Am I the only pro-choice person...?

Question

I was just wondering if I am the only pro-choice person who would persuade a woman or girl NOT to have an abortion.

I feel very strongly about this subject and think abortion is wrong but it's a person's right to choose what is right for themselves.

What are your beliefs on abortion? (non-political and NOT concerning a person's right to choose)

Do you feel abortion is wrong or right? It's a simple question irregardless of a person's right to choose.

For those of you who don't understand what I mean by "right" or "wrong" here's the dictionary definitions for better clarification.

right- true: consistent with facts or belief

wrong-not meant: not the intended or desired one

Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Again--I'm not talking about making abortion legal or illegal.

This is just about the simple fact of abortion. Not concerning government AT ALL!

Thanks!

piepiepe-you’d be surprised how many woman think abortion is their only out. They think the only way they can make a unplanned pregnancy can work is to have an abortion. I used to work at a pregnancy crisis center where woman would come in to find out they were pregnant and/or get guidance. With some woman they do not even know there are other options out there opposed to abortion. If someone knows for a fact abortion is what they want to do with their body there is no help trying to say “don’t get an abortion” because obviously they’ve already made their choice. There are other woman out there who are considering (key word--”considering”--which means undecided) what to do--in that case of course I would tell them well you have three options: abortion, adoption, and to keep the child. It confuses me why someone would suggest abortion to someone undecided--of course I would make them aware of that option but I wouldn’t push that at all.

I wouldn’t push adoption or to keep the child either but I would explain to them the whole aspect of abortion morally, psychologically, the procedure, and of course spiritually (if they are spiritual). As well as the moral and psychological issues with adoption. And of course the financial, maturity and psychological issues with keeping the child. In the end of course--they will be informed of ALL of their options. Not just abortion but every little aspect of an unplanned pregnancy. As far as I’m concerned personally, I would much rather see a person keep a child or give it up for adoption, because I know how the guilt of an abortion can tear people down their whole lives--of course that is not everyone but I believe it is true for most.

I think most people are ill-informed about abortion and what it really is. While I know it’s undecided when life begins--it’s hard to believe that a “fetus” with hands, feet, facial features, and other things “babies” have.

The only reason, I suppose I’m not “pro-life” is because there are not enough facts to support either argument (pro-choice or pro-life) because no one knows when life begins--at conception or birth.

If someone were to ask me what to do (which remember was my job) I would explain all aspects of their options. It’s not a simple choice you can make--I was pregnant as a teen and while I am aware my situation does not fit the stereotype--I remember the worry. While I never considered abortion, I’m glad it is an option, because (a) God gave us free will in the beginning--the right to choose, and (b) you are right abortion can be the “right” choice for someone else.

When asked I will not say things like "it's wrong, you are going to Hell" or anything of that nature. When people come to me seeking advice I will tell them the truth. And the truth is MOST woman who have abortions have guilt issues their whole life. MOST woman do not know what the procedure they are curious about having entails. MOST woman do not know what the Bible *may or may not say concerning abortion. MOST woman do not know that there are other outs.

I'm starting to believe that is what pro-choice is. I've read it on several websites that a pro-choice woman is merely a legal term. I would never question the legality of abortion being an option. I would however question if it is the right choose for every ill-informed woman.

Education frees people. I guarantee if some woman who are considering abortion knew about it--they would not get it. They'd suck it up and have the child.

Answer 1

I'll be your huckleberry on this issue although, there are a few things that shouldn't be put to vote or expressed on yahoo questions and answers and this as well as religion are just two of them. Right? or Wrong? what gives anyone the right to tell another person what she should or shouldn't do with THEIR bodies. I don't believe in abortion but I do believe there's a need for it as well. People who think they have the right to make people do what they believe in are flat out wrong and ignorant. As an ex- Firefighter/Medic, I have found fetuses to babies in dumpsters to public toilets for NO other reason than public pressure! Is this better than abortion? Is this what all these do-gooders would rather see? you can't have it both ways so which one is it? do these anti abortion, poke their noses where it doesn't belong instigators want a controlled enviroment or a filthy toilet? but it is ans will happen. I'm not for abortion but again, I do feel there's a need for it and that decision, right or wrong, belongs to the woman or child that's having that baby, Not a group of people waving signs and shooting Doctors as they arrive for work at the clinic.

