A question for those who answered the following question:?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnEo8EbNK5Sjrrx7QJ_fsYLty6IX?qid=20070522135433AAKZw5Y&show=7#profile-info-LWlwYFuMaa

I see a lot of people saying that they are pro-life because "people should be held responsible" for their actions (I guess, in this case, having sex).

To my way of thinking, this rationalization celebrates the notion of using the fetus, baby, embryo, whatever we want to call it, as a punishment.

How is that ANY different from the claim that pro-choice people view the fetus, baby, embryo, whatever, as property?

I'm not being flip; I really want to hear the explanation. Politely, if at all possible.

Why didn't the first two answerers actually answer my question?

I'm not debating the ethics or legality of abortion... I'm asking for an explanation of ONE rationalization I've heard people use against abortion.

That is not a "Do you think abortion is right?" question. I'm asking about a reason given, not about the issue itself.

jehen: But they say, "I am pro-life because people should be held responsible for their actions." Ergo, as punishment for having irresponsible sex, a woman should have to give birth. There's nothing in that argument about a fetus being a human being, only about the mother's actions. So I'm asking how that point of view is different from the one that states that to say, "my body, my choice" is to treat the fetus as a "thing."

Jacob: an unborn child is not protected by our Constitution, which is the document that governs how laws are made in this country. The Constitution (14th Amendment) states that to be a citizen of the U.S., you have to have been born here or naturalized. A fetus has done neither. Therefore, it has no rights under our Constitution.

Answer 1

That seems to be how the pro-life camp views a fetus; as a divine punishment to the mother. They could certainly care less about it's welfare after it's born. They also proselytize, berate, bully, and provide medically inaccurate information to frightened young women.

I am pro-choice, I don't view a fetus as property.
It is the potential for life. It is alive once it is born, and not dependent on another body for it's survival.
That is not to say that abortion is right, especially in late term. But it is a woman's right to have ownership of her reproductive organs, and to protect her own life, health and well-being. But she must take responsibility to protect herself from unwanted pregnancy as well. A woman that refuses to take responsibility & protect herself has no business having sex.

I have been in that position. 2 years ago both methods of contraception failed. I thankfully miscarried before I could make an appointment, but it was the most painful, heartbreaking experience my BF and I have ever gone through.

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure that the biggest argument for Pro-choice people is NOT that people should be held responsible for their actions (Even thought that is true)....
What I hear the most is how the fetus is a child, a living being...

But since you brought up being held responsible, Why shouldn't people be held responsible for their actions? It's not saying that the fetus is a punishment. It's simply stating that people should really think things through before they act on them. The child would be the responsibility you have to deal with, the punishment would be the decision you have to make after giving birth to this child, weather its doing your best to raise it, or giving it up for adoption... You now have to live with that decision the rest of your life...

Answer 3

Hello, this may not answer your question, but it is my heart felt feelings.
How many pro lifers out there have opened up their door to a troubled teen that is on the street because he/she wasn't wanted or no one accepted responsibility for them, even though they may steal everything in your home.
I know, " they aren't my responsibility". Then what do the pro lifers really stand for in their illegal marches and blocking abortion clinics?? How many of these same people have visited or volunteered to a troubled teen center?? These teens are already here, and are alive, but dying because of uncaring, unresponsible parents. where are the pro lifers.

On the other hand, Embryo stem cell research will and has saved many lives. Abortions are and will be performed on a daily basis whether you like it, condone it, condemn it or not.
So why waste the chance and let the aborted fetus die in vain.
Put it to good use, to save the living.
I don't believe as many that abortion is used frivolously. I believe the mother does a lot of soul searching before she ever commits this horrrendous act. I personally know some of the people at some of these abortion clinics/hospitals.
A lot of them offer counseling before they will perform the abortion. They also inform them of other alternatives.
In summary, We will never agree on the pros and cons of responsibility in the terms of a human unborn fetus and the party that should have been the one to stand up to do the right thing. We all in different situations salve our concious to make ourselves feel better even when we know we are in the wrong.
God Bless all of you who read this.

Answer 4

First of all, as we are finding out with illegal immigration, you don't have to be a citizen of this country to enjoy the rights of the Constitution. This being said, I think that a fetus has as much of a right to the Constitution than an illegal immigrant does.

You bring up a good point, but I would answer it this way. IF we DO allow women to have abortions, that we are punishing her CHILD (or fetus, I prefer to call it a child) for HER actions.

If she goes out and has a good time one night, and decides she doesn't want the child, obviously someone has to suffer. This is a bad situation, because not everyone can come out happy.

However, who should suffer? The woman who made the bad decision? Or the child, who had NO PART in the decision, but was simply created because of it.

Answer 5

You are mistaken...We do not see the "baby" as a punishment, we use the argument of responsibility because of the silly argument that pro-choicer's give of an accidental conception...if your dittling around then it was no accident. We simply argue the point of being responsible for the personal action's and choices they made and not "Punish" a baby because it is an inconvenient result of said action's and choices. When your given irrational arguments and excuses then you do the best you can with an answer that brings some kind of rationality to the issue. Trying to pretend that you are a victim or that it is not your fault after choosing to engage in the only known cause of pregnancy is irrational.

Answer 6

So using your logic that an unborn child does not have any "Rights", under the Constitution, neither do illegal aliens.
BUT, they are protected by laws. In other words, if someone is not here legally, that does not mean if we kill them, we will not be punished for a crime. You could not use the argument that "This person has no rights." They still have the right to live.
I would argue an unborn child has this same "RIGHT" to life.
You are punishing an unborn child for the indiscretion of a third party. (Mother)

Answer 7

I answered all your previous questions on this issue with science, with a principle of protection of innocents, and with a challenge to your points of view reflected in your selection of answers.

One would think that if you were interested in discussion, that you might at least respond. One would think that a "free thinker" interested in "the truth", as so many libs profess to be, would address the issue on scientific, principled, moral grounds. One would think that a pro-abort would be more than happy to address counter-arguments, and could do so point by point.

You appear to have not even read my answers, much less addressed them. You did not even acknowledge my challenges, much less have an answer defending your position. So I wonder if responding to your questions re: abortion is even worth my time, since your mind appears to be closed to discussion.

ADDITION: To answer your question, jandl...me. And many many others. I think it is telling that you do not know about this, but make your assumptions anyway. Secondly, I am not aware of *ANY* lives saved by embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells have shown promise. If you have studies to validate your claim, you ought to include them in your answer. Otherwise, consider removing your claim.

Answer 8

All actions we decide to engage in have effects and consequences. Anti-abortion people such as I, do not believe that an innocent unborn child should receive the death penalty because his parents have chosen to behave irresponsibly.

Most pro-abortion people only seem to care about the rights of the mother. I am more concerned with the rights of the innocent unborn child. The mother has already had all the decisions she needed to avoid this situation. Once another person's life is involved her rights are no more important than the child's.

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Answer 9

Be responsible for you actions, if you cannot afford to have a child or support a family why should you take the risk of having one. I see abortion as a way to get out of the responsibility. Also, I was when do you consider it to be unethical to abort a fetus?
well if you do not understand the concept of responsibility the I am sorry to hear that.
So according to your last statment: only US citizens have right in the US?

Answer 10

Punishment? I think you mis-understand the 'responsibility' angle. To the Pro-lifer, the fetus is a person and you have a responsibility not to kill. To not kill a human being does not serve as punishment for your irresponsibility.