Pro-Life?

I could have titled this blog "Abortion", but "Pro-Life" sounds much better, though the names are somewhat of a misnomer themselves. (It would be false to say that most who consider themselves pro-choice are not pro-life.)

I am conflicted on the issue of abortion. I have always considered myself pro-life, but I have frequently questioned whether I should be pro-choice, especially the last couple of years, because I am liberal on most social issues and I think the freedom of choice is very important. I don't AT ALL like the government interfering with people's personal lives.


While part of me values choice, I believe legalizing abortion can breed irresponsibility, because now girls/women/men can do what they want and simply have an abortion if they have an unwanted pregnancy. And I believe this extends beyond just sexual promiscuity. If sex and pregnancy are trivialized, then so is everything else. If one risky behavior is legitimized, than people are more likely to participate in other risky activities because it can create an overall attitude where one develops a convoluted view of responsibility and consequences.

Another thing that is wrong about abortion besides the fact that is it is simply wrong because it kills a human/potential human (which both my faith and logic tell me is wrong) is what the aborted could offer the world. Since Roe v. Wade in 1973, there have been forty-five million fetuses aborted in the U.S. Worldwide, there are somewhere between thirty-five and forty-six million abortions every year. Out of all these potential babies, what great things could they have done? There could have been the next great president, the next great scientist, a doctor that could find a cure for cancer, a great religious leader, great musicians, etc.

A part of the pro-choice argument that is often formulated is that babies born to mothers who didn't want them would be set up for a bad life, likely living in poverty with mothers who didn't want them. While this is a legitimate point, that should be considered, there have been lots and lots of individuals that have grown up in these conditions and have done great things.


Compounding matters is the question of whether abortion should be legal for rape victims or in the case where it is necessary to save the life of the mother. I do believe abortion should be legal in the second case. However, this situation is overblown. In reality abortion is almost never needed/used to save the life of a mother. I have no clear opinion on abortion rights for rape victims. On one hand, I don't think a baby should be penalized because their mother was raped. Obviously, the baby didn't choose to be conceived in a rape, so why should it be punished and killed for that? On the other hand, however, is the rights of the mother. The mother didn't choose to become pregnant and have a child. So why should they be forced to?

It is hard, or would be, for me to say I am pro-choice. I believe abortion is wrong, and it is very, very hard to me to support the freedom of one to do something that is wrong. Other "crimes", such as drug use, prostitution, etc, are victimless. The choice affects a consenting adult (or adults), but doesn't hurt someone else. Abortion, I believe, does hurt someone/something. I find the argument of choice a little bit difficult and an argument that is hard to find logic in. Most people who are pro-choice do believe abortion is wrong. Most wouldn't have an abortion themselves. The question, then, is why wouldn't they have one? The answer is likely because it is wrong. If one believes something is wrong, then why should someone else be allowed to do it? The logical answer is that they shouldn't. Yet, part of me feels that someone should have the right to do what they want, because it is a personal decision and I do strongly value freedom and the right of people to choice. The question could become, is the right of one to choose or the right to life of the fetus/baby more important? Of course, in that case, I value the right to life more. I, simply put, find the argument impossible.

Something else that leads me not to be pro-choice is the affect it has on women. Studies show that as many as 93% of women who get abortions regret them. The vast majority develop psychological problems. Women who have abortions are also nine times as likely to kill themselves.

On the flip side, however, something that would draw me to become pro-choice are the other affects abortion can have on women. Such as the consequences of abortions done illegally, or "back alley abortions". Abortions done illegally are often done by those who aren't medically qualified and are therefore more dangerous. Worldwide, more than 67,000 women die annually from illegal abortions. If women are going to get abortions anyway then why not legalize it so at least they can be done safely? This leads to the most important question: If abortion is illegal, does it really deter women from having abortions?

