I am pro-choice, with reservations.

If a woman was raped or molested, or if her life is endangered by her pregnancy, she should absolutely have an abortion if she wishes.

If a couple really isn't prepared (financially, emotionally, etc) to raise a child, and IF they were legitimately trying to prevent pregnancy and their birth control method failed for some reason, then they should be free to terminate the pregnancy if they wish.

If a couple just wants an abortion because the baby will be a girl and they want a boy (or vice versa) then that is not a legitimate reason.

Partial-birth abortions are horrific. If you haven't figured out by the time you're that close to delivery, that you don't want the baby, then deal with it. From what I understand, partial-birth abortions are about as uncomfortable as childbirth, so if that's the motivating factor, have the baby and put it up for adoption.

Personally... I'm married. My husband and I don't plan to have children for another couple of years. However, if I were to become pregnant, I would have the baby, because I could never live with myself if I had an abortion and then later couldn't get pregnant. I wouldn't feel comfortable having an abortion, but that's my choice. That is not a choice I'd try to impose on anyone else. That's the whole idea of being pro-choice.

Im Pro-Choice - because I dont know what I would do if I was to have an unexpected pregnancy. I am 99% sure I would keep my baby, bc I do believe it is completely wrong to have an abortion, and against my faith...but there are certain situations that I would be unsure of (like rape).

That does not mean however, that I would force my opinions on anyone else. I think its up to the individual to make their own decision.

I waited for a while to reply to this, partially because of finals, partially because I wanted to make a coherent response.

I'm "pro-life" for myself. I know at this stage in my life, although I'm a student, I would have the baby. I'm financially secure. I have supportive parents, and I'm in a committed relationship with someone who feels the same way about this situation as I do. If any of those factors weren't in the situation, maybe my decision would be different. I know that if I got pregnant next month, it would be as a result of my own carelessness and irresponsibility, and if I'm "woman" enough to be sexually active, I'm "woman" enough to deal with the consequences of having a baby.

On the other hand, I'm VIRULENTLY pro-choice for the rest of the population, and I have done and will continue to do EVERYTHING in my power to assure that the right to reproductive freedom in any way, shape, or form, is preserved for years to come. Making sure the Bush administration doesn't chip away at Roe v. Wade is something I've become devoted to ever since the Florida election controversy was over. I have friends who, due to their individual situation, having the baby wasn't the right decision, and I support their right to make that decision. I just know that it's something I could never do. I would sooner sacrifice a few years of freedom than sacrifice the life of someone I had a part in creating.

I beleive there are ways to prevent these semi blessed events, birth control, spading and neutoring!;)

If you cannot pay the price for the band, then dont go to the dance!

Yes, and birth control also fails.

As for being spade or neutored, what if someone wants to have children later in life? Better yet, those kind of operations aren't cheap.

d

I think my own beliefs are best described as "extremely reluctantly pro-choice."

I can totally understand why a woman who was pregnant as a result of rape, incest, etc. would not want to go through with the pregnancy. I cannot fault her decision.

Also, when the mother's life is in danger or when the baby is so severly messed up that it will probably die anyway, again, I cannot fault anyone for making this decision.

These are, for me, the simple cases.

The harder ones are usually economic or "oh no!"

With both scenarios I can sympathize, but in both cases it just breaks my heart. Nine months is a long time - physically, financially, emotionally, mentally. I have never been pregnant so I cannot even imagine how complicated and confusing it must be to be in such a situation.

There are SOOOO many nice people that are desperate for a child of their own that would love to adopt a baby. There are waiting lists years long. It's so sad that one woman would do anything to NOT be pregnant and maybe just one block over lives another woman that would do anything to BE pregnant.

Of course, again, I've never been in this situation, so I just don't think I have the right to judge anyone. But it just makes me so SAD, the whole thing.

