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Is abortion the right thing to do?

Tagged as: Pregnancy

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Question - (12 March 2009)

31 Answers - (Newest, 15 March 2009)

A female age 30-35, anonymous writes:

The president signed to increase funds for abortion practices, and signed a policy for stem cell research. My question is: Is abortion the right thing to do? Consciously thinking, is discontinuing the cycle of life of an unborn child correct? Personally, (thinking of yourself)would you had liked to be aborted? If you knew your parents thought of aborting you, how would you feel? Would it be fair to you? What about all you've accomplished? Your home, your job, your education, your beautiful children, could it be ok to deprive you from accomplishing all you have now? You are alive now....is it ok for someone to take away your life? Who advocates for that innocent, about to be aborted child? Why don't he/she have any rights? Is it a form of premeditated child abuse?

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A reader, anonymous, writes (15 March 2009):

-- "Even animals don't abort their off springs, what does that say about us?" --

Actually, animals do "abort" their offspring. We just don't call it "abortion"

Shark foetus eats fellow foetus to increase their survivor in the womb. Cubs (dogs, cats, lions, tigers, bears) and other newly born babies get abandoned by their mother also for survival of their species. They have "knew" some offsprings will not survive in the wild because of their deformities or illness or weakness.

Just thought I'd point out that your particular argument there was flawed.

You are entitled to your opinions on abortion, so are we who are Pro Choice or Pro Life. Just don't push your opinions on others. Emotional debates will only get you so. Cool, rational debate will get you further.

Ummmm ...

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A male reader, Replacement +, writes (15 March 2009):

I can't help myself.

"Abortion is for the cold hearted, for those who doesn't really care or who does not reason. "

If you really believe that then why would you want people like this raising babies anyway?

It seems that if people who have abortions are so self-centered and heartless, then they probably shouldn't be raising children.

All your "god" stuff falls on deaf ears when you speak to atheists (like myself and many others)- I respond better to rational arguments than appealing to my supposedly latent fear of hell.

Animals don't abort their babies because they don't have the technology or the reason or the capability or the necessity (animals don't tend to have unplanned pregnancies; they have sex solely for reproduction). However, animals DO abandon the weak and unhealthy babies they give birth to. Only the strong survive.

To female anon- only women have the final say in what happens to their uterus because it is their uterus- their body. Some women choose to consult the father (both of my girlfriend people consulted me, I said I was fine with the abortion) and some don't. But ultimately it is her choice because it is HER body that bears the brunt of the pregnancy. It might seem unequal but it's just one of those biological facts that makes things a bit unequal, not much to be done there. I'd rather let a woman decide than imagine a world where men can force their girlfriends to keep babies they don't want or force their girlfriends to abort babies they want to keep. That would be a bit sick. Of course in the end I want the girl to ask for my input, and I'd be a bit pissed if she didn't, but I'd never force a girl to do something she didn't want to with her body. That's barbaric.

"Replacement, I'm sorry you feel the way you do. But why should the little life suffer for the choices we make? And doesn't it desensitize us. I loved being pregnant, a little miracle of love I shared."

1. Don't be sorry for the way I feel. I'm not.

2. The "little life" doesn't really suffer. It would suffer much more to be brought up by people that never wanted it.

3. You might have loved being pregnant; not all women do, not all women want to be pregnant.

To the original poster; using ALL CAPS doesn't make your illogical ranting any more compelling. I don't know why you asked this question if you weren't actually interested in hearing other peoples point of view. Your responses border on abusive, and are definitely obnoxious. I don't mind that you are anti-choice, it's your choice (hah), but no matter what, you have to accept that others don't feel the same way. Others don't view 'life' the same way as you. And science tends to back Ginseng up when he talks about the cluster of cells- it might be alive, it might have human DNA, but at that point it's not breathing or eating or feeling or thinking... it's not really human. Aborting it does NOT cause it any pain. You are mourning over the possibility of life, not the actuality. Save your tears for children that are living in this world without love, food, shelter. Children who are abused, neglected, moving through the inadequate foster care system, suffering from the pain of feeling unwanted. These are the children that need your help- the aborted fetuses do not need any help. They are just fine in "heaven", if that's what you like to believe.

