The Changing Face of Abortion

After my first son was born in 1996, I wanted to go back on the pill. Imagine my shock and surprise when I discovered that birth control pills were not covered... but abortions were.

I have two wonderful children but my doctor has told me that if I have another baby I will die. I had an emergency C-Section with my last baby. I did not have time to sign any papers for tubal ligation as my baby and my life were on the line. I am using birthcontrol and my husband is using condoms. We are trying everything to not get pregnant.

If by chance I do get pregnant, I want to have a safe and legal way of terminating my pregnancy. I do not want the government to decide what I can and cannot do with my body.

If McCain and Palin get elected, I fear for Roe v. Wade. If it gets overturned, the only option of termination is when a woman's life is in danger. Who is going to decide that? My severe pre-clampsia only arrived in my third trimester and termination at that stage abortion is already illegal.

Who is going to look in my children's eyes and explain that the fetus inside my body is more important than their mother's life? I doubt that Palin or McCain would have the guts to do that.

Abortion is not going to go away. History shows that. Just more women are going to die unnecessarily, especially if the Federal Government continues to deny a lot of woman birthcontrol through their insurance. A few years ago there was an article documenting abortion rates. The country with the most abortions was in Brazil where it is illegal.

The most tragic thing of all on the abortion issue is how the religious right has used the thing as a cash machine and a way to get morally self-righteous people in puclic ofice.

Abortion is unlike any issue and does not belong in the clutches of self-serving politicians. A woman's pregnancy belongs to no one but herself. If we were arguing over the right of men to control their own sperm this discussion would not even be happening. If we allowed women unfettered access to medical care, birth control and childcare if they needed to work, the problem would be solved. Instead we're cheering on a woman (Governor Palin), who parades around on stage with a pregnant teenage daughter and a handicapped infant, as if thta made her woman of the year. This kind of hypocracy and my-morals-are-better-than-yours mentality is crushing us.

This subject is so complex and troubling. I am pro-life, but as a man, I don't feel I have the right to tell someone what they can or cannot do. Let God decide what is right for them in the end. This is what bothers me about this whole issue. Those who take it up as a religous crusade bothers me. No offense to those that have spoken thoughtfully on her about the effects of abortion on women and the damage it causes who are religous. Champion this cause from the prospective of the damage it causes, not from a religous point of view. Not everyone believes the same on matters of faith. But everyone can agree that it is something that sticks with a person for life. To those of you who say it doesn't affect a man, you are wrong. Just because we are men doesn't mean we automaticaly have no vested interest in the creation or destruction of a child. One thing that really concerns me are those that are so viralant towards abortion but do not adopt the over 115,000 children that are in our foster/adoption system. As if these children's lives are so enhanced with the gift of life that they will be "ok" because they have life? Often times, the same people who make the religous cause of abortion their mantra are also the ones that don't adopt and don't want gays and lesbians adopt, even though they don't want these children either. Obviously, that doesn't include everyone, but is a common theme. If you don't want gays and lesbians to adopt these unwanted children, then step up and adopt them. It's really simple. I am adopting children when I am done with nursing school, if I can get through all the hoops and complications with the adoption system. As far as these women in the 20's having abortions, these are adult women that know the consequences of their actions. It's well known you can get contraceptives from the local health department or planned parenthood. And If between the two parties, man and woman, if they can't afford to buy a pack of condoms or go to where they are handed out, then they shouldn't have sex. But unfortunately, we can't control that. *sorry for the disjointed thoughts, didn't want to be to longwinded*

In response to you, VAMOM You said, "The unborn cannot be a "life" as without its mother it cannot survive. It is much like a parasite. This is a horrible analogy - I know."

A parasite? I must point out that your argument is really an invalid one. A newborn infant would soon die if no one were to care for their needs as well. Yet, I simply cannot recall anyone referring to my precious child as a "parasite". So, what you are trying to imply is that a child who is wanted is a child but a child who is unwanted is a parasite. I loathe to think of your views of all the children in this world who are unwanted. You must feel surrounded by mere "parasites" at times. A child is a child and that is that. People, however, will do what they have since the beginning of time and try to rationalize their selfishness in any way they can. If murder of human being is wrong then it is universally wrong. Stop bending meanings to accomplish your twisted goal of ripping a child limb from limb. If you can't deal with the "consequence" of a child then you need not have sex--plain and simple. Don't act on your lust if you cannot bear what the outcome may be. Are we so selfish, egostistical, and self-consumed, that we can think of no life but our own?

I come from Ireland where abortion is illegal. So, women either go to England to have a legal abortion or they have illegal abortions. There have been some high profile cases involving abortion in Ireland in recent years. In one case, a rape victim had to go through the courts to get permission to travel to England for an abortion. In another case, a woman was told that a large portion of the fetus's brain was missing and the baby wouldn't survive long after birth. The way things are in Ireland now, she would have been forced to actually have the baby. So, she fought for the right to travel to England for an abortion. I find it troubling that views of prolifers are so extreme in Ireland that people are literally banned from leaving the country if it is suspected they are doing so for an abortion. I find it really sad that women who are already traumatized have to go through further trauma.

Even exceptions for the life of the mother put women through unnecessary trauma. Imagine if your doctor tells you that your pregnancy may kill you but you have to convince a judge first. What if the judge disagrees and forces a woman to continue her pregnancy?

Abortion rates are just as high in countries where the procedure is illegal. So, much time and money is put into illegalizing abortion, which won't actually do anything to stop it. It would be much better to put that time and energy into reducing abortions.

