Abortion is a hugely complicated and controversial topic. It runs through personal lives and political speeches alike, and everyone is talking about its future here in the United States of America. Immediately, when someone says the word “abortion,” many people think, “No way! That’s killing babies!” However, what many people don’t realize is that while there are some glaring negatives to abortion, there are also a few things to consider before writing it off.
The Pro-Life Argument
Abortion, in this context, is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy and is most often performed during the first twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy. Such a thing haunts many people, as the act of abortion involves ending a life that hasn’t yet had the chance to start. That undeveloped fetus will never have the chance to consciously experience love, say its first words, enjoy its years at school, or discover the cure for the common cold, or for AIDS and cancer. Such is a sad thought indeed.
Abortion can also promote unhealthy sexual lifestyles. One of the things that keeps some men and women from becoming too promiscuous or practicing unsafe sex is the thought of, “I don’t want to be a father,” or “I don’t want to get pregnant.” Providing an easy way out of that responsibility can inadvertently encourage those men and women to go ahead with those unhealthy sexual practices.
An abortion can have lasting physical and mental effects. Buzzle.com claims that abortion raises the mother’s risk of infection, sepsis (a situation in which the bloodstream is overwhelmed by bacteria), and future, recurrent miscarriages. Sometimes, death can even result from an abortion. In addition, the mother can experience severe depression and guilt after an abortion.
Even though abortion has its negative aspects, there are also some positive aspects to abortion.
The Pro-Choice Argument
From bacterial infections to chicken pox, there are many things that can complicate a pregnancy, which is why many parents-to-be stay in close contact with an obstetrician to ensure a safe childbirth. Pregnancy isn’t only dangerous for the baby, however; it can also be dangerous or even fatal for the mother. In such situations, an abortion can actually save the mother’s life.
It isn’t impossible for a baby to become sick while still in the womb. Depending on the illness, sometimes it’s possible that the baby will not be able to live a happy, healthy life. Rather than subject the child to that pain in the future, again, depending on the severity of the condition, some mothers find it kinder to let the child go.
The Grey Areas
Many people argue that because the fetus is not yet a developed human being, it has no rights, and that a mother should be able to do what she pleases with it. One source even uses the fact that birth control “isn’t a hundred percent effective a hundred percent of the time” as an argument for abortion. No matter what, although there are some instances in which an abortion would be perfectly acceptable, a plain “because I want to” is never a good reason to go through such a grueling, risky procedure when the pregnancy did not have to occur in the first place. Sex is the means of reproduction. It is important to remember that and to use it wisely.
At the risk of stating the obvious, rape is a crime. There is no question about it. Unfortunately, rape can result in a pregnancy. Understandably, pregnancy from rape can prove psychologically harmful to any mother. Does this make it acceptable for her to abort the baby? Does it mean she should follow the pregnancy through and give the baby up for adoption? Or should she raise the child and love him or her anyway? There are many varying opinions for such a scenario. If abortion is chosen, however, it is important to have it done as soon as confirmation is received that the mother is pregnant. A baby’s heart begins to beat between six and eight weeks, or in some cases, as soon as 21 days after conception.
What Should America Do?
One thing that many people find interesting is that many men choose the pro-life side of the debate while many women take the pro-choice side. Taking both sides into consideration, should America ban abortion entirely? Yes… and no.
There are, as mentioned, situations in which abortion would be not only acceptable, but encouraged. At the same time, there are also very valid reasons not to allow abortions. It would be wonderful if America could come to some kind of middle ground that would accommodate those scenarios in which abortion is necessary while still respecting life and promoting good health and lifestyles. America is a wonderful country governed by and for its people. Sometimes, compromise could be a great solution.
Glenn Gordon - My name is Glenn Gordon. I am a college student attending Southern Adventist University in Tennessee, where I study Mass Communications. I ...
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