Abortion is a popular topic today.
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| Also listed in: Advocates for Single-Payer Health Care | Artists For Democratic Progress | Kicking Ass | Old Kennedy-type Democrats | The Liberal Democratic party of the United States of America |
So here are some thoughts from a middle age, truly middle class white guy. Some of the contributors have pointed out a very relevant point. Most people, even those who vehemently support a woman's right to control her body, agree that abortion is not birth control. There are many effective ways that one or both participants can prevent conception. That being said, even committed couples make mistakes.
As the law stands they have the right to choose not to bring an unwanted, unplanned child into this world. We teach sex-ed so even teenagers can choose to act responsibly. Teenage girls must have the right to that same choice. It also has to come without the fear of parental reprisal. An unpopular idea I know but in most states the age of consent is about sixteen years old when it comes to sex, why not abortion. In some southern states age of sexual consent is even lower. I wander why that is.
My great-grandmother was fifteen when she started her family of 10 children, who lived. It was actually the norm up through most of the 1800's to be married by thirteen or fourteen. Go back farther and women got married before they had their first period.
So first we must have well taught sexual education beginning before the onset of puberty. Second ALL women (even if you consider her a girl) must have access to safe abortions. These must be allowed to take place free of harassment from anti-abortion protestors. Late term abortions are safe and only preformed now when the woman's life is in danger. Some current anti-abortionists would have you believe if late term is protected as a means to save the woman's life, thirteen year olds will go out in droves get pregnant, wait six months and have an abortion. In my middle class life I have seen girls seventeen and younger get pregnant. Then wait six month's to reveal they are pregnant. Then they have the child and burden her parents and siblings with the consequences of her mistake.
A great many women in the seventies would have led much more productive lives had they been allowed to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, But some needed financial aid for this and congress would not fund it. Now the right wants to complain about their consequences. If your sixteen your old girl is not mature enough to make this decisions then you failed her. First the left wants to teach our young women what it means to be a woman. That means when to say no and how to say yes responsibility. If you find yourself in a discussion where religion is the main argument against abortion tell them this. The bible is silent on abortion. As for when the soul enters the body, it is when the blood enters the body. The fetus does not have blood present prior to the forty-fifth day. You can try that logic but if you have ever had that discussion you know they probably won't agree.
Peace
As the law stands they have the right to choose not to bring an unwanted, unplanned child into this world. We teach sex-ed so even teenagers can choose to act responsibly. Teenage girls must have the right to that same choice. It also has to come without the fear of parental reprisal. An unpopular idea I know but in most states the age of consent is about sixteen years old when it comes to sex, why not abortion. In some southern states age of sexual consent is even lower. I wander why that is.
My great-grandmother was fifteen when she started her family of 10 children, who lived. It was actually the norm up through most of the 1800's to be married by thirteen or fourteen. Go back farther and women got married before they had their first period.
So first we must have well taught sexual education beginning before the onset of puberty. Second ALL women (even if you consider her a girl) must have access to safe abortions. These must be allowed to take place free of harassment from anti-abortion protestors. Late term abortions are safe and only preformed now when the woman's life is in danger. Some current anti-abortionists would have you believe if late term is protected as a means to save the woman's life, thirteen year olds will go out in droves get pregnant, wait six months and have an abortion. In my middle class life I have seen girls seventeen and younger get pregnant. Then wait six month's to reveal they are pregnant. Then they have the child and burden her parents and siblings with the consequences of her mistake.
A great many women in the seventies would have led much more productive lives had they been allowed to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, But some needed financial aid for this and congress would not fund it. Now the right wants to complain about their consequences. If your sixteen your old girl is not mature enough to make this decisions then you failed her. First the left wants to teach our young women what it means to be a woman. That means when to say no and how to say yes responsibility. If you find yourself in a discussion where religion is the main argument against abortion tell them this. The bible is silent on abortion. As for when the soul enters the body, it is when the blood enters the body. The fetus does not have blood present prior to the forty-fifth day. You can try that logic but if you have ever had that discussion you know they probably won't agree.
Peace
