well, I have been given the duty...
 

To stir the pot...so here goes. I am POSITIVE that there has been a thread about this before, but it was before I started looking at Chit Chat, so...

ABORTION...yay or nay, and why?

Hey, we have the death penalty, why not have one of the other issues that you don't discuss over Thanksgiving dinner?

I am AGAINST except for two cirsumstances...incest and rape.

James, I am waiting...

yay. I think girls should have the choice. Many will say they make their choice when they have sex, maybe so, but you can't say it's only okay or legal if she were raped or the condom burst or the BC failed her....it's one way or the other....so I'm for it.

In most circumstances I am pro-choice. I feel I have no right to interfer in someone else's life and decisions, especially if I know nothing about them. The only case where I believe abortion is wrong is when people use it as a method of birth control instead of using condoms, the pill or any of the other choices that are out there.

I think that if protesters to WOMEN'S HEALTH FACILITIES have the right to show a picture of a 5 month old miscariage and call it a seventh week abortion, then women have a right to chose. Mother Nature gave us a plant that acts as a natural contraceptive if injested at the right time. If you are monothesist then all things come from God, so did the knowledge of abortion. If you can't tell, I'm pro-choice. And its not just a women's issue. Anything that affects anyone's freedom affects everyone's freedom.

I am pro-choice.

I have never been in this particular situation but I support a womans right to choose what is right for her. I don't tell people how to live their lives as I would not want them telling me how to live mine.

issues
 

I have issues being with girls that are Pro-Life - it scares me, just like it does for a lot of guys. I guess I will never have sex with a Southerner.

-Rudey
--But then again if the girl keeps the abortion clinic in business, I'm not touching her with Optimist Prime's schlong.

Everyones "pro-life" until it happens to them.

Then when theyre up a creek, they then begin to rexamine their belief system.

I generally respect everyones opinions tho.

Just as long as it is generally theirs and can explain that it is theirs and why, not just restating what daddy and mommy and the minister have been feedign them for 18 years. Its easy to spot a brain washing: Age+Lack of Life experiences+Fervor=Someone elses opinion.

lol

Nice try Rudey, I am a southerner and I am pro-choice. Hey, aren't you more interested in anal sex anyway? Just kidding.

That's one of the best statements I've read lately. I completely agree, and am completely pro-choice.

I thought anal sex was the Southern way of not even having to deal with the abortion issue.

-Rudey
--Stop hitting on me.

I'll try. :p

I don't like the idea of abortion. That's not a religious thing, I just don't like the idea.

However, I believe a woman (or couple) should have the option to decide for herself or themselves.

That makes me pro-choice I suppose, but I would have a very difficult time deciding to abort a fetus of ours/mine.

Myself and like 5 other people on the entire planet are 'Republican' and "pro-choice" . . . but hey it's fine.

Personally, I don't know if I would promote the woman I impregnated having an abortion, if it were to happen to us - there are definitely issues as to what makes a person, well, a person, personal morals, all that good stuff that I generally don't think about.

That said, it doesn't make sense for me to take the option away from somebody, just because I might or might not do it. That's not my place at all.

I love hearing the 'biblical extremist' response to abortion - lifesaver is completely correct, it's pretty easy to see when someone is regurgitating something they saw on the zealot's pulpit (or even worse, TV).

//edited for gender correctness . . . turns out, the female has the babies

What I Don't Understand is....
 

In Vancouver there have been some attempts against abortion doctors' lives - I believe one was killed in the mid to late 90's - by people who are prolife - my question is if you are prolife, why the hell are you trying to kill people?! :confused:

Consider the pot stirred :)

I am pro-choice with qualifications.

A rape victim who becomes pregnant should not be forced to carry that fetus to term. Same with incest.

If continuing a pregnancy would endanger the woman's life (as with an ectopic pregnancy) the pregnancy should be terminated.

A woman who makes reasonable efforts to prevent conception should not be forced to carry that fetus to term if those efforts fail. (I'm not saying birth control is solely the woman's responsibility; men and women should share the responsibility equally. But the bottom line is that it's the woman whose body is affected by pregnancy and childbirth, and while a gentleman will stick with his wife/girlfriend and help her get through it, sometimes the man walks away leaving the woman to shoulder 100% of the burden by herself - not just the physical, but the emotional, financial, etc.)

