Abortion Debate

You are about to witness a debate over a subject that has been widely and heatedly argued for years. As early as 1916, there were discussions of forms of abortion. It, at the time however, was called "Planned Parenthood". Under the Planned Parenthood program the babies were born and then killed in order to "weed out our society". This is much different from today's abortions that are done for reasons such as safety to the mother and the mother/families well being in general. I am confidant that once a person has chosen a side of this argument that person will stick with it. Some do it for religious values, and others, because they are too stubborn to change their minds. I am accepting of that. I just hope that after we are done that you will take the time to think about what was said by both sides and make an educated decision.

Okay, let's start this off by discrediting the arguments by means of presenting facts. It is often stated, diligently and blindly argued that it is "un-Christian" to end another's life. To that I reply, it is the job of the government to decide what should be legal and punishable by law. How is it logical to expect that the Christian God should play any role whatsoever in the American government. America is the land of the free, if I'm not mistaken. Numerous non-Christians live in this country alongside the Christians. Why should they be governed by a being that they don't acknowledge, let alone believe in or serve? Here's a fact from a 2000 census: Women identifying themselves as Protestants obtain 37.4% of all abortions in the U.S.; Catholic women account for 31.3%, Jewish women account for 1.3%, 18% of all abortions are performed on women who identify themselves as "Born-again/Evangelical and women with no religious affiliation obtain only 23.7% of all abortions. ". These statistics lead me to believe that it's not a "religious ordeal" if 78% of all abortions are done to people with religious ties.

Another argument for Pro-life patrons is that every human has the right to life. I pose this question to you. At what point does a fetus become a baby? After the first trimester? When it leaves the womb? It is generally argued that once a fetus's heart begins to beat (between 8 and 12 weeks) that it is murder by another name to have an abortion. 90% of all abortions are done within the first 12 weeks after the last day of the mothers last menstrual period. Most of those are performed by the first 9 weeks. So, only 10% of ALL abortions are done when the baby is beginning its own life functions. Less than 1% of any abortion world wide is done after 24 weeks of pregnancy. PAUSE. And truly when you think about it, who should have that choice? The mother is who. At no other point in time is such a pressure placed upon an individual. Being pregnant is an event that could have severe consequences if something terrible comes occurs. Mothers would, if pro-life were the only way, be required to carry a child for approx. 9 months and then endure the birth of that child. If that person carried that baby and it was a baby of rape, would it not look like that government was punishing her for getting raped. It is her body and she has the right to do with it what she wants.