Abortion.. is it murder or not?

[zameluzza]

ok i will be the first to say something about the topic then. I say it depends the only time i see it as ok is if you are a victim of rape or if your young enough that your body isnt developed enough to handle having a child.

I agree with rose on this, also if the fetus would not survive because of malformations and medical reasons.

I used to be against abortions for many years.
I could not /can't have children so I was so angry about this topic.

I won't say anything more.

[Sally888]

OK Ill throw in my two cents.

Im pro choice with exceptions.

I do not agree with people who use abortions as a form of birth control. I know one girl here whos had almost 10 because apparently she thinks its the only form of birth control known to man.

I do however belive for the most part its dependent upon the situation, for example a woman is raped, cannot afford to take care of a child, is addicted to drugs.

More sensitively with science today women can know early in pregnancy if the baby is going to have magor disabilities, then she has the right to make a choice, wether its too keep the baby or not, if she decides not to then thats her own perogative.

I do believe if a women is pregnant and doesnt know what to do and is in a steady relationship then the significant others opinion should weigh in also. I know a family member who was with a woman for 5 years and didnt tell him until after the fact, it really hurt there relationship.

Id like to also add how disgusted I am during anti abortion rallys and having dead fetuses and such on signs. Its absolutely appalling to me, I almost feel like going and making a sign of a baby brought into life on heroin and see what they have to say about that. Once while in London protesters were on every magor intersection yelling stuff into peoples cars like ''have you ever killed a baby'' '' are you a baby killer'' etc and my husband had to do all he could to not have me jump out of the car and lay some kick a$$ down. Highly innapropriate for my child of 5 to have to be subjected to.

So really in a lot of situations im pretty pro choice, although unless it was extreme circumstances for me I would not personally have an abortion I do believe I can still say that im pro choice for the most part
It took me forever to get pregnant and carry Zachery and it still didnt phase me in how I feel about the topic.

It would be a sad day if abortions became illegal becaue back to the days of coathangers in the back of vans would come back. Its a hard thing to discuss but its something we can't deny.

Im sure you could say adoption, but thats a whole other discussion and I know people close in my life that made that decision and still regret it to this day and have a whole world of hurt because they gave up there baby.

cheers

[roseofblack25]

ya it cant be illegal because people will still find ways to get it done or try to do it themselves and that could be way more harmful and the option should be there but not for people that abuse it, birth control and condoms are widely available and if you go to the health unit they are free well at least here they are so no excuse not to use protection

[April07]

It should be the choice of the woman in every instance. Who am I to tell someone what to do with their body. Freedom of choice.

[spoony]

i am 100% pro choice.

if you are in a situation and think abortion is right for you, go ahead. do it.
if you don't think it's right for you, don't do it.

that being said, i think every woman deserves the freedom to be responsible for her own reproductive rights. no body should be able to have any say what is right or wrong. period.

while i agree that using abortion as a contraceptive isn't acceptable, if that is what someone wants to do, let them. they will be the ones who will have to live knowing what they have done. they may be indifferent now, but it will come back, and it will haunt them.

and some people are not going to agree with this (be warned)
but i think all women should be educated as to what an abortion really is and how it is carried out. i believe that information is the answer in all cases, even if it is something of an unpleasant demeanor. i don't want to sound insensitive, i know that having to be in a situation that ends in an abortion is never easy and have had to experience someone very close to me deal with it at a very young age (too young) it changes you in way that is permanently with you. it effected me and i didn't have to go through it myself.

and related, if anyone is interested there is a really interesting film "if these walls could talk" it examines the abortion issue through women dealing with abortion in three different decades, who over the decades have all lived in one house. it is something i think all women should watch.

[LisaLisaBoBisa]

I actually know some who refuse birth control -- have a few friends (mostly in the south) who think even that is a form of abortion to an extent.. (have 10 and 12 kids) so it seems we become desensitized after a certain period of time.. Used to be that some were slapped on the wrist for providing women with knowledge of and birth control -- and now the anti-abortion community.. In 25 years we wont even be having the discussion as it will seem like old news.. if that makes sense.

[Sally888]

Ive seen both if these walls could talk one and two, very good movies.

[shaman2263]

I believe in Choice.

