Friday, September 13, 2013

What do pro-lifers really care about?

A thinking, feeling woman should not be expected to give up her health, her body, her physical integrity, suffer lasting complications, for the sake of a fetus. We don't even require that for grown, thinking, feeling people. The fact that pregnancy MAY happen doesn't mean you should willingly suffer it. Just like you may be injured if you drive recklessly, but that doesn't mean you should punish yourself by not getting medical treatment.

So what it basically comes down to is: the woman—her life, her livelihood, her health, her presence and support (physical, economical, emotional) in the live's of others, including her partner/spouse, her family, any other children she might have (and she probably does, because, statistically, most women who have abortions have at least one child already)—is not nearly as important as the life/existence of that fetus to many pro-lifers.

It doesn't matter if a pregnancy will cost her life or livelihood. It doesn't matter if the physical health effects of a pregnancy will keep the woman out of work, put her at risk for losing her job, keep her from being able to take of herself, her other children, or her family. At the end of the day, pro-life views show that they think a fetus as the most important "individual"; it's existence the most important thing to preserve.

3 comments:

  1. I disagree. I think it does matter if a pregnancy will cost the woman her life, as she should not be legally forced to give up her life for the life of her child (although many pregnant women have done that). However, I think the analogy from driving is a false analogy.

    When someone drives a car, they are taking on certain risks, such as the possibility of getting into an accident. Now, if you do get into an accident, you should not necessarily be forced to live with pain, injuries, etc., that may result from it. But you also may not be at fault for it (the other driver may be). But someone is at fault for it.

    So while they don't necessarily have to live with the consequences, they do have to make it right by paying for the other person's medical bills, paying to repair their car, etc. (or having their insurance do it, if they're insured). They can't just walk away and say, "sorry, I consented to drive my car but I did not consent to get into an accident. You're on your own."

    Similarly when a man and woman engage in sex, even if they are using contraception, they are engaging in an activity that has a chance of producing a living human being in a naturally needy condition. As a result, if the woman finds herself pregnant, the man and the woman both bear a responsibility to care for that child because they are the ones responsible for his/her existence.

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  2. I disagree. I think it does matter if a pregnancy will cost the woman her life, as she should not be legally forced to give up her life for the life of her child (although many pregnant women have done that). However, I think the analogy from driving is a false analogy.

    When someone drives a car, they are taking on certain risks, such as the possibility of getting into an accident. Now, if you do get into an accident, you should not necessarily be forced to live with pain, injuries, etc., that may result from it. But you also may not be at fault for it (the other driver may be). But someone is at fault for it.

    So while they don't necessarily have to live with the consequences, they do have to make it right by paying for the other person's medical bills, paying to repair their car, etc. (or having their insurance do it, if they're insured). They can't just walk away and say, "sorry, I consented to drive my car but I did not consent to get into an accident. You're on your own."

    Similarly when a man and woman engage in sex, even if they are using contraception, they are engaging in an activity that has a chance of producing a living human being in a naturally needy condition. As a result, if the woman finds herself pregnant, the man and the woman both bear a responsibility to care for that child because they are the ones responsible for his/her existence.

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  3. This is a late response to Clint Wilcocks but let me break it down for you- IT'S ABOUT CHOICE NIMROD. No one would force a woman to abort her baby if she didn't CONSENT TO IT, regardless of whether it would be life threatening or not and that's the point- IT'S HER CHOICE. I don't know why that's so hard for people to understand. I also think if someone wants to commit suicide it should be THEIR CHOICE. There's this pervasive cultural idea that LIFE IS SACROSANCT, but it should be noted that everyone has the choice over what to do WITH THEIR OWN BODIES. If you want to hurl it out a plane, or dive with giant man-eating fish then that should be your decision. As for pregnancy, it's a woman's choice and its nobody's business but hers and her family.

    Finally, here's a quote talking about the benefits of providing safe and legal abortions to women:

    "The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that in countries with restrictive abortion laws, induced abortion rates are high, most abortions are unsafe, and women's health and lives are frequently jeopardized. [5] Legal restrictions on abortion do not reduce the likelihood that women facing an unplanned pregnancy will seek abortion services. Instead, they compel women to risk their lives and health by seeking out unsafe abortions. Where induced abortion is highly restricted or unavailable, "safe abortion has become a privilege of the rich, while poor women have little choice but to resort to unsafe providers." [6] Conversely, the removal of legal restrictions on abortion has shifted previously clandestine, unsafe procedures to legal and safe ones, resulting in reduced rates of maternal mortality.

    Abortion rates and maternal mortality due to unsafe abortion are the lowest in the world in Western Europe, home to the most permissive abortion laws. [7] In countries where abortion is legal, maternal morbidity and mortality are generally lower because abortions are performed by trained professionals and are safer, more available, and more affordable.

    The liberalization of abortion laws, accompanied by expanded access to contraceptive services and sexuality education, allows governments to prevent unwanted pregnancy while ensuring that safe and legal abortion is available to any woman who chooses to terminate a pregnancy. [8]"

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