A couple of thoughts on abortion

[mousme]

This has cropped up a number of times on my flist of late, which isn't all that surprising, considering my friends.

I don't know if it'll surprise many people on here if I say that, fundamentally, I don't believe that abortion is right. Maybe it will surprise people. It won't surprise those who know me well. I am the product of someone's choice not to abort, so I feel rather strongly on the topic, to say the least.

That being said, until there are safe, viable alternatives to abortion, I will remain pro-choice.

When there is a clear and present danger to the mother's health, I am all in favour of terminating a pregnancy in a safe, medical procedure that is authorized by law. Until dangerous pregnancies are a thing of the past, I will remain pro-choice.

Until everyone who doesn't want a child is given access to birth control and other safe-sex products, I will remain pro-choice.

Until little girls are no longer raped, I will remain pro-choice.

Until such a time as women are no longer abused and raped by men they thought they could trust, I will remain pro-choice.

Until such a time as abortion remains the *only* resort for some unhappy, desperate women, I will remain pro-choice.

Until such a time as women are entirely in control of their own fertility, I will remain pro-choice.




I am not anti-life. I am pro-choice. There is a difference.


:::ETA:::

I am leaving comments open for now. Everyone is welcome to their opinion, and to discuss in a sane, rational, and respectful manner. Most of you don't need to be told to remain civilized, but this is a sensitive topic, so if you get upset, keep your hands away from your keyboard. Close friend or online acquaintance, if you insult or otherwise flame someone on this LJ, I will ban your ass faster than you can say "Bob's your mother's brother." Capito?

Comments

Since I know you

[whiskeygirl8.livejournal.com]

Most people who hold both these stances are not, "Hey, everybody, let's go fight a war! War is fun!" It's more a matter of knowing that war is sometimes a necessity. (Let me be clear that I am talking about war in general here and not any specific wars.) If we hold the idea that we will never fight a war, then we will be attacked and how do you fight back without that being war? It's like people who say all killing is wrong. No, it is not. If I have to kill in self-defense or defense of others, then there is nothing wrong with that. Not all violence is wrong. If I have to hit someone to stop them from hitting me or someone else, then it is not wrong.

And, I'll preemptively take care of the death penalty one, too. They are not comparable because the life of an unborn is an innocent life (probably the most innocent there is) and the life of a murderer is not. (I'm not on board with the "all life is sacred" group, by the way. If it were, then even self-defense killing would be wrong.)

I think too many people look at this stuff in black and white when it is all shades of gray. Not to mention that each issue has it's own arguments that have really little, and sometimes nothing, to do with the others.

However, I totally agree with you about the people who shoot abortion doctors and bomb abortion clinics.

Re: Since I know you

[bodhifox.livejournal.com]

It is the innocents question that comes up in a war. Arguably even in a *just* war there are many innocents killed and as long as they are in another country they are easy to forget. So when we talk about supporting a war we remember our soldiers, as we should, which I say with emphasis because my son just joined the army. But we may easily gloss over other casualties, who many times are children, on the other side. Just sayin, is all.

Re: Since I know you

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Oh, I understand that most people agree that war isn't fun. I suppose, to be precise, the ones who perplex me are the extremists, as usual.

I'm not exactly on board with the "all life is sacred" group either. I waffle about the death penalty, if only because the system that leads to the gallows (metaphorical or otherwise) will always be flawed, and I'm squeamish that way.

Killing in self-defense? Yeah, I'd do that. I'd probably even do it to save a loved one, if I could. I'd probably get my ass handed to me, more likely, but hypothetically speaking, I probably would.

Re: Since I know you

[whiskeygirl8.livejournal.com]

Extremists on anything perplex me, too. They also tend to be the ones who are batshit insane, too.