Pro- Choice or Pro-Life?

Between the years 500 and 515 BC, Chinese documents record abortions performed upon royal concubines in China. It is said that the legendary Emperor Shennong used mercury to induce abortions nearly 5000 years ago. Therefore, why is the termination of pregnancy still today so controversial, when it�s been performed for so long?

While I know this is a controversial topic and has been discussed as an �abortion issue� in AE, it does concern women and I thought it should be discussed in this women�s forum. I�m not getting into what is right and not right about abortion because I believe every individual has a right to their opinion (whether I agree or disagree with them). Personally, I'm pro-choice because I find that it provides women with the ability to make an informed choice regarding pregnancy. I am not pro-abortion and I don�t agree that abortion should be used as a method of birth control, but I do agree that it should be a safe option available to women. I respect those women who carry unwanted pregnancies to term to raise the child, but I am glad that they had the option available to safely terminate an unwanted pregnancy. I guess it would all depend on each individual�s needs and desires.

Unfortunately, many men are adamantly anti-abortion, although none of them will ever have the misfortune of having an unwanted pregnancy. It frightens me to think that one day women may not have control over what goes on in their own bodies. I think if those men could get pregnant, they would tell another story.

My questions are as follows:

     1.   Does a fetus have a �right� to be inside a woman who chooses to have sex with a man and becomes pregnant?

     2. Does a fetus have a �right� to be inside a woman who has been raped by a man and becomes pregnant?

     3. Unlike a fetus, a newborn child is a �separate physical entity� who would, as an actual human being, have rights, but does a fetus have any �rights�?
     
     4. Do parents own their children as they would own a house?

Please, let�s try and keep this discussion civil and mature! Thank you.   
    

Edited by morticia - 12-Sep-2006 at 15:45

I think the answer to all of the above questions is. In a world when 7 people die every second from a poverty related issues, such as disease, starvation, unclean water. It takes a seriously delusional kind of freak to get so upset over abortion.

Edited by Paul - 12-Sep-2006 at 19:23

A Fetus, ball of cells or not, is still a living being, a child, or it will become such. And no-one has the right to decide whether a child lives or dies except in extreme cases where the mother's life is in danger if she chooses to go full term.

I don't think there is a right or a wrong answer. Abortion IMO is in many ways an abdication of responsibility, and unfortunatly many people use it as such. I really can't see any reason to be militantly on either side of the issue, but then unfortunatly in this debate its hard to find anyone in the middle.

 From Conception a fetus begings forming in the womb it's own little person, and in just a few weeks can feel pain and sense danger. This is not just me saying this, it's a proven scientific fact. Knowing that they feel pain, how can you say that it should be "the mothers choice" when she is not the one who will feel that pain, she isn't the one who's life is going to be ended. If it were meant to be, We would have an automatic eject button, don't you think?

Originally posted by Un-Edu-Genius That said, couldn't it also be said people are either "pro-life" or "anti-life"? The boat rows both ways, deductive thinking can always come back and bite you on the butt don't ya think?

Its hard and wrong to deal in absolutes in this case. A victim of rape or worse incest deserves a chance at a proper life. A women who already has children should not be faulted for not risking her life by carrying it to term, since well her olders childrens welfare comes first. And their are numerous other situations where abortion will be the only sane route.

Thank you all for your enlightened contributions to this topic. A woman's choice to have a medically safe abortion is a very important issue for women, as the "Roe v Wade" decision is constantly being challenged in the courts by the anti-abortion and pro-life groups. I fear the day that said decision is ever overturned, only because many women will die from having abortions performed with unlicensed personnel and under unsafe and deplorable conditions (as it was before the Roe v Wade decision).

Quite frankly, I believe that most woman don't want to be subjected to such a procedure, but it is important for all women to know that they have a medically safe alternative to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, if they choose to do so.

As a mother of three, and as a woman, I can honestly say that if I ever found myself in a situation where I had an unwanted pregnancy, even though I may not choose an abortion, I would want to know that said medically safe option/alternative is available to me.

What I don't want is for some organization to tell women what to do with their bodies, when it should not be any of their business at all.

Originally posted by morticia What I don't want is for some organization to tell women what to do with their bodies, when it should not be any of their business at all.

Originally posted by TheDiplomat Originally posted by morticia What I don't want is for some organization to tell women what to do with their bodies, when it should not be any of their business at all. [IMG]smileys/smiley2.gif" align=middle> � It is a very cliche remark,dear Morticia Adams. � If that body also accomodates one human beingin the meantime, it is for sure a special concern for others than women also. A life is more important than individualism. � My philosophy teacher once told me that ''never wish something for others that you would not wish for yourself!.'' � Put yourself into the shoes of that infant in one women's body,who� is in the mood of abortion. would you wish not to be given birth? � �

My dear friend, Diplomat!     If I was in the shoes of the infant I don't think it would matter what I thought because, even if I was born, I would not remember anything. Do you remember when you were in your mother's womb? Do you even remember anything about the day you were born? I seriously doubt it! Maybe, just maybe, that is the reason nature does not let us remember! Ever thought of that?