Why do people say "If you don't like abortion don't have one"?

Question

This to me is like saying "If you don't like the war don't join the army" or "If you don't like animal cruelty, don't beat your dog", "If you don't like child molestation then don't do it".
It doesn't address the real issue, it belittles the person you're talking to and it makes one look bad to have to resort to such a cheap "comeback". It seems absurd to me. Maybe someone can enlighten me.

Answer 1

The phrase has a lot to do with a person's view of abortion. Anyone who uses the phrase believes that abortion does not hurt anyone except potentially the individual woman having it. Instead of comparing the phrase to "if you don't like child molestation then don't do it" they would compare it to things like "if you don't like alcohol don't drink it" or "if you don't like dancing then don't dance."

Of course, usually they are saying the phrase to someone who is against abortion and believes that it does hurt someone besides the mother (presumably the fetus), and thus they percieve it as similar to the examples you gave. It is not a very smart comeback, because it shows complete lack of understanding of the other side of the arguement. However, at the same time it is logically sound with the pro-choice opinion and thus not absurd.

Answer 2

Its not totally absurd. But abortion is one of the personal choices, its not something you can force someone to do or not to do. The examples you cited like war or child molestation or animal cruelty are a little bit different. War involves many people (not all of which are totally willing) and affects many people, whether or not they CHOOSE to join the war or not. Same thing with animal cruelty and molestation. You may not choose to do any of those, but when its done by other people, people still get hurt and it has lasting effects on them. Abortion is a personal choice, and while I wont say it has no effects at all on the person that chooses to do it or the people around them, it cant and shouldnt be equated on the level of war or child molestation should be.

Answer 3

Here's the central issue.

For the first few months, the embryo cannot survive independently of the mother. Medical fact, not really subject to reasonable debate. Thus, by definition, it is not an independent human life.

Is it a human life at all (pre-viability). Well, some people say yes, from the moment of conception. And some say no, not until it can survive on its own. Who is correct? Both or neither -- it's a matter of faith.

Well, there's the problem. In this country, matters of faith cannot be legislated. In other words, you can't base a law on religious grounds.

If a woman doesn't believe that the small clump of cells growing in her body is an actual "human life with a soul" during the first few months, science cannot contradict that. Religion can, but religion shouldn't be dictating laws.

So, if that woman doesn't want to be a living incubator to these cells, which she doesn't consider human YET, then forcing her to do on religious grounds is effectively using the law to enforce religion. And that's not allowed here.

That's what the "freedom of choice" debate is really about. It's not whether abortion is objectively good or not, or whether an embryo (pre-viability) is a person or not.

Pro-lifers say "abortion is bad, and an embryo is a person". Pro-choice advocates say "maybe yes. maybe no. But I don't think the government should be making those decisions".

That's the point of the argument. Who gets to make the decisions. Pro-lifers want to impose their beliefs, which are almost always religiously based, on everyone else whether they agree or not. Pro-choice advocates want people to be able to make those choices themselves, because many people don't believe in or agree with the religious reasons against early abortion.

The saying you quote basically highlights that dispute. It's like saying "If you don't think people should work on Sundays, then don't". Or "If you don't think people should be using condoms, then don't use them yourself." Not everyone agrees that abortion (pre-viability!) is morally wrong. And those who think it is morally wrong (which is a religious determination) shouldn't be allowed to impose their religious views on anyone else.

Answer 4

How is asking those things belittleing someone when you tell them that " If you dont like Animal Cruelty then Don't beat your Dog." That's belittleing??

I think it shouldn't offend someone or seem as a cheap comeback if you practice what you preach. So unless your hard-headed for some reason then I dont know why any of those things would belittle someone. They are all true....... for the most part!!

Answer 5

abortion and the things you mention are not the same issue.
abortion is a personal choice made by the mother about her own body, her own self. the others deal with people outside of yourself. they're not personal choices since they affect other people directly.

to make myself more clear. you cannot abort me. but you could beat my dog, molest me, or force me to join the army.
just like you can kill me, but you can't choose my religion for me.
that's a difference between a personal choice, and one that affects others directly.

this is of course assuming that the fetus is not another person, that it is in fact just part of the woman's body.

Answer 6

The real issue is that this is an entirely subjective debate that can never be solved.

People who think abortion should be illegal shouldn't partake in them, but they also have no right to try and force the people who think it should remain legal to change their minds and agree with them.

Both sides are based on strong opinions. This is more like saying "If you don't like the army, don't join the army."

The 'comeback' essentially means 'you have your opinion, I have mine. Don't force yours on me. Mind your own business.'

Answer 7

Because some people believe that the Mother, whose body the baby is in, has the right to make her own moral judgements as to what is right and wrong in this issue.

Answer 8

those are just slogans from groups of people that choose where they stand in certain issues...

thats why you get the notion of them trying to belittle poeple...

Answer 9

It's a nice way of telling someone to "Mind ya' own!"