The debate over whether abortion should be legal and to what point in the pregnancy it should be allowed has polarized many societies. Many religious preach that at the moment of conception, the new life is human and possesses a soul. Therefore, abortion is murder. Other, less extreme views, suggest the life is not human until there is a recognizable completion of form. A third view proposes we have an obligation to create a good life for all children already born before we bring more unwanted children into the world.
To say that abortion is never justified is, in my mind, a completely absurd assertion. I believe that every woman who finds herself carrying an unwanted child, should have the right to decide for herself the best course of action. The law, the attitude of society at large, and religious followers will not be by her side raising and supporting that child for the next 21 years. Therefore these should not dictate her choice.
The life of the mother is paramount. If this is in serious danger, then it should be preserved at any cost. Every pregnant womans life is her own and she should be able to put her body, career, and future wellbeing first. If any of those considerations would be jeopardized by the birth of the baby, then abortion would be justified. There can be no argument about her right to live her life the way she desires.
I acknowledge that life begins at the moment of conception, but this life is in its simplest form, a collection of cells that, at the beginning of the pregnancy hold little resemblance to a living person. Although this collection of cells begin to organize rapidly into the brain, nervous system, circulatory system, muscles, and skeletal structure, the appearance for many weeks is grotesque, not even resembling human form. The point at which I think the life can be considered human is when brain signals can be detected and the fetus has taken on a human appearance. This occurs around 12 weeks. Until this point I do not consider abortion to be the taking of a human life. However after 3 months, abortion, is not justified unless there was a great danger to the mothers life. In fact, this is the point at which the embryo (a swelling) changes its name to be a fetus (meaning young one or offspring).
Believing all abortions are not justified means believing that bringing unwanted children into the world is acceptable, this could be described as the ultimate in child abuse. I would have not wanted to come into this world knowing that I was unwanted. If I had been, then I would probably resent the society/law that had made it happen. Think of the childs confusion, resentment, and horror if they discovered that they were either a mistake, or that their birth had resulted in the death/illness of their mother.
If a woman has received and discussed information about all her options, but still believes abortion is the right course of action, then her wish should be respected. She should be seen as a responsible person who knows what is best for her, not told that she has no respect for life. Her reasons would be for the conservation of her own life and the quality of life for the child if it was born.
The rights of the mother exceed the rights of the unborn child, because she has spent (however many years) getting to wherever she is in life therefore, why should her life be taken away because of one mistake she has made, by something that does not know who she is or what her situation may be. By saying that the rights of the unborn child are greater, is saying that the creator of the life is inferior to the life itself and that makes no sense whatsoever.
I do not think that people will ever see eye to eye on this controversial issue, there will always be those who believe in choice and those who believe in life, the only way people can decide, is to listen to each side of the argument and make up their own minds. As an adult society, whatever our beliefs, the choice of abortion is a weighty issue not to be taken lightly.
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