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A reader, anonymous, writes (15 March 2009):

This is verified as being by the original poster of the question

Ginseng please stop misleading our readers with your "theories". It doesn't matter at what stage the embryo is in, LIFE starts at CONCEPTION. So, it is unfair for you to back up "the stages before initial life" to condone an Abortion. Once that ovum is fertilized with sperm, a cell forms and within that cell a small neuron is already vibrating and that is the heart. Therefore, LIFE starts at conception. Do not mislead our readers with incorrect reasons for an abortion. I am surprised by the majority of pro choicers, the messages reflects irrationality to life, cold hearts, and lots of self centeredness. Be pro choice to LIFE. I feel sorry for those women who are negatively marked. As a health care worker, I am often found with women who shamelessly respond to how many abortions they've had. Sometimes they ask me "do I really have to say?" when it's already part of the assessment. I've had friends who sadly tell me about their abortions. One aborted twins and forever regretts her decision. Abortion is for the cold hearted, for those who doesn't really care or who does not reason. God gives life and no one has the right to take it away. Even animals don't abort their off springs, what does that say about us? When someone is murdered or killed, they are given a dignified funeral/burial. What does these babies get? You be the judge of that.

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A reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2009):

There is no easy answer for this question. I think it depends on what religion you were raised in and if you think it will not bother.

I had a girlfriend who did have an aboration and thought since she was not religious it would not bother her but it did for a long time. See even though she says she does not believe in God she was taught in Catholic school.

Only you can anwer that question.

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A reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2009):

There is no actual life to a mass of cells during the first few weeks of embryo development. The first three weeks of an embryo resembles a speckle of sand. If you zoom into it, it's a collection of cells being divided up. There are no limbs on it. There is also no brain.

In the second stage of embryo development, little stubs representing limbs appear. During the last part of this stage, the brain and heart starts to appear that initiates 'life'.

Your knowledge of abortion seems to be limited to the idea that abortion involves killing a fully developed infant inside the mother's womb. Many abortions are now leaning towards discontinuing the further development of the embryo.

If your logic held true that killing a mass of cells is killing life, then the millions of sperm that do not make it into the egg is also killing life.

Your arguments are incoherent at best, judgmental and preaching. You have so far, not held one instance of substance nor logic in your factors. All you've been doing is say, "It is wrong, therefore it is wrong."

Having a religious/spiritual entity being calculated into the formulation of your argument, is not a good basis to try to refute abortion. If you want people to understand you, you have to give plausible reasoning.

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A reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2009):

This is verified as being by the original poster of the question

I am so gratified to read those of those who are against abortion. YES! Women need to become resposible and take action to complete her pregnancy to FULL TERM! Just like there are dead beat dads (who walk away from their responsibilities) there should not be any dead beat moms!!! THE OCTOMOM is terribly criticized but nobody gives her credit FOR THE INTEGRAL LOVE SHE HAS FOR HER CHILDREN. She believed in LIFE eventhough she would find herself tangled in fourteen children. She preferred to give LIFE to those frozen embryos instead of discarding them. Thank God she now has extra help, but the dedication she has is admirable. Everyone criticizes her but no one sees her PRO LIFE attitude towards all this. Jessica, the term "next subject" was directed towards you because as the writer of this topic, your opinions are not welcomed for me. LIFE FIRST!!!! People needs to be warm hearted to all these unborn MURDERED babies! I don't care what other pro choicers say, GOD GAVE US LIFE AND NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE IT AWAY!!!!!! Aborting is a child is MURDER, it goes against GOD'S plans for this human being who was meant to habit earth!!! All I know is that sooner or later the CONSCIOUS of all those who aborted or contributed to an abortion decision will later question their own hearts! It is extremely sad that the majority of humanity could be SO INHUMANE! Not even ANIMALS abort their babies!!!! COME ON NOW WHAT DOES THAT SAY OF US AS HUMANS??? We are less than animals? At least those who are murdered or killed are given a dignified funeral or burial. What does these aborted children get? THROWN AWAY AS WASTE! or held in laboratories, dismembered and unrecognizable. Where is mommy? who is there to save them in contrast to the safety of their mother's womb? Any hearts out there?

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A female reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2009):

I think it's sad our world has come to a point were women no longer need to take responsiblily for there actions. I hate that women can go and kill a child, but the man has no say in the matter, I also hate that women can choose to carry threw with a pregnancy even if the man doesn't want the child. Where does the FATHER have a say, two create a child but only the mother has the right to do with it what she pleases? I hate what this world has come to, where did the responsiblity go?

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A female reader, vamp-gal + ♥, writes (14 March 2009):

Hey,

I am pro-choice. I believe that a woman has the right to decide what she does with her own body.

What if she knows that if she has the child her life is at risk, would that be OK?

Yes we have things like adoption and contraception, but not many people use it and even if they do, sometimes it can still not work...and with adoption people only usually adopt babies, which means teenagers won't have anyone.

But the thing is, if a woman or a couple aren't ready to be parents, or a mother, then why force them?

I agree it's horrible to have a life not live, but it's also horrible controling someones life by making them have a child.

These are my opinions anyway..

