Pro and Con Arguments for Abortion
Pro and Con Arguments for Abortion
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. Abortion has been an intensely debated issue in the United States today. It is very difficult to find someone who doesn't have an opinion about abortion, and probably a strong opinion at that. Our country remains divided over what many consider the most conflict-ridden American issue since slavery. There are usually two sides. The pro-life side and the pro-choice side. Both sides make a good case. An agreement exists among pro-lifers and pro-choicers that when human personhood starts the person must be protected.
The endless debates on the topic usually go nowhere, leaving the rivals even more committed to their positions and the open-minded observers confused. One reason the debate goes nowhere is that each side focuses on a different topic. They make no progress because they are not talking about the same thing. The pro-abortionist prefers to discuss choice, and to stay on all of the social problems important in an unwanted child. The anti-abortionist is interested mainly in protecting the life of the fetus. In simple terms, the pro-abortionist focuses on a woman's rights and the anti-abortionist focuses on a fetus' rights. Though interconnected , these are basically different topics.
Though neither side realizes it, there is actually much more agreement than disagreement between the opposing views. The majority on both sides would agree that social problems like child neglect and urban overcrowding are serious issues. Most would also agree that the life of a child is a precious thing that deserves the full protection of the law. There would be general agreement that it is a woman's exclusive right to make decisions concerning her body. The disagreement is if the fetus is a human being. If you believe it is not a person, then it is simply part of the woman's body and subject to her complete control. From this point of view, any attempt to belittle that control is a malicious infringement upon a woman's rights. If, however, you believe the fetus is a person, then you are obligated to protect it, even to the point of restricting the actions of the woman carrying it. The objectives of both groups are the same, it is to reduce the number of abortions, and to make any needed abortions safe. However, they have very...