Answer 2

I don't know how you can be pro-choice and want to persuade someone away from making a choice that goes for a choice not to have an abortion as well as the choice to have one. It seems to me that you simply recognise that people have the choice and that there is nothing you can do short of infringing on personal rights that can stop them.

Personally, I don't try and tell anyone that one choice is better than the other. What someone who is truly pro-choice would do is simply promote education and discourage the pro-life lies and rhetoric against abortion. Adding in your own opinion is fine with friends but, unless you've been there and you haven't been another person even if you had an abortion, you're only adding to the confusion of the situation. Abortion is one of the few situations where 'whats okay for me might not be okay for you' stands true. It's not black and white and sometimes abortion is infact the best choice.

So, I guess what I'm saying is while you passively accept that people have a choice and may agree that that choice should be protected, you are not really pro-choice. You are discouraging choice by encouraging what you believe is right. I'm curious how you discourage abortion without making the same assumptions pro-lifers make. Do you say things such as "you'll regret it, it's murder, it's bad for your body ect." or by simply promoting adoption or child birth while skipping over the truth about abortion. Choices are made by individuals but, as I'm sure you know, individuals are easily influenced especially those individuals who are trusting and under educated about their choice. You need to give each choice it's equal amount of attention as well as truth. Being biased, makes you passively anti-choice.

Answer 3

I am pro-choice but I would definitely persuade a girl or woman not to have one if I felt she was doing it for the wrong reasons and might regret it.

I don't beleive abortion is "right" or "wrong". I beleive that sometimes, sad as it is, its the best option.

If you were talking about a 13 year old girl who'd been raped and made pregnant by her attacker, for instance, or was the result of incest or abuse. There is no way in hell that child should have to go through 9 months of pregnancy (hard as hell!) with a rapist's child and 48 hours of agony giving birth just to hand over the baby to a childless couple like its an unwanted puppy! I don't know how they could go through it! I'm sorry but say what you want about the "poor little baby", the girl's feelings would come first to me.

Also in the case of someone who was told that continuing with a pregnancy could kill her or make her very ill - or that her baby would be badly disabled or might not survive. Thats a very personal decision to be made by the woman and her family under the advice of their doctors and quite frankly is noone else's business.

We are all different and just because one person coped very well with a difficult situation doesn't mean everyone will be able to.

On the other hand, if its a mature woman with a job and a home or someone who is quite capable of coping with pregnancy and birth and bringing up a child then I would persuade them not to have an abortion. I'm 37 weeks pregnant and love it, despite it being bloody hard work!! I can't wait for my baby to be here and I can see what a blessing a baby is. If it was someone wanting an abortion because she was worried it would interfere with her career or studies, or because she just doesn't feel "ready" or because the father has disappeared on her, I'd try and talk her out of it. Careers and studies can be managed around babycare (hard but can be done), single mothers can cope very well with help from family and the Government, and I don't think anyone really feels "ready" when it happens. But you get used to it.

What I would never do is lay a guilt trip on any woman considering abortion or start going on about "baby murder" etc. That doesn't help anyway. If you wanted to persuade her to keep the child, doing it through kindness and understanding would work better than threats and guilt.

As for "having it and giving it up for adoption" well I personally can't see how any woman could go through 9 months of pregnancy with her baby inside her, and then labour and then hand that baby over to strangers. I couldn't. I guess some can but the fact that there is a shortage of children up for adoption in the UK right now suggests that very few can or do. Its not something I would suggest to any woman, I think it would be harder to get over than abortion and I guess only the woman herself knows if she could handle it or not.