Conservative groups like to talk the talk, but rarely walk the walk with unwanted children after they are born. Especially if the baby is a minority. They refuse to fund health & education programs. As a single mom by choice, I find their stance hypocritical. Their condemnation because you decide to have sex without permission or marriage & treatment of the child after they are born. We won't go into some of these folk's private behavior ie Larry Craig & his ilk.

Before the pro-lifers go about taking on the task of telling me that I'm going to hell....take a walk in my shoes. I was 30 years old....in a unhappy, abusive marriage and preparing to ask for a divorce. I was on the pill without my husband's knowledge because I knew he was aware of my unhappiness and was afraid he would try exactly what he ended up trying. He purposely damaged a condom in an attempt to get me pregnant so I wouldn't leave. What he doesn't know is that even though I had prepared for his deception with my own....I got pregnant. I never wanted children but I had agreed to think about it when we got married.....part of the reason I wasn't on the pill. Here I was, getting divorced (I asked for one as soon as I found out I was pregnant), pregnant and terrified. He left me with all the debt....all the bills. We were barely making it with two incomes....I was left with one. I didn't want a child. I knew if I had the baby every time I looked at it, I'd be reminded of the pain. It wasn't fair to the child for him to do what he did. I prepared myself, spoke with a counselor and had an abortion. It hurt like hell. Emotionally and psychologically....I'm fine. I never had remorse and I know I did the best thing. But that was my choice to make....no one else's. I don't want to have to do it again and I've since made sure I won't have to. My situation is far from the worst that ends in abortion. I can't even fathom being raped and ending up pregnant. Everyone is entitled to their opinion....but they are not entitled to tell me what to do with my body, my life. They can sit on their high horse in their crystal palace and look down on me if they want. I don't really care. I just hope they never have to go through what I did......and I hope no one they love has to go through it either.....I'd hate for that to be what made them see.

To wifenmother4evr: Your problem is that you practice unconditional love. The pro-choice don't understand that. This is why Sarah Palin is so hated.

When Sarah Palin held up her baby Trig at the GOP convention, there must have been shooting pains going through the radical pro-choice feminists.

Palin is a painful reminder for the pro-choice feminist of an honorable quality that they do not or choose not to have. Palin is a living example of unconditional love with her love of Trig when many would not have chosen to have him or to love him because he was not "normal". Many would rather dispose of that precious life while he was in the womb.

Conditional love is the basis for the pro-choice position. The pro-choice position can be bluntly described as: "I'll love my baby IF I want to. If I don???t want my baby, I???ll throw that life away. It???s my choice." The ugly origin of this conditional love is selfishness.

We can see this despicable attitude in the Democratic Presidential nominee, Barack Obama, saying that he wouldn???t want his daughter to be "punished" with a baby. According to Obama, we are to consider babies as punishment. He also demonstrated this attitude with his opposition to the Born Alive Infant Protection Act which would require the care and protection of LIFE BORN. He took a stand at allowing infanticide if it is in conjunction with an abortion procedure. How wonderful of him.

If Sarah Palin was pro-choice and made the choice to throw Trig???s life away, there would be NO hate. Palin's pro-life position and her example reminds the pro-choice feminists of their selfishness and this is a bitter pill to swallow. This unflattering self-reflection translates into utter contempt for Sarah.

sex causes babies.......... roger if your unwilling to teach and say that, then this problem has no chance of ending..........even if we give em all a lifetime supply of rubbers.

The issue here is better birth control products. Ones that do not destroy your health. Or better yet, development of male birth control!!! Their reproductive system is less complicated than a woman's.

sex is sex, a choice is a choice. women choose to have sex with men, men choose to have sex with women. hello, you wouldnt be here posting without sex. humanity wouldnt exist without it. a woman chooses to be in a certain situation where there are certain consequences, and vice versa for a man. yes insurance covers Viagra, but how many men need viagra? old men that cant keep it up and most likely arent having kids anymore. no argument there.call me crazy but i doubt very many men within the 16-30 age bracket need viagra everyday. so, this is a moot point.

yes women need to have more self respect and not let a man get in they're pants whenever he wishes, and men need to learn when enough is enough. and this statistic of 1in 4 women being sexually assaulted is odd, whos view is it that they are being sexually assaulted? there are some crazy women out there, as well as men, that would cry wolf to get a nice big settlement in or out of court. i know alot of girls very personally and ive never known one of them to have been "sexually assaulted". there are plenty of one night stands, or flings, or what have you but they consented and opened wide. how many catholic church boys have cryed that they were being sexually assaulted? and why did they do it? because our media glamorizes alot of these cases and people see the dollar sign at the end of the trials. some women want kids so they get child support every month, and they have kids with multiple fathers. and what do these mothers do for a living? not a whole lot, they have everything paid for by the men every month.


bottom line, reversing the Roe vs. Wade should be considered an invasion of privacy by the government. and to any and all radical christains/religious followers that would poke and prod and invade your beliefs and views into others' lives...you shouldnt have the right to say you are a good christian/religious follower. love thy neighbor my ass. your religion teaches acceptance and tolerance, yet you would trash a womans right to choose what she does with her own body. thats like saying, "hey you, your arm doesnt fit your body, so we are going to remove it whether you like it or not." "but i like my arm where it is, its MY arm, ill remove it if i want to."

Gandhi has a quote i love "i love your christ. i do not like your christians, they are so unlike your christ."

the man you worship and hold so dear never came as a god, never dressed as a king, never held himself above anyone else. yet here most of you are thinking your so righteous and dignified to the point where you think you can make a decision for someone elses life. the man you worship lived with lepars, the homeless, the downtrodden. how many well to do christians have you seen do things like that? shame on you. we are imperfect beings trying to practice perfection...or force it.