What really ticks me off are the "repeat offenders" - the women who are careless over and over with their protection. Not, oops my method failed this one time, but geez, here we go again. What's especially awful is how hypocritical some people can be - I found out recently that my soon-to-be-ex roommate had an abortion a couple years ago. A couple months ago when she and our other roommate and I were discussing birth control, she told us that "P____ pulls out." :eek: HELLO! The girl is 26 years old now, shouldn't she know better? Plus who knows what she was doing with that other boyfriend to protect herself. Now also keep in mind that this charming girl likes to preach to other people on what horrible sinners they are - told me I was "slutty" for dancing with a guy friend at a bar :rolleyes: and told our other roommate that by reading Harry Potter to her 10 year old brother she was "endangering his soul"! :eek:

The problem, as someone already stated, is that there really isn't a way to screen out the unlucky ones from the careless and stupid ones.

I don't think it's unfair to require a short waiting period - i.e. maybe 24 hours tops. Go home and sleep on it. Here's some fair unbiased information about your options, risks for both the surgical procedure and risks for carrying a pregnancy to term. Emotional issues that might confront you if you chose abortion,m adoption or keeping your baby. Think about it and come back tomorrow and we will help you with your decision.

On that note, I do NOT like any of the proposals that force consent from some third party other than the woman. It's her decision to make, and while I know how I hope she decides, it is ultimately her decision. Even the parents with minor daughters - it would be absolutely horrible for some poor girl to be driven to seek a dangerous illegal abortion because she can't face her parents. In some really tragic cases, she may face abuse at home or someone at home may even be the father.

I also think that all the meanies who are harrassing the poor women going to the clinics and threatening or attacking those who work there need to shut the heck up and get real lives. :mad:

Again, back to my main point - abortions are SAD. I would love for politicians to not feel that they have to swing so far to one side. It seems like all we hear are "Abortions all the time on demand!" or "It's a sin! No abortions ever!"

Just once I would like to hear a politician say that while they realize that they shouldn't interfere in someone else's personal choice, the whole thing makes them really sad and they really wish there was a better option.

...ok, enough of the soapbox...

I am pro- life...all the way, for various reasons. And I am very passionate about this too!

I was raised knowing that I have to take responsibility for my actions. I knew, even as a child, that there would be tons of circumstances when I would have to choice on many things- and most of the time there would be consequences to those decisions. I have just learned to apply this in every aspect of my life.

Basically, I believe that you make a CHOICE- to have sex- knowing full well you can become pregnant. If you have sex, be ready to take responsibilty- we're talking about a baby- a human being. I just can't fathom abortion being the answer- for many reasons. I don't think I could live with myself, knowing I caused any pain to MY child. And I have known women (one very close to me) who've had abortions- and it totally is hard on them. It's something you have to deal with every day. It kinda hits close to home too. My real sister got pregnant- and was considering terminating the pregnancy- but in the end, she decided she couldn't go through with it. Now, I have the sweetest nephew ever. I figure that if you get pregnant, and for whatever reason, you're not ready for being a parent, choose adoption. There are so many women who can't have kids.

I am totally against abortion unless there are certain serious cases in which a girl was raped or something like that, other than that I believe that if you are going to choose to do the deed you are definitly choosing the responsibility that comes along with it. I do not believe that just because you were young or you "made a mistake" that you should take another innocent human being's life. They dont deserve that.
I have many more feelings on this issue but Im getting sleepy and dont wanna write alot.
Nicholi

I just wanted to say thank you to those that are pro-life but still don't think the government should step in and demand all of us be pro-life. Thank you as you make me feel that it is my body and my choice and hopefully this will always be protected.

While I am reading everyone' s posts this AM I keep seeing people mentioning the adults, but i can't help to bring up that if people are in these situations the baby who is born is also in the situation. When making this decision I am sure most women do not take it lightly, I can't help but think they are not only think about their situation but also the kind of life they would or could provide for a child. It is not just a few years of freedom you give up-it is a lifetime of commitment. The commitment becomes less when the child becomes an adult but I have seen what a huge commitment children require and if you are not financially sound or do not have a significant other than that commitment becomes very difficult. I was listening to the radio on my way home from work today and there was a mother on the radio-she just had her third child, just got divorced this year, has no job, no support from her husband and now her kids are going to have nothing for christmas-no christrmas dinner, no toys, no clothes, nothing-that breaks my heart. I would rather someone have an abortion than put a child through a lifetime of hunger or hurt. I wish everyone was responsible like the people on this thread but many are not-that is reality.