But a woman who just wants to pick the sex of her baby, or whose sole means of "contraception" is going out and having an abortion, should not be allowed to do so. It only takes a few seconds to put on a condom.

I also disagree with third-trimester abortions. If you haven't decided to abort by the time you've had 5-6 months to think about it, stick it out and have the baby... if you can't support the baby, put him/her up for adoption.

This might offend people or they might laugh it off. But I'm serious. I think that before you have children you should be tested to see whether you will be a good parent. If you fail the test you should get an abortion or release that child to an adoption agency no less than one full day (24 hours) after birth.

Yes
 

Who's laughing?

-Rudey
--Now go eat a hamburger and play with a red balloon!

I guess we're gonna have to find the other 4...

Being pro-choice is just that PRO CHOICE, not pro-abortion. When I say I am pro-choice it means I support a woman's right to choose whatever she thinks is best for her in her situation PERIOD.

Optimist: You definitely have that right.

I completely agree. For some people the choice might be abortion, for others not. That is the beauty of this country...we have the right to make that decision. Who am I to judge people on what they decide is best?

However, I have a hard time supporting someone's decision to an abortion when they do not take the proper precautions in the first place...abortions should not be used as a birth control method for careless sex.

My views are pretty much the same as aephi alum and AOIIBrandi, so I'm not going to restate everything that they just wrote.

Here's my anti-pro-life people rant (hey, it might stir up controversy, but it's my opinion and I feel like stating it, so there :p): I'd like to know why pro-life people feel that they can get away with telling people what to do. I don't see them going out and adopting all of these unwanted children or helping these kids when they are abused or neglected by parents who didn't want them and who resent them for being born. Child abuse and its effects are a much bigger problem for society as a whole than abortion is, so maybe they should concentrate their efforts elsewhere. (This applies mostly to the people who participate in protests about abortion...people who just hold the belief and don't do anything about it don't really bother me.)

I heard about this case near here where a judge ruled that this woman isn't allowed to get an abortion because the fetus's father doesn't want her to (the judge is ignoring the fact that they broke up because he was being abusive towards her and he probably wants to prevent her from having an abortion as a way of controlling her :mad: ). So basically, this woman may have to endure 9 months of someone using her body to make a baby that she doesn't even want. I think that is absolutely appalling. If I can find a link to the story, I will post it here (if I remember!).

Found the links for that story I was talking about...turns out that another judge overturned the decision and she ended up having a miscarriage anyway (probably from all the stress!), but here are the links in order:

PA Man Attempts to Stop Abortion
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/8102_abortion.html

Judge Bars Woman from Having Abortion
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/080..._abortion.html

Judge Rules Woman Can Have Abortion
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/080...onlawsuit.html

Woman Involved in Abortion Lawsuit Suffers Miscarriage
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/080..._abortion.html

I am pro-choice. It's a sad and dificult decision for a woman or couple to make and no one else should decide for them. No one gets a kick out of having an abortion which is why I have major issues with pro-lifers. Just the fact that we call them pro-life is wrong. Everyone is pro-life, they are anti-choice!

Well said. I'm pro choice. Bringing children into the world is not a decision to be taken lightly, and neither is having an abortion. But the parents of the child should have the choice.

Hey, I'm one of those five other people KSig RC. Try living in a city where 85% of the voting population is registered Democrat! When I went to vote for the primary in April, they just handed me a democrat ballot. I said, "no, I'm registered Republican". The lady said, "oh, sorry for you! you're the first one all day". And it was 2:30 in the afternoon!!

Re: issues
 

:confused: Um, I'm a Southerner... and I'm VERY pro-choice. We've got pro-choicers and pro-lifers down here in the South, just like everywhere else. Just wanted to set the record straight. :D

You can add me to your list, KSig RC. I'll be #7! :D

Re: Re: issues
 

So you would say that you have just as many pro choice women compared to pro life that they do in the North?

-Rudey
--I'd like names and addresses and do they wear cowboy hats ever?

If none have been in that particular situation, then jus how in the Hell can you talk about it?:confused:

There is always a certain circumstance for reason on each persons side!

Was it a mistake of sex, screwing
Was it Rape
Was it for the benefit of the child

Was it the benefit of the parents

What ever the reason, there must be a reason for it!

