Abortion

Abortion can be a very touchy issue. We all have our opinion on one side or the other, and I am no different.  I have always been "pro choice," since I knew the meaning of the term. I remember the first time I was asked if I consider myself "pro-life" or "pro choice." I was in high school and I did not know what they mean, so I asked. Given a quick simple explanation, I said, "I guess that makes me pro choice." I just think the pregnant woman should have final say when it comes to bringing another life into the world. Just living in this free country, my feelings were that I am free to chose if and when I have a child, so surely that should be my choice. Here is where the real arguments and accusations start flying.

"That baby is already alive!" "It's her body; she should choose what happens to her body!" "She should have considered that before she spread her legs!" "She should not be forced to carry a baby in her body!" Abortion is murder!" "A fetus is a parasite using the woman as a host!" That baby could create a cure for cancer." "Pregnancy is a huge health risk!" "If she's old enough to have sex she has to face the consequences!" "She doesn't have the ability to care for a baby!" "She could give it to a loving family through adoption!" "The baby could end up in a horrible foster system!" "Lots of loving people would give anything to be in your position. How dare you kill what they would give anything for?" "She shouldn't be forced to bring a child into this awful world!"

There are so many arguments and there is so much judgment on such an unfortunate situation. There really are so many things and so many feelings to consider when it comes to abortion, and I really do think it should be the pregnant woman who makes that decision (hopefully with the support and advice of loved ones). It is not cut and dry, not one way or the other, there are huge consequences no matter what she decides. 

My thoughts concerning some of the details and nitty gritty have changed over the years, especially concerning prevention. Actually, I use to have some pretty extreme ideas concerning multiple abortions. After the second abortion, I felt they were obviously using it merely as late, lazy, expensive, and heartless birth control. These drastic unconscionable abortions should not be continued! My solution, forced removal of reproductive parts. You choose, either you have this baby, or you never have an opportunity to get pregnant again. We'll just say that my heart has softened since then. I will not go into all the reasons, but I think there is allot more to consider, and I also feel there must be something really broken inside that person that needs to be fixed. Not to mention she might be being raped or molested, leading to multiple unwanted and undeserved pregnancies. 

I will provide a bullet list of the ideas and feelings I have on abortion, and why it should always be a choice.

• A child brings huge changes to everyone involved, especially the parent or parents.
• The child is not born yet, and in most cases, abortions occur early on (before they are considered alive). If you want to say it is alive from conception, I would counter that the sperm and egg were alive even before pregnancy. If you want to get technical, germs are alive, worms are alive, amoebas are alive, but I am not going out of my way to save and raise them.
• In the cases that an abortion happens late, it is usually due to some awful circumstances. These are often decided to save harm to mother child or both. Many of these were wanted pregnancies, and cause pain that no one would want to go through. Decisions in these circumstances are often drastic no matter what the choices are. 
• When a women finds out they are pregnant there are tremendous decisions to be made, thoughts to consider, planning that must be done. No matter what the choice it all involves sacrifice, and I do think there is a need to do what is best for the child. Not everyone will agree on what is best for the child, but that is why the person bringing the baby into the world or keeping them from this world should make the final decision.
•  We have no real idea how much pain they are feeling, what is happening in their life, why they are considering abortion as an option. 
• There could be many reasons the person does not feel carrying a baby to term is what is best for them or the child. She may be on drugs, she could be in an abusive situation, she may feel trapped, she may not have the financial means, she may be unstable, she may not have the responsibility or know how, she may be afraid, she may have health issues, and the baby may have health issues. The point is, it could be anything or many things, but it is her choice. It is not my choice, not your choice, not the grandparents’ choice, not the Dr.'s choice, and sure as heck is not the government’s choice.
• Adoption could be an option, but it still should be her choice. It can be provided as an option, but can she handle that? This is where I would have a real hang-up. I would want the best possible life for that child should I decide to give birth, but I do not think I could birth a baby and be able to give it up. That is a kind of pain I do not ever want to feel, but then again I would never want to be in a position to feel that I have to have an abortion or adoption. Either way, you are talking immense amounts of pain and sorrow.
• I do believe there are more than enough people in the world, even if you consider places that are under populated, they often do not have the resources, there are not enough people or jobs to sustain the area and people in it. Many of the places that are overpopulated are so because people flock there to gain jobs, resources, housing, etc. This depletes resources, pollutes the air, increases traffic, and causes overcrowding. Not a reason to abort in and of itself, but to that person they may truly feel it is.
• Being irresponsible while having sex will have consequences no matter what. It is not our responsibility to force the consequence we think she should suffer. 18-year sentence or realistically the rest of their life is taking discipline and consequences a bit far. I do not see it as a sentence myself, but some of the people that insist she must pay the consequences for her irresponsibility do seem to see it that way. Anyway, if she has an abortion that is a horrible consequence, if she adopts it is a consequence that could be horrible, and same with keeping and raising a child when you are not ready to be a parent. 
• Which brings me to another unfortunate reality, some people are not ready to be parents, some people should not be parents, and some children just need allot more support than an unprepared person is willing to give.
• I will leave with this last thought. If none of the issues above are valid in the given situation, should that person really be mothering a child? Is that the kind of person that should be forced to be a parent? I do not think so. I honestly feel worse for living children in constant or repeated awful situations, than I do for children that were never born.

So there it is. My view on this dreadful matter. I may have other insight and thought on certain applicable situations, but that sums up most of my opinion. Moreover, my brain is kinda fried right now, so that is enough.