BTW does anyone have any statistics on adoption, my understanding from various news reports is that there is a waiting list for caucasian babies but there are not enough homes for minority babies and unfortunately many of these end up in foster care or an orphanage-is this correct?

JAM,

It seems like you took one statement of a very long post out of context a bit. :confused: Just to clarify, my complete statement was the following:

I can tell you that none of my friends regret the decision they made. Of course, if you ask, they will mention that they think about how their lives would have turned out if they had decided to go through with the pregnancy. But there is not a single woman who has expressed regret to the point where if she could turn back the clock she would change her mind. All of them are content with the road they took and not a one feels that she made a poor decision...except for the girl who gave her baby up for adoption at the direction of her mother instead of following her own wishes and having an abortion.

I am not saying that these women didn't debate their decision to have an abortion long and hard before they took action. And I'm not saying that they never think about what having a child might have been like. All I'm saying is that they can look back on their decision -- still today -- and feel certain that they made the right choice, for themselves and their unborn child.

They were in NO position to have those children at that stage in their lives, and they were intelligent enough to realize it and responsible enough to do something about it. They have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of or feel guilty about, and NO ONE should try to lay blame or guilt at their feet, especially strangers who know little to nothing about their situations. That's the problem I have with pro-life protesters. They know absolutely nothing about the women to whom they are making disparaging comments, so who gave them the right to judge? The answer is: no one.

My views on the issue have changed dramatically over the years. I've had two very close friends go through an abortion. I also have a cousin who had 10 miscarriages before being able to take a baby to term. Myself, well, I have a condition that may mean I can't have kids.

Anyway, for me personally, I couldn't do it. I cannot make that decision for others though, and dont' think its appropriate that white haired old men on capital hill should have a say in it either. Its a personal choice, so I guess I'm pro-choice.

I don't condone having multiple abortions (like my old roommate did) or using it as a method of birth control.

Would like to say thank you and your welcome to the person who thanked us pro-lifers that believeeven though we dont agree with it, its a persons choice and that we are not trying to force opnions on people. Not all of us are psycho's :). Thats first.

How I have to agree with Earp, yes it does fail, but you can always double up (pill and condom, as I said before, but NEVER use two condoms, cuz ha ha it rips quicker and easier, learned that in 7 grade health). If both fail, call me, and you can say I told you so a million times and tell me to shut it ;)

I agree with aggieAXO! Thanks to everyone who has responded to this thread so far. I think all of us, no matter what stance we have on this issue, have handled this discussion like level-headed adults and I really do appreciate that. If everyone else in the good old USA would do the same, we'd all be a little better off! :)

I know personally more than one woman who fell pregnant using the pill AND condoms. It happens, and it happens more often than most people think. Don't even get me started on the fact that some women can't take the pill or other hormonal contraceptives. :-P I can't, for reasons I won't delve into here.

And frankly, I'm not sure if I EVER want to have children, and I use birth control religiously, but I'm not so sure about not having children that I'm ready to get "fixed." And even if I was, good luck trying to find a doctor willing to do that to a woman under 30 who's never had children...and even then it's difficult.

dzrose, I don't want to get in a shouting match over this as I respect ALL your posts, past and present. I am sure I will find several future posts by you that I applaud. I was a tad put off as you took every paragraph I posted and argued every point. (or so it seemed) When I read that statement, yes, it hit me hard as I can remember a dog I hit on a road and STILL "regret" I couldn't have done something to prevent it.

Nothing in this WORLD will convince one side or the other that their opinion is wrong. As passionately as one can argue that "It's MY body", others can argue NO, you're talking about TWO bodies, yours and a defenseless baby and YES, it IS a baby, make no mistake.

My examples of the government were not to imply I think the government should control or pass laws, it was merely an example of the value some people place on animals as compared to humans. Who posted-we have to protect the endangered species...there are too many people as it is..."Now, I'm sorry, but that is just "out there"-comparing a human to an ANIMAL!

Maybe it is my religous upbringing, maybe it's because I had an ultrasound during pregnancy, maybe it's because I believe from the moment of conception there is a soul. We are who we are and our beliefs are a reflection of our experieces.

As a finale note, because it's too disturbing to revisit this thread, I would like to say-
Freedom, sexual or otherwise comes with a price. Too bad some choose to make the baby pay for their own mistakes.