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A female reader, jessica04 +, writes (14 March 2009):

Goodness, learn to read.

A) I did not have an abortion, I had a miscarriage

B) I am still in college working towards my bachelors. I never said I was a graduate. Yes, I could already have an associates, but I continued on in my studies to get my bachelors.

You started this. You don't get to call "Next Subject". Reap what you sow.

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A female reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2009):

Replacement, I'm sorry you feel the way you do. But why should the little life suffer for the choices we make? And doesn't it desensitize us. I loved being pregnant, a little miracle of love I shared.

People are always going to make bad choices, but 2 wrongs don't make a right. But honestly, I'm sorry for your loss.

To reader March 14, how many good leaders were aborted that would've made our world Better?

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A male reader, Replacement +, writes (14 March 2009):

I'm always amazed that some people find the "possibility" of life more important than the actuality of life (the woman's life, not to mention the prospective father). Amazing. Just amazing.

As to the female anon who mentioned the downsides to having an abortion, I'd like to point out that the emotional and physical problems associated with pregnancy are much greater. Your comment about suicidal thoughts after an abortion border on the ridiculous- as if women who keep their children never suffer from the same feelings? (Post-partum depression- hello?). Not all mothers are good mothers, not all fathers are good fathers. Mothers and fathers beat, emotionally abuse, kill, rape, molest, neglect, and otherwise harm their children all the time. Some people just shouldn't be parents. Some people just aren't ready at the time of the pregnancy. It's fine by me for them to erase their mistake; better than bringing an unloved kid into the world. The minimal pain inflicted on the fetus in the few minutes of abortion are trivial compared to the potential lifetime of misery on a kid who was never wanted in the first place.

As for adoption- people act like it's such an easy choice, but they forget that, yes, adoption MIGHT get rid of the child (nevermind that sometimes children try to find their biological parents years later and also that their lives spent with adoptive or foster parents aren't always peachy keen) but what about the nine months with the fetus in her uterus? Pregnancy is a big deal. It's physically and emotionally draining, and complications from pregnancy kill more women than complications from abortion, so it's not a light choice to make. Fortunately, you anti-choice people aren't out there making these choices for women. The world would be a much uglier place if every fertilized egg was carried to term to make a little person.

But whatever.

I've had two girls I slept with abort fetuses I created with them (one was a drunk one night stand, one was a short relationship). Thank god they did. I would have been a terrible father; I wasn't ready at the time. Neither were they, one was addicted to crack and wasn't willing to quit while pregnant (the one night stand... I don't think I could have a relationship with a crack addict). Both were very young and had their futures in mind, they goals and plans and dreams. So did I. It was the best choice we could have made for the sake of us and the fetus.

I'll say nothing more on this matter. It's pointless anyway.

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A reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2009):

Too true. Debates that extends beyond the witless, often find that same person limited to shallow interpretative skills. May I suggest another forum for you that shares the same or similar optimism and 'wit' as you do?

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A reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2009):

So you want to start a flame war, eh? I don't normally participate in these things, but I'm going to make an exception in this case.

I've always been conflicted on abortion. As a young person, I thought that women ought to have the right to decide. As a teenager, I knew women who had multiple abortions as a form of birth control, and frankly felt uneasy about it.

When my wife was pregnant, and I saw the first ultrasound, I *knew* that I was seeing a child, and I knew that an abortion would be killing that child.

As an adult in a country with no death penalty and with a judicial system that lets people off simply if they say they're a victim, the abortion debate takes on a new meaning. Women who have no interest in their fetus, who continue to take drugs and drink alcohol to excess, give birth to children who are addicted and brain damaged. Those children from time to time grow up to be sociopaths, who commit violence on others, because they are incapable of knowing better. And our oh-so-correct justice system lets them back out in to society to do more violence. In those cases, abortion is, honestly, a gift to society.

I know a family that adopted a child with fetal alcohol syndrome. A great family, who's birth children grew up to be contributing members of society. But their adopted child has been in and out of jail for all kinds of offenses, and who as an adult is a ticking time bomb. Abortion was our only chance to be safe from him, and it didn't happen.

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A reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2009):

This is verified as being by the original poster of the question

Ginseng, your points didn't make any sense. Try ginkobiloba! maybe that will help you reason that Abortion is WRONG! I can't believe how inhumane and cold society has turned out to be. Honestly, I didn't bother to read your question and answer techniques. Plain and simple...it was incoherent.

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A reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2009):

To the original poster: Since you already have a set belief, what was your purpose of posting here? When I read your original comment and questions, I automatically assumed two things: 1. You're doing research and 2. You genuinely posted here for discussion purposes.

