Over the recent decades there has been heated debates over the abortion issue. There has been sincere concern for an answer and disturbing behavior from both camps also.
The goal of this article is to just throw a couple thoughts into the mix. Despite my personal beliefs I am not trying to make a moral or political statement. Hopefully it is thought provoking nonetheless.
Please as you read this keep in mind I am not accusing anyone of anything. It is simply that as I read and hear the debates / arguments I rarely hear these questions. Maybe you personally have and that is a good thing. So please do not interpret this as anything more than just thoughts based on my own experience. No one, I repeat no one has anything to defend or explain to me.
In terms of Pro Life, a question is this. Why do some people who fall on this side, go so far as to take a life of a Doctor who performs abortions? Hardly endorses Pro Life. Thankfully this is only the rare extreme.
However it segues into other areas. Why is so much time spent on trying to change the minds of those who seemingly are set in their ways? Could more be accomplished by spending more time raising awareness of viable solutions? And a realistic assistance in following through on those options?
Do Pro Lifers teach their children to abstain from activity that can result in a pregnancy? Or turn a blind eye to the tempation that the outside world offers? And the emotional and psychological advantages to abstinence?
Do Pro lifers invest and donate the needed funds into quality adoption agencies and/or other positive life options? While some of there peers make them feel awkward does Pro Life advocates make kids comfortable being a kid? Maybe expanding on neighborhood activities conducive to youth?
What kind of education programs have you offered to young kids and their parents? Compared to protesting with billboards or standing outside pro abortion establishments, what is being done to give a better choice to those who are pregnant but do not want a child? It is fair to say it takes more than just making an option available. People need to be taught the advantages and benefits to the alternatives. So time and money is needed.
For example even in the cases where a woman is sexually assaulted and becomes pregnant, more and more researchers believe that the women who keep the child fair much better psychologically, emotionally and physically than those who abort the child. Are women given this kind data to help them think everything through?
Then for those who consider themselves Pro Choice have you evaluated these questions?
Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.
Fetus (FEET-us) -- The unborn child developing in the uterus.
The term embryo is used to describe the developing human during the initial weeks, and the term fetus is used from about two months of development until birth.
Why there may be a debate among some as to when "life" begins there is no question as to what a embryo or fetus will become. Is there? How does that factor in?
For example giving me your bank account number isn't the same as giving me all your money, but I somehow I don't think that would make you comfortable enough to do it. Isn't the end result more a factor then it is being given in the case of pregnancy? One may believe that the unborn is not a person yet but again do you seriously doubt it is going to be a person?
As for making a choice? Absolutely it is reasonable to conclude that a woman should have a choice over her own body. At the same time is choice only a factor when she is pregnant? Isn't a woman making a choice to engage in the activity that can result in a pregnancy? Aside from sexual assault you are not required to have sex. Regardless of your moral principles that is your choice.
Of course there are many Pro Choice outlets that have worked hard to assist people in being careful through protective sex. Why not work just as hard to explain the responsiblity of making the choice to engage in sex in the first place. For example if you operate a sky diving busy of course you are going to teach people all the precautions and emphasize safety. But first people are made aware of the potential consequences. In fact you sign a waiver.
So wherever you find yourself on this issue it seems we would all be better served if we stopped making this a "they're wrong and I'm right" discussion. In the end children especially should be taught that it's okay to enjoy being a kid. They need to know the dangers of growing up too fast.
Maybe too we all need to be more sure of what can result from our actions. No matter what your moral compass says we need to be honest with ourselves about sexual intimacy. Perhaps then we can make sound informed choices.
