Ubiquitous birth control, OTC access to the "morning after" pill, education as to the proper use of condoms, diaphragms, and other contraceptives, etc. There is a LOT that could be done. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, if the people who protest outside abortion clinics instead organized an effort to give condoms and the "morning after" pills to people leaving bars and clubs at 2 AM, they would have a much larger actual impact on unplanned pregnancies than they do now. That would directly translate to success in reducing abortions because they would be addressing the root cause.
This is such a great post. I couldn't agree more in 28 years of dealing with these situations the only definition I can come up with for Pro Choice is that typically the baby's father is making more of the choice than the girl/woman. I can tell you in my life talking to alot of young girls considering abortion the pressure almost always comes from the boy/man and HE is the one making the choice. For college age women I have talked with it is basically the same but they somehow feel empowered that they are a part of the decision process... but I still find it very significant how often the father or the parents and even other girlfriends are pressuring the 'choice' For all the talk of a woman's right to choice in my experience a low % of women are actually making any independent decision. Most past experiences I can think of where the father and/or the parents are not pressuring for abortion it is not the option taken. I have seen the exceptions where the girl doesn't even know the father (thank you one night stands) or she doesn't want to be with the father but those cases again underline the fear that women face when left without a committed father for support. Pro-Choice should include the definition of men CHOOSING to avoid becoming the father of a child and parents CHOOSING to not support their kids.
Everybody can't do everything. I'm concerned for the lives of children for whom educating their parents about birth control is too little, too late. You go, boy! You're in a good fight; keep it up!
Exactly. In response to the problem of finite time and resources, you choose to engage in actions that will not help to solve the problem rather than those that will. So noted. You're in a good fight too, you're just using the wrong strategy and fighting with counterproductive tactics.
Do you disagree with my assumption that the vast majority of women 20-24 in the U.S. know that the possibility of a pregnancy exists when they have sexual relations? Do you disagree with my assumption that these same women know about birth control options that exist and have access to such birth control? It's not that hard to stop by a convenience store and pick up a pack of condoms to carry around or leave next to your bed.
Of course, I just like to point out the parts I find interesting in your decision to do things that don't help while eschewing things that could. I don't have any problem with people who disagree, only with positions that don't make any logical sense.
In the heat of the moment, especially for women who weren't planning to have sex, it might very well be difficult to stop by a store. However, if our society weren't so moralistic, the "morning after" pill would be available OTC and those women would be able to interrupt the "potential life" before ever needing an abortion.
While I fall into the camp of pro-choice, my personal wish, as many others here have similarly stated, is that all pregnancies would be by planned choice; end in the live birth of beautiful children to wonderfully loving and caring parents; who will ultimately rear a happy, secure, and well adjusted child. Otherwise, I'm content with some considering me an endorser of murder. EDIT: the last line is only directed at those who would view me as such, and not as being entirely flippant.
I know you've had enough on this topic, but just wanted to answer this. You are correct women do have different attitude's towards abortion than men. But why? Its because they have a greater responsibility than men. They are the ones that experience the emotional bond in pregnancy, as well as having the physical possessoin of the baby. But does this give them the right to take its life? With great power comes great responsibility - Uncle Ben. Just because they have this greater responsibility thrown on them, it doesn't give them the right to kill. Appreciation for life is a human thing, does not matter if you are male or female. The girl made a choice to have sex, it was not forced on her, usually when you do this there develops a probability that you might get pregnant. So she took the CHOICE to play Russian roulet, and she lost. The kid has to suffer because of this? Talk about taking the easy way out. Many kids are born into poor condidtions, with very low chances of having bright futures, should all these children be aborted? Life is a struggle. Running away from it is weak. A woman who is raped is someone who's being forced into a bond between the baby and herself, its a disturbing process. Therefore, abortion is something that should be considered if its having an adverse effect to the mental state of the woman. In essence it comes down to whether the livelihood of the mother is being endangered. This is not a decision about comfort........................
While I do not believe that this really has any bearing on whether abortion should be legal or not, it is a very interesting side note. Birth control is widely available. It is provided at a low cost by groups like Planned Parenthood. If you are sexually active and do not want to be a parent, there is no real reason not to take advantage of these options.
so, it seems to me that bobrek and refman would be in favor of better birth control education and not just focus on absitnence. good.
There will always be potential for adverse effects upon pregnant women. In the same reply, you brushed aside how a pregnant girl could lose her family, her college education, and the father of her child because she decided to "play Russian Roulette." Any of which could be devastating to the mental state of a pregnant woman at that age. None of those reasons to abort is always a "choice of comfort", nor is it always sick. I think you're focused more upon the punitive aspects of unplanned pregnancies than the original intention of asking what is best means to help people in those situations and save some lives, whether potentially or productively, in the process.
Thanks for this post. Without getting into the abortion debate and anything have to do with the mother and her choice, let me just state the obvious, I guess, by saying that I can't think of any bigger a coward (and scum) than a guy who has sex with a girl, gets her pregnant, and then coerces or tries to convince her to abort their child because he doesn't want to man up and take responsibility and take care of his child. That's just garbage.
it seems to me that a large majority of this board feels this way. and after reading every single post in this thread I think it's pretty clear where every individual stands on abortion. From the far extreme left, to the middle of the pack, to the extremely far right, there is no doubt where everyone stands on this issue. the overwhelming majority is in agreement that abortions SHOULD be reduced through education/contraceptives and possibly abstinence to avoid unwanted pregnancies. instead of finger pointing and blasting religions/beliefs or laws, and just citicizing each others posts.........how about each and everyone of us either put up or shut up. whether it be collectively or indivudally. I game either way. Being critical and objective is tired and boring. I'd rather put my money(figuratively) where my mouth is and do something.
I don't know about you all, but my wife is already asleep... so YES. Let's waste no time here. Instead let's go re-educate the 20-24 year-olds that don't know what I knew when I was 12.... and I learned it all from my friends.
