abortion debate?

Question

My friends and I really enjoy debating, on a variety of topics from politics to philosophy to social issues. One thing that comes up from time to time is abortion.

These debates seem to get a lot more heated than any of our other ones, and there are clear lines... about 85% of the group is completely against abortion (pro-life), and the remaining 15% advocates people being able to make their own decision (pro-choice).

The thing that really bothers me is that the self-titled pro-lifers always talk about what the Catholic Church says. I respect that they have specific religious views, but some pro-lifers and most pro-choicers aren't Catholic, and anyway "because the RCC said so" is a logical fallacy.

What I am asking is what are some good points to bring up in a debate so that I can defend my stance (pro-choice) better? It has always ended up with my friends calling me a murderer, and we're not achieving anything but bruised feelings and intellectual stagnance.

So: points???

I'm not talking about partial-birth abortions... my stance is that women should be able to choose, especially after rape/incest but at any time within the first trimester. I don't like abortion, but I do feel that women should have basic reproductive and medical rights, and that abortion is sometimes a better option than having a kid who will live their whole life as a vegetable or who will not likely get adopted and is destined for a life of abuse and crime.

I've tried the "What if a person was raped?" but they always counter with "Why should you punish the baby? It couldn't help how it was conceived!"

Some of you don't seem to understand my point -- abortion in the case of rape, incest, or whenever else a woman deems it necessary. But not as a method of contraception, not as a way to choose the gender of a child, and not after the first trimester. If the mother is psychologically fit to make her own decisions and she has made a well-reasoned decision to abort her pregnancy (yes, it is a pregnancy, yes it is a potential child, I know that) then she has -- or should have, anyway -- the right to do that.

I am not advocating 2nd or 3rd term abortions (unless it is ABSOLUTELY necessary, like for ectopic pregnancies), or partial birth abortions, or letting the kid die right after birth. Those are irresponsible and frankly revolting... there is not any excuse for those. But they are very different from first term abortions.

Answer 1

I am pro-choice (actually in some cases I believe it should be manditory by law, but we wont get into THAT debate! :P) and I always find it more than difficult to debate abrotion with anyone who is pro-life. What I have found is that many pro-lifers generally relate their opinion on abortion to their religious beliefs, and once that happens, I think all is lost. I have grown up religious, with both of my parents being extremely active in our church, I went to Roman Catholic school, bible camps, youth groups, what have you, and yet I am heavily pro-abortion.
I think the best way to apporaoch an abortion debate, is to ask people WHY they have strong opinions about abortion. Were they told by their parent that they were to be aborted? Did one of their parents want them to be aborted, and they have resentment towards that? Do they have a negative experience personally from having an abortion, or knowing someone who has?
I can always fight the debate quite well because I have had 2 abortions, and still went on to carry a full pregnancy to term, and am pregnant again right now (my fiance is extremely fertile...lol).
Use personal experience as your tool, and it will help everyone to see why their opinions are what they are. If someone says "god hates abortions" or something close-minded like that, then end the debate. Debates should be held when all parties are open enough to realize the pro's and cons of every topic!
EDIT: One more comment I would like to add, is to try and avoid bringing "what if the baby had a mental or physical disorder" into the debate, as abortions aren't allowed after the first term has ended, and there is no way of knowing at that time how the baby will develop. With that being said, we were given the option at 5 months of pregnancy to abort our daughter, after finding out she had dwarfism. At that point, it is the hospital's decision to abort for medical reasons, and it is considered legal. But like I said, that is something that comes later, not during the first 3 months (first term)

Answer 2

What you need to do is to get some pictures of a fetus showing the developmental stages. If you're for it , you are a murderer. How could you see a small infant being developed
and think it is ok to kill it? There are too many ways to prevent
pregnancies .No one should ever have to get pregnant in the first place. I don't accept excuses.
Better yet, become a nurse. See all the tissue that is passed
when a female has a miscarriage. It might change your mind
when you have to pick up tiny ,tiny perfectly formed babies
that couldn't make it because they were too early. You need to
see what you're arguing about. If there's anything to you at all,
I think you would change your opinion. Why don't you find something useful to do with your life? Debates? Mop the floors or something.

Answer 3

You could bring up the issue of rape. If someone gets raped should they be forced to have the baby?

What if the pregnancy put the woman's life in danger. What if she can't handle the pregnancy for various medical reasons?

What if the baby has some sort of disorder or medical condition that would not allow them to have a normal, regular life? What if they were mentally disabled or has some other serious condition that might not allow them to live a long life?

These are a few points that you could argue about.

Answer 4

You should be able to have this debate without anyone calling you a murderer, mainly based on your opinion. You haven't killed anyone, not committed a crime just by stating your opinion. I am with all who say it is a woman's choice, and I think the government should stay out of our faginas!

Rape is a strong alibi, and so is the ability to provide a child with the quality of live they deserve. I do agree that abortion should not be used as a form of contraception, but that is rare and a choice of any woman, it is their body and they should treat it as they see fit.

If your friends continue to insult you, I think you should tell them that unless they back off with their bible stomping ways, stop the emo drama, then you cannot have a conversation with 5 year olds, deal with it.

I was raised Catholic, but in no way do I think religion has anything to do with my maturity or capability to become a parent.

Answer 5

This world is a complete mess now, because it so over populated now. Too many worthless people having children that do not have a productive assett to the well being of civilation.

This country needs to let people die faster and less births.
Face it we live longer and the low life people are the ones that continue to have the multible births and they live off the goverment.

In 50 -75 years the next war will be for food.....

Answer 6

I cannot think of one thing to offer you in defense of murdering a baby that is yet to be born, especially during a partial birth abortion. How can you defend something like this? Instead why not debate the importance of using birth control everytime or the morning after pill?
http://www.abortiontv.com/Pics/AbortionPictures1.htm

As for one of the answerer who said why should the government be able to tell a woman what to do with her body? Because the woman is usually not married and goes on welfare assistance for the taxpayers to pay for her inability to be able to provide for her and her baby.

Answer 7

Ask them about rape victims who get pregnant from the rapist. I wouldn't be able to raise a rape baby.

And what about babies that are deformed? I would want the choice to abort if I knew the baby was going to need 24hrs care and I couldn't afford the medical or care bills.

Answer 8

Even though were both clowns at this time am not going give you any points, there is no moral way that i could place it better than a human life the right to live.

pro choice just a stupid way of saying there was no contraceptives available

Answer 9

imagine getting pregnant and not wanting the pregnancy
how would the person feel about their child?hopefully good,
if the girl did not consent to have sex
finance
my sister had an abortion as she had only just given birth i wouldve done the same thing if i was in her situation

Answer 10

Why should the government be able to tell us what we can and what we can't do with our bodies...
What if you were raped and got pregnant, most women wouldn't be able to live with the constant reminder of what happened...
What if financially you were unable to care for a child or say the child is born with a developmental disability and you were unable to provide the needed care for it...