Is killing the right thing to do? NO! But might be!

I eat meat, the cow goes oh no!

I eat sea food, does the lobster say oh no!

If I eat Pork do the pig say, No!

How in the hell do any of us know that the lettuce and radish or onion say the same damn thing!

I have seen hippo krites but no so damn dumb as the human Animal!:D

If lettuce ever says anything to you, punch it. But give it a tender touch after please.

-Rudey
--Lettuce likes to get hit Tom.

Re: Re: Re: issues
 

I don't have stats or anything, Rudey, but I'd be willing to bet that the numbers are pretty close. As for the cowboy hats, I think you'd be shocked to find that most of us don't have those as part of our daily attire. ;) I've got one, but it came from Wyoming and I haven't worn it in about 10 years. Maybe I'll dust it off and be a cowgirl for Halloween... hmmmm :D

My only problem really with abortion is the emptiness and the likely self-hatred the woman would likely feel years down the road

I'm bothered by what you've said, and I'm not exactly sure why.

I don't think you can assume that a woman would likely feel emptiness and self-hatred as a result of having an abortion. Maybe the emptiness and self hatred would be worse if she carried and gave birth to a kid she didn't want and the consequences that may result from that. If she is making the best decision for herself in the situation, than I don't think she would end up feeling that way years later.

Also, your statement assumes that it's all on the woman -- would the man responsible for the pregnancy feel emptiness and self hatred as well? I'm guessing you would say "no" to that.

And if a woman does end up feeling bad about it later, well, that's her feeling to have, but it's not a reason to prevent her from making a choice. That falls along the lines of saying that women are delicate flowers and that we as members of society need to make laws to protect them from themselves. This is why waiting periods for abortion make me so mad -- I get steamed when anyone advocates a law that a woman must take 24 or 48 (or whatever) hours after visiting an abortion clinic before she can have an abortion. What, do you think she hasn't thought about it already? You think she needs for someone to tell her that???

I'm not necessarily implying that that's what you were saying, but your statement just got me thinking, that's all.

SO true. This is one of the reasons why I am against abortion. A close friend of mine had one herself (NOT extinuating circumstances), and it was HARD to be around her afterward.

Silly you, women are delicate flowers! That's why wet t-shirt contests are so good for them.

-Rudey
--The water helps women grow.

Okay...quick poll...

Rather than ask a question that is WAY too personal, I will ask how many people actually KNOW someone who has had an abortion?

I COMPLETELY agree!

Well, a very good friend of mine from college (we no longer speak, but for other reasons) had three abortions (yes, three). I went with her to the first one, to be supportive, and I think that I was more freaked out about it than she was, and remember sitting there in the waiting room reading the information about the procedure and it scared the living crap out of me (I am deathly afraid of medical procedures). I am thankful to say that I have never been in a position to have to make such a decision -- I actually think that *I* learned more from her experience than she did.

Other than that, I would guess that there are women I know now who have had an abortion, and I don't know about it. I'm sure we all know someone who has, whether we know it or not.

Yes, I do know a few women who have had abortions. They all had very tough times deciding whether or not to go through with it, but at least they had options to consider. They each went into the procedure knowing that it was best for them and for their future families that they not be saddled with an unwanted baby at that point in their lives.

On a more personal note, I do know people who made the decision to keep their unplanned children even though it drastically changed their lives at a very young age. My mother was one of them; she was 16 when she had me. I know it was an extremely difficult choice for her and I know she considered aborting me, but I'm glad that she was able to decide for herself whether or not she wanted to have me. At least that way, I have never felt like she regretted me or like I was a mistake; if she had been forced into it, my life could have turned out very differently. My mom is definitely my hero. :)

This is one thing that I have VERY strong beliefs about. I am pro-choice. I think it's ridiculous for anyone to tell anyone else what to do with their lives or their body. It's up to that woman and whoever else is involved to deal with it. Why bring a child into a bad situation or even one where it might not have been wanted??? Let ppl make their own decisions for their life and the life of the potential child.

My best friend had an abortion 2 years ago and was perfectly fine emotionally and mentally after it

To answer librasoul's question...

Many of my close friends have had abortions. Right offhand, I can think of seven.