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:22:13 +0000

No. There is no price higher than life itself. I hope that a pregnant rape victim would allow the baby to live. I am unwilling to prevent a pregnant rape victim from having an abortion.

By: aunursa

aunursa — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:53:15 +0000

Stu: The physical and emotional burden and pain of nine months of pregnancy and childbirth are significantly beyond what most crime victims experience.

Do the physical and emotional burden and pain of the innocent rape victim outweigh the price that the innocent child pays?

By: Stu707

Stu707 — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:51:54 +0000

Milhouse, Yes every crime victim is forced to live with the consequences of the criminal act and can not legally or morally exact revenge upon innocent third parties. I agree that a rape victim can and should avail herself of morning-after pills and other medical procedures for cleansing. It is also true that very few abortions are performed on rape victims.

In the case of a pregnant rape victim I do not see abortion as revenge upon the father who probably does not know or care about the fate of his child in any case. In having an abortion a rape victim is sparing herself additional suffering over and above that caused by the original criminal act. The physical and emotional burden and pain of nine months of pregnancy and childbirth are significantly beyond what most crime victims experience.