I believe abortion should NEVER be used in a situation where the fetus has a defect or is otherwise considered "not normal". This is a version of eugenics ( http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Eugenics ) and that is a very slippery slope to negotiate. Who is to say what "normal" will be. Government, religion, a committee?

I believe we need to spend more time on educating future generations on contraception. How can kids still not be getting that message?

I believe the father should have a say as well.

[seekthetruth]

I was told to have an abortion with my youngest son. I found it unacceptable and wouldn't do it. I can understand why someone would feel they have to. But to me taking a life whether it is animal or human is wrong. I look at my son and think OMG what if I had, look what i would have missed.

[rachel1496]

d like to also add how disgusted I am during anti abortion rallys and having dead fetuses and such on signs. Its absolutely appalling to me, I almost feel like going and making a sign of a baby brought into life on heroin and see what they have to say about that. Once while in London protesters were on every magor intersection yelling stuff into peoples cars like ''have you ever killed a baby'' '' are you a baby killer'' etc and my husband had to do all he could to not have me jump out of the car and lay some kick a$$ down. Highly innapropriate for my child of 5 to have to be subjected to.

For future reference, avoid any intersection near Victoria Hospital on a Thursday, that's when they come out in full force.

As to the topic at hand, I'll be the one to decide what goes on in my uterus, thanks. No one should ever be forced to abort but they shouldn't be forced to give birth either.

[robbiebaby69]

wow.. I am shocked that this topic was started in the first place. It is one of the most contentious and emotionally risque topics ever.
I will always respect everyone's views, and of course have my own.
I understand that many opinions are tied to one's religion and this is their reality.
I wish the focus of the topic was more on 'pro choice or not' as opposed to ' is abortion murder?' --- It's very upsetting to anyone who has had to make the decision and in fact, had to have an abortion. I would never want to hurt someone like that.
I am pro-choice in Life. I believe the ultimate freedom for a person is the ability to choose; whether it's the ability to choose which university you wish to attend (as opposed to being an average student or one lacking the financial means and being 'told' which school you can go to'.), or who you wish to marry, or if you will proceed with a pregnancy, or to be able to choose how/when you die.

[parisprincess]

Right to choose all the way.

It's NO ONEs business on why you decide to do it, if you must. Totally up to the woman.

[parisprincess]

I find it ridiculous when I see the old bags (yeah I said it) walking around with signs of bloody fetuses' or something that says "I regret my abortion" on Bank St. here in Ottawa - right in front of the Morgantaler clinic.

Like its not hard enough for the person to go inside and get the prodecure done!

These people need to keep their "thoughts" or protests to themselves. You never know the reasons on why the person is there.

Sad to think they there needs to be security at the doors at all times.

[mcminsen]

If I had a niece (or a grand-niece) come to me and say "I"m pregnant, and I'm not sure if I want to keep the baby." I would encourage her to follow through with the pregnancy if she could, even if she gave the baby up for adoption. I would promise to support her all the way, including financial support if necessary. If she chose to abort, I would also support her in that decision.

Does that make me pro-life AND pro-choice? Is there a middle ground?

BTW, I agree with robbiebaby69 (post #86 from exactly one year ago).

[Kaldirris]

Boo - do you LIKE opening up those big ol' cans o' worms? LOL

No-one (save MAYBE the father IF he's man enough to own up to his responsibilities) has the right to tell me what I can & can't do with MY body. Not to mention the fact that every pregnancy carries a risk, however slight, to the mother. Bad things happen, even to healthy people ... toxemia, etc.

Nothing infuriates me more than seeing those anti-abortionists with their signs, when over half the protesters I've seen are men. Sorry to all the fellas here, but - what right does ANY man have to tell ME what I MUST do with my body? Gents, YOU don't have to spend 5 months suffering with morning sickness, swollen ankles, an aching back, sore breasts, crazy mood swings and wildly fluctuating hormone levels. I'm very sorry, but if you have a penis, unless YOU are the father, keep your opinions to yourself.
In fact, NO-ONE can say what that woman's situation is, so really, unless you're the woman walking through those horribly abusive protesters, I don't think you have a right to speak on the subject.

OBVIOUSLY, I'm 110% pro-choice, and will vehemently defend anyone who makes that very difficult choice.