Abortion debates tend to be either very polite and condescending, vague and distant and unanchored in concrete life, or of the screaming angry variety. I have a new proposition. Why don’t we acknowledge that educated, well thought out sharing of information and thoughts will do more good than anything else? Protesting with signs gives no real education to the passerby who are the target audience, and things of this nature tend to lead to people who have no real idea of facts, statistics, or procedures bullying others.
Another important idea; everyone, educate yourself and then don’t be afraid to say what you think and why. Yes, some (often many) people will despise you. However, half the problems regarding this issue stem from the fact that people talk in generalities, grey areas, and maybes. Saying simply, “Well, I guess it’s wrong, except sometimes, you know, like incest or whatever,” does not constitute an opinion.
I will now state my opinions on abortion.
One- it should be legal until the third trimester, unless it poses a serious health risk (physical or psychological) to the mother. I emphasize serious. I say it should be legal for the first two trimesters because in all reality, this gives a woman adequate time to discover her pregnancy and make a decision. Most congenital defects which might influence a decision can be diagnosed in this time frame as well.
Two- I find it perfectly morally acceptable to terminate a child because it will be mentally retarded or otherwise severely disabled in some way. The parents, whose lives will be irrevocably changed, are worth more than a fetus. I say this openly, and yes, I’m fully aware of how horrible it sounds. This doesn’t change the fact that I personally think a fully grown woman’s dreams, plans, desires and beliefs are more important than a half-developed child who will feel only brief pain.
Three- On a slight tangent, I believe that our governments should institute mandatory I.Q. testing. If the I.Q. of a person falls below the score of, say, 89 (the high end of the dull or slow intelligence range) they should be provided and educated on the proper use of birth control until the age of 18, and if their I.Q. is still below the acceptable number, they should be sterilized. To put it frankly, I believe stupid people should not have children. If they feel the urge to procreate, they should adopt one of the world’s countless children instead of passing on their undesirable genes.
Four- I respect beliefs contrary to the ones I have expressed above, and provided it stays polite and respectful, I am happy to have a conversation about them. However, I will fight to the death for my right to have an abortion if I feel the need, especially considering that I have always made it a point to stay educated regarding my sexual health, and the possible if unlikely results of my activities are included in that. Whittled down to the essentials, I find the idea of a forced pregnancy terrifying, do not want to go the adoption route because I believe our world is hideously overcrowded, and again, I think I am more important than a child. A side note- I will fight to the death for other’s right to not have an abortion, and to speak their minds about it, as well.
Five- Don’t use the argument of, “Well, this woman here decided not to have an abortion, and now she wouldn’t give up her baby boy for anything in this world.” This is illogical and merely a statement of the blindingly obvious. Of course she loves her baby now, it’s a natural instinct that nearly every woman would experience. Of course she would die for her baby now. This doesn’t change the fact that had she gone through with the abortion, she would not feel these feelings because there would be no baby. Not every woman, not nearly as many as are portrayed, go through racking guilt and regret after abortions, though some do.
Writing this was cleansing for me; I am so sick and tired of knocking heads with people who either refuse to lay down in black and white what they believe or try and deafen me into submission. I would add something to the effect that I am not a bad person, but I believe that I shouldn’t have to justify my beliefs. Thank you for reading, and any comments are welcome.
Please Feed the Bears. 