Answer 4

People, according the the US Supreme Court, have no constitutional rights until they exit the vagina.

Perhaps they are denied a choice, but since they would be minors, it is up to the parents to make choices for them just as they would for their toddlers.

I would think that they should try to make a choice that benefits the future child, but many women think they should make the choice that benefits their own daily convenience and allows the maximum amount of unfettered sexual gratification.

The best choice is prevention, of course. It would minimize the problem, so that abortion could be limited to protecting the health of the mother. There is nothing wrong with adoption, either. Pragmatically, outlawing abortion will always lead to rusty coat-hangers and maimed and dying girls, as the past proved..

And I think the majority of women who have had abortions occasionally have tinges of guilt and later wonder how much fun that little person could have been had they let it live.

Answer 5

I Am Pro-Choice. I Think That There Are Better Options Other Then Abortion Such As Adoption, But I Do Belive That It Is A Womans Right To Chose What She Has Done To Her Body Especialy In Such A Deeply Emotional Subject Such As This.

Answer 6

I think it should be illegal.If some one murdered a woman, and the cops found out she was pregnant, then they charge the killer with 2 counts of murder, so what makes abortion not murder.People that say abortion isn't murder say the baby isn't born yet, its just a bunch or cells.Well then if thats the way it is with abortion then someone who kills a pregnant woman shouldn't be charged with two counts of murder.YEAH RIGHT!Its murder either way.There is no reason why a woman can't have the baby and if she doesn't want it put it up for adoption.

Answer 7

I'm for every woman having the choice...I just can't believe that, after knowing the facts, they would choose abortion.

But then again, I'm for animal rights and I can't believe anyone would still eat meat after seeing the horrendous torture the animals go through...but so many do anyway. I showed my husband a video of a cow hanging by a leg and screaming and he still eats meat.


I think it's interesting that people are talking about souls. I'm against it because I've seen the Silent Scream and I've seen the baby trying to get away from the tube that's going to suction it away in pieces, tearing the arms and legs off. It's horrible. Death, to me, isn't the end. Pain and suffering, THAT'S what I can't handle.

Answer 8

I would not try to talk someone out of having an abortion for the simple fact of that it is their life, their body and their own decision.

If they are wanting to have an abortion then so be it, i would think that they would not want someone butting into their life with someone else's concerns.

It is their body not yours so how do you have the right to talk anyone out of anything?

I think abortion is right and any woman/girl can have them if they want without anyone asking them not to go through with it because they are against abortion.

Answer 9

100% against it no matter what the circumstances. Abortion is wrong it is murder and it should not be legal. If I had a friend who wanted to have an abortion I would do everything I could to talk them out of it but, I would never scorn a woman who did have an abortion Jesus died for our sins who am I to judge another person. I have friends who have had abortions and it still haunts them I wouldn't want that for anyone. And for those of you who say you would only do it for medical reasons the doctors told me my daughter was going to be born with severe health problems and limited brain function they recommended termination but although she does have lots of problems and spends her days in a wheelchair and cannot speak she is a beautiful loving child of God who brings joy to our family and everyone who knows her she would have never have been able to share her gifts if she had been aborted! God makes us all in his own image every life is valid. Remember God knew us even before we were born we had a soul.

Answer 10

I see it this way:
If a pregnant woman does NOTHING but stay healthy, she will give birth to a baby. Religion and science aside, that is enough for me to believe that abortion is wrong because prevents a new person from being born.
Now, I believe that life begins at conception, and that just because the baby can't survive outside the mother for several months, doesn't give the mother the right to kill it. (I know you said to leave freedom of choice out of it, but I can't) To me, the fetus never BECOMES a baby. It always IS a baby.

I am very passionate on this issue because if my mother had succumb to the pressure that she was getting from her friends and family, I would have never been born. I'm not exaggerating.