Even more horrified

[vilebody]

I just read on someones journal that they declare themselves as vehemently "pro-life and pro-bush". Now, I know that here she meant pro-life in an ant-abortionist way (she lives in Alabama and goes to a Christian College), but I don't know if I've ever seen such an extended oxy-moron

Comments

[tobyaw]

I didn't have strong views on abortion, one way or the other, until 17 July this year. Now I have no idea how anybody could consider having an abortion.

Abortion on demand should be criminal.

Pro-choice.

[vilebody]

I have to disagree with you here. You and Kate were choosing to have a baby in a loving relationship with people around you to support you.

What about rape victims? What about situations where having the baby is going to make the mother ill, mentally or physically, or where there is no support system, or the childs quality of life will be so awful?

I wouldn't want to have an abortion myself, but I support a world in which the choice is available. I can't forget watching a documentary about young girls in south american catholic countries who were given no sex education, where contraception was outlawed and rape and assault were rife (often by relatives) and girls as young as nine and ten were being made ot carry babies full term, or go to back street illegal abortionists and then die from infections because the state deems abortion the worst kind of crime. Worse than raping a child and making her give birth and rupturing her too-small body.

Thats why I am pro choice and will remain so.

Re: Pro-choice.

[elethe]

Exactly. I don't think I would ever consider having an abortion - but I would always defend other people's right to do so.

There are all sorts of circumstances (as you point out) to be taken into consideration.

Indeed!

[vilebody]

Theres a scary amount of doctors and pharmacists in the states now refusing to prescribe hormonal contraceptives because they view their effects as that of a 'silent abortion' (medically untrue). For them its the next logical step after deeming literal abortions criminal. And so the backwards pull sets in.

Women have fought and fought for their rights to have some choice over what happens to their bodies, and in the world around them. Many in many countries around the world are no where near achieving this. It would be a bloody shame to us all if those of us who do have some choice willingly gave it up.

Re: Pro-choice.

[tobyaw]

Ah, but there is a big difference between abortions for medical or legal reasons, and abortions that are simply a matter of choice.

So I disagree with the concept of pro-choice - it should not be a woman's choice to have an abortion, but rather the deliberations of medical or legal professionals. (Isn't that actually how the abortion legislation is phrased, requiring doctors to agree that there is a medical need for an abortion?)

yes but

[vilebody]

when people say they are pro-life they it takes on this other meaning, as I put above, of abortions on any grounds being wrong, with the next step being not to prescribe contraceptives and to think of them as ethically wrong, with the knock on effect being an already overpopulate world full of unwanted children not being looked after properly, and women having no choice over whether they have babies or not

Re: Pro-choice.

[kateaw]

I'm also pro-choice. Once I learned what an abortion entailed aged 14 I swore I would never have one - shudder. Therefore I made damn sure I never got pregnant until I was ready. Education played a major role in my choice.

My grandmother was advised to terminate her third pregnancy on health grounds, she was diabetic. She decided not to take the advice and my aunt was born by c-section at 7 months weighing a hefty 15 pounds! Grandma went on to have three more babies, one who died the day he was born and one who is my mother (also born by c-section at 7 months). Back then three doctors had to agree that the termination was necessary and in the case of my mother only two agreed.

Re: Pro-choice.

[lilitufire]

I'm with you on this one.