Does the legality of abortion really affect the number of abortions? The answer is probably not. Worldwide, the abortion rate among countries in which abortion is legal and not legal are about the same. That is the thing that really makes me think about being pro-choice. I simply believe there are more important things in determining the abortion rate than whether or not it is legal.


What I think should be done:


1. The adoption and foster care systems should be strengthened and improved. The foster care system should be simplified. Foster care parents should be provided more reimbursement and better training, since there is an incredible lack of foster parents. Of course, there are many other problems, but this is the most important in regards to abortion. (As a side note, nearly half of foster care children become homeless once they turn 18, and the majority also develop mental illnesses.) Improving the adoption system is even more important. Adoption should also be made easier and there should be more financial incentives to potential adoptive parents to promote adoption.

2. Sex Ed. A very important part of the abortion debate is sexual education. With better sex ed, we could prevent this situation entirely. We could prevent unwanted pregnancies before there ever has to be the decision whether or not to have an abortion. I don't agree with President Bush's support and promotion of abstinence-only sex education. I do think abstinence should be the basis of sexual education. It only makes sense. No matter what your religious beliefs, abstinence is the best and only sure way to prevent unwanted pregnancies. However, I think it is very unrealistic to believe that this is adequate. Many kids aren't going to be abstinent. So, it is crucial that they have the information they need to have safe sex and prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs.

3. More incentives to keep a baby. This goes directly to the problem of abortion rights for rape victims. First, we should offer better psychological counseling and support to women so they can deal with their rape and their pregnancy. Secondly, we should offer more education about having children to mothers so they are encouraged and prepared to have a child. (Both the psychological and educational support should be provided to the mother after birth as well.) Finally, more financial incentives should be offered. Many of these mothers who have unexpected pregnancies can't afford a baby. So it is important that we provide them financial support so they can maintain a good quality of life and properly care for their baby. This includes not only money for things such as food, housing, etc, be money for childcare, so the mothers are able to place their child a a nursery or daycare to continue their schooling and continue their work. Of course this is a slippery slope. This could be easily taken advantage of. Women could get pregnant just to get money. This could not only cost the government billions and billions, it could expand the welfare system, and create overpopulation. So it is imperative that there is the proper oversight. And there would have to be firmly decided upon parameters for who qualifies for these services. For instance, perhaps it may be that only rape victims and any minor could receive these services, but anyone over eighteen would have to become enrolled in a workfare program to qualify (which would cost them less than an abortion).


I don't know if there is more complex of an issue than abortion. There are so many factors. I may be one of the few people that doesn't have a clear belief whether or not abortion should be legal. I believe strongly, however, that the government can do more prevent abortions.

I also believe that it is imperative that people from both sides work together to cut down abortions. I know to many the question of the legality of abortion is huge. But it shouldn't be a roadblock for progress on the abortion front. Most people want abortions to be limited. Most want them to be rare. The stumbling block is the second word:legal. Most pro-choice people want abortions to be rare and legal. Most pro-lifers want abortion to be rare, but illegal. I would prefer if we focused on the importance of first word. Of course, it is highly unlikely that most people will ever work together to lower the abortion rate. People can't look past the titles of "pro-choice and "pro-life".

Notes:

If abortion is made illegal again, I believe that it should be doctors and abortion clinics, not mothers, who are charged with crimes. If one thinks abortion should be illegal, that would be the best way to stop abortion. The mothers would have already endured enough pain. It would be best to simply close all abortion providers.

While I may not be strong in may stance on the legality of abortion, I am very strong in the belief that late-term and intact dilation and extraction (aka partial-birth abortions) should not be legal. They are hideously barbaric.

If many people who say they are pro-life are, they should show it. They should do more than just believe abortion should be illegal. They should volunteer at a women's center, or even become a foster or adoptive parent.

I think being pro-life is much more than being anti-abortion, which I think many miss. I think issues such as poverty and AIDS are more important. They kill more people than abortion and kill people that are already born. Pro-life supports all kinds of life. Young and old. I will hopefully at some point post a blog expounding on what being pro-life really means.