Since from the way you reacted, you're here to vent out your own principle justice. However, if you wish to get your point across, you must make logical perspectives. Being judgmental and completely biased will only invite further counter defensive maneuvers by your visitors, which results in counter-productivity.

So far, you have not given a single reasoning behind your point of view, as I have given you a point-by-point answer list coinciding your questions. There are better and more efficient ways to get your point across.

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A reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2009):

This is verified as being by the original poster of the question

Male anonymous? It seems like you had many victims aborting your children haven't you? Like I said it's all about freedom of speech. If you can't relate to any issues based on obstetrics, or women's health please remain discrete. As an anti abortionist I will maintain my opinion on all those immoral, cold, heartless pro choicers out there! Your opinion is as lazy, unconscious, and immoral as mine. I don't find anything immoral to defending a child's life than what is to KILLING IT, NOW THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN CALL IMMORAL! Please redefine yourself, but of course, it's freedom of speech.

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A male reader, anonymous, writes (13 March 2009):

Oh, but I guess giving other people advice NOT to have an abortion is okay though? Your self-assured arrogance about your viewpoint is pretty amazing.

You know what's selfish and emotionally lazy? Believing that everyone who disagrees with you is just more selfish and immoral than you. You are taking the easy way out by thinking this way. You would do yourself and the world a lot more good if you would start trying to understand that other people make decisions differently than you and that does not make them automatically inferior for it.

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A reader, anonymous, writes (13 March 2009):

This is verified as being by the original poster of the question

Oh God Jessica really, self centeredness to the max! Freedom of speech can be exercised any where! and that was my opinion about your post. I've read other posts where other readers have been against your advice on pro choice. Giving an advice to some one on having an abortion is not the right thing. You could have taken a course in behavioral sciences but it does not give the "right" to hold on to your pro choice advice as the ultimate alternative to reason an abortion. 62 credits, isn't that associate degree? How are you going to pressume a masters degree without acquiring a bachelors degree first? What college are you going to that would allow such a jump? Anyways, I don't think this is a site to be boasting on ones "credentials" when you have a profile to make all those things up. You had your own circumstances to get rid of your child but PLEASE! don't advice some women in these forums to abort when they're in trouble because that is not the only way out of the problem.

Next subject please, and thanks to all who wrote an opionion. It's all about our children's lives. OUR CHILDREN!!! Please.

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A female reader, anonymous, writes (13 March 2009):

Personally I don't think abortion is the right thing to do. Ever. If you make the CHOICE to have sex, then you're making a CHOICE to care for the life YOU created. You can't ERASE a 'mistake' and except NO consequences. Let's talk about 1. woman having depressive/suicidal thoughts After an abortion. 2. infertility/medical problems because of an abortion 3. Looking at children the rest of your life, thinking my 'child' would've been this age.

As far as rape and incest, hello, Adoption. An unplanned pregnancy is sad, but what is the Best outcome that you can live with.

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A female reader, jessica04 +, writes (13 March 2009):

Also (and I know I'm stooping by making this additional response), your attack on my education and occupation are wrong.

I am not a college graduate, though I will be next winter. I even state so on my profile.

I also am not a teacher's aide. I never said I was. I am a substitute teacher, and in Nevada that job requires a minimum of 62 college credits, 6 of which must be from the social sciences.

If you must know (and I think you should if you are going to be so presumptuous as to attack my job status), I plan on rolling my degree into our business college to get my MBA in HR management.

Also, I think it very rude and elitist that you say I "should have done more than being a teacher's assistant!".

Teaching assistants are invaluable to our teachers and students, and often times I have been pulled out of many a sticky situation while subbing by one. They do the same work for far less pay, and it's people like you that perpetuate the lowly title of "assistant" when in fact they are undermined in their skill and ability with students.

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A female reader, jessica04 +, writes (13 March 2009):

Listen, you're the one who asked what our thoughts were.

I honestly don't see why I am the only respondent getting skewered for my reply. You are of course entitled to disagree, but you brought this disagreement on yourself by posting such a hot topic question.

My views are what they are, and I presented them as you requested. If you disagree, then please PM me and we can have an open discussion on a more private forum. But when you ask us to reply with our beliefs, you have no room to come back and anonymously post to everyone your barrage of arguments to me. I will happily converse with you on every point you brought up.

In my profile, I stated I will never speak about that which I have no knowledge of. I have been in school a very long time as a Sociology, Anthropology, Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy major or minor at some point. And now I am focusing on Child Psychology and Development. I think I am pretty qualified to at least have my opinion and not be called biased.

If you would like to continue this conversation elsewhere, by all means let me know. Otherwise, stop wasting our time if you don't like what you read. We aren't here to sugar coat anything for you.