(June 16, 2019 at 11:59 pm)EgoDeath Wrote: I'm very conflicted on the issue of abortion and always have been. That being said, I always have been and more than likely always will be pro-choice... however, there are things that no person on the left has ever been able to adequately answer...
1. If a woman chooses to have sex with someone, knowing that getting pregnant is a possible result of having sex, why should that women have the "right" to end that potential life? There seems to be this idea in today's age that we should all be able to do what we want without any repercussions or consequences. I think most women probably dread having to get an abortion, but if it is such a dreadful thing to go through, why even have sex in the first place? Abstinence is a pretty sure-fire way to never end up with an unwanted kid.
2. Why are we treating fetuses as being on the same level as an infection or something to get rid of? At the end of the day, a fetus is going to become a human. It's not the same as removing a wart or using medicine to get rid of a cold. You are ending a potential life.
I'm sure several members here will attempt to answer these, or even attempt to make me look silly for even asking these questions, but I've still never heard these questions answered to my satisfaction.
I think the undeniable fact is: abortion is a terrible thing. In a perfect world, it would never have to happen. Then again, in a perfect world, a child would never be brought up unwanted in a home not suitable for animals, let alone humans. In a perfect world, a woman would never have to carry her rapist's child. In a perfect world, a lot of things wouldn't happen, but we don't live in a perfect world.
In my opinion, abortions should be as limited as possible. But that's just the opinion of a cis-gendered straight white male, so to the left, my voice doesn't matter a whole lot.
1. That this bothers you shows that this is, and never has been, about 'human life'. It's about controlling women's sexuality. "If you don't want a child, don't have sex!" This is told to women time and again. Of course, it's never told to men. I'm sure some people when called out on it may say "Yeah, I think it for men too!" but it's always 100% an afterthought. It's NEVER a part of the initial conversation. That's because this is rooted in misogynist ideas that women should not enjoy sex, and should not have sex, and should remain virgins until marriage. It's why women who have sex with 10 partners are called whores, while men who have sex with 10 partners are called players. Women are taught they do not have a right to their own body, that it is owned by their father until they get married, then by their husband until they die. If this were about human life in the least, this would not concern anyone. It would not be any part of the debate. But as we see, it's constantly part of the debate. Because it's not about, and never has been about, human life. It's been about controlling women's sexuality.
2. Potential life is meaningless. Sperm is potential life, but we don't advocate the preservation of every sperm. This is because, as stated in part one, this is and has always been about controlling women. Yes, it may grow up to be a human (assuming the woman doesn't miscarry) but this again is meaningless. It would be to suggest that rape victims should be forced to give birth to their rapist's baby, because---by definition, that fetus is STILL potential life. We would not punish a 3 year old for an action taken by their father. Of course, most are okay with rape exceptions because again, this is not and never has been about human life. Oh sure, we see some states advocating for outlawing ALL cases of abortion. And those are the states that treat women the WORST. Where Rapists have a right to child custody, and mothers can be threatened with prison for not complying. The fight against abortion is not about human life. This much is clear, given the pro-life crowd does NOT advocate for the actual living. Oh sure, some do. But they are an extreme minority, and with good reason.
3. Reducing abortion is fine. And it can be done by providing free birth control and proper sex education -- two concepts the anti-choicers oppose. Because again, this is not and has never been about human life. They have framed it that way because that is the most convenient for them. A majority of them have never cared about human life. It should NOT, however, be done by telling women they should abstain from sex or by outlawing this medical procedure.
The whole tone of Church teaching in regard to woman is, to the last degree, contemptuous and degrading. - Elizabeth Cady Stanton
