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by Letters to the Editor
Friday, March 30, 2007
Ms. Friedman's article ("Anti-abortion methods go too far") concerning abortion methods seemed to dodge very important approaches to this problem. If she would truly like to explore the anti-abortion methods, she must ask the relevant question: Why do anti-abortionists use these methods? While she attempted to answer this question with comments such as: "money, he argues, would help women realize that putting the child up for adoption is another viable option." Or "lawmakers… claim that most women are uninformed about abortion," her early analysis misses the fundamental issue. In the final paragraph she writes, "forcing women to view photos of the unborn children is indecent and oversteps the legitimate bounds of government authority. A women's right to her own body is just that—her right." (emphasis my own). Here is where she unwittingly hits upon the exact problem that lawmakers have. I presume that many do not wish to harm women or infringe upon her rights. But the government also has a duty to protect the innocent and vulnerable. If a woman (or a doctor), in Ms. Friedman's words, sees a picture of an unborn child and then kills it, the government has then failed in its duty.
Although she probably did not intend to do so, Ms Friedman has just accused many women (millions) and many doctors of murder. I am certain that they would strongly object to her remarks. Moreover, if her opinion is correct, all human beings have a duty to struggle to find alternatives for women who are, in her words, accomplice to murder.
Regards,
Jack Koczela
jbkoczela@wisc.edu
Anonymous (March 30, 2007 @ 7:47am):
"Murder" requires malice to be in the equation. So, abortion is murder arguments are irrational and absurd.
As a responsible society, we cannot allow millions of unwanted babies to be born. It would be a disaster, and I think the US government has come to that realization over the past 30 years.
Why does Bob Barker tell us to get our pets spayed and neutered at the end of every show? We don't want strays to run wild, become disease ridden, and suffer.
Yes, adoption is always an option, but there is not a lot of demand for HIV+ children of heroin addicts. Not every aborted child is June Cleaver's son, remember.
If adoption is the solution to this issue, why haven't we seen the Mega churches building orphanages? Hypocrites!
Anonymous (March 30, 2007 @ 9:21am):
What about the ga-zillions of sperm killed by poison or barriers - unable to accomplish their destiny?
Anonymous (March 30, 2007 @ 12:14pm):
How many pro-lifers have you heard say, "there should be some kind of test before some people have kids?"
I've heard at least 10 say it.
Anonymous (April 1, 2007 @ 1:45pm):
How many pro-lifers are opposed to welfare programs, sex education, public education, affordable healthcare for everyone, and dozens of other programs that can reduce the perceived need for some women to have abortions? It seems like the "pro-life" movement's "pro-life" stance is really only a pro-birth stance; once the baby is born, they just don't give a damn.
mikaela skalmoski (April 1, 2007 @ 10:09pm):
Every life has a purpose in my belief. What if YOUR mother aborted YOU? What if you abort a future scientist, with the potential to cure cancer? Anything that has a heartbeat and cells is living. It's not fair that people who have the ability to get pregnant just throw away the baby, when there is always someone out, who can not biologicaly have kids, and want to adopt one so bad. It's also not the baby's fault that the mother got pregnant! There is ALWAYS a solution...and it should NEVER be abortion.
Anonymous (April 2, 2007 @ 7:09am):
Why isn't there a "pro-prevention" platform? I still can't understand why fundies have a problem with condoms in school. Which way do you want it: pro-life, pro-prevention, or pro-choice?
Pro-prevention is smart, and it will not encourage pre-marital sex beyond its current boundaries.
Anonymous (April 2, 2007 @ 9:32am):
"Every life has a purpose in my belief."
Some have very bad purposes. Look at the stats - more abortions = lower crime rates.
Unwanted babies are likely to become unwanted adults.
Anonymous (April 2, 2007 @ 12:14pm):
"What if you abort a future scientist, with the potential to cure cancer?"
By this logic, we should just keep pumping out babies. Maybe one of these babies can solve the problem to over-population and to the massive drag on welfare. Me 1, you 0.
Anonymous (April 2, 2007 @ 5:26pm):
"What if you abort a future scientist, with the potential to cure cancer?"
Maybe you'll abort a future Hitler (or even the Anti-Christ!!!) with the potential to start Armageddon. But then maybe you relish the thought that the world will end soon, as you think that you are amoung the "elect" and won't be "Left Behind".
But look on the bright side, maybe he'll just grow up to be a garden variety thug, thief or killer?
Anonymous (April 2, 2007 @ 6:43pm):
What if you abort a future scientist, with the potential to develop biological weapons that get out of control and kill all life on Earth?
Anonymous (April 2, 2007 @ 9:51pm):
If my mother aborted me I sincerely doubt I'd care, considering, you know, I wouldn't exist and never would have developed thought processes.
But you know what really would have sucked? Spending 18 years in foster care, where I would have had very little in the way of real opportunities after leaving there.
Also, if abortion is murder, shouldn't the mother who drinks, smokes, or does drugs while pregnant and it results in a miscarriage be guilty of reckless homicide?
Anonymous (April 3, 2007 @ 8:19am):
If God has a plan for everyone, how do we know that the plan doesn't involve abortion? People die in car accidents, war, of old age, of cancer, etc.
Anonymous (April 5, 2007 @ 12:06pm):
Miss Friedman is disciple of Satan. She is here to corrupt our youth and turn them away from the teachings of Christ. Young brethren, do not follow her ways, for lie and blaspheme issue from her mouth. Reject her, for her secular wisdom is worse than the drunkenness of the whore of Babylon! Revile her, shun her, cast her into the lake of everlasting fire!
Swing low, sweet chariot
Comin' for to carry me home...
mikaela skalmoski (April 8, 2007 @ 7:44pm):
Your argumental points are well-taken. However, the awesome thing about this debate is that in the end, most of us will have the same opinions. Abortion may have both positive AND negative affects. But how do you know how someone will turn out, if you don't give them a chance? Have you ever looked into the innocent eyes of a newborn love child, that could've been aborted? You can say and believe what you want. It's YOUR opinion. I am only speaking from my experience.
Miles Hadley (April 8, 2007 @ 7:58pm):
"By this logic, we should just keep pumping out babies. Maybe one of these babies can solve the problem to over-population and to the massive drag on welfare. Me 1, you 0."
That seems a bit ignorant, since there is no way in knowing how one will turn out. That is also only one way of seeing it, so you did not exactly prove you were correct. I have heard and seen very little situations where the mother of an aborted baby has not regretted it at some point in her life. Say wat you want, but in the end, we will probably believe the same thing.
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