I attended a Catholic school for the entirety of my high school career, so believe me when I say I am relatively experienced when it comes to debating topics of morality, especially that of abortion. I have had biased opinions from both sides shoved in my face, mostly from the extremist Catholic side, but also from the extremist pro-choice side during discussions I have been a part of.
Many different view points have been suggested to me that did not sit well, and I have taken countless opportunities to really dig into the subject, research on my own what the issue is, and formulate my own opinion on the issue at hand. I’ve argued from both sides at some point in my life as I have battled between one opinion and the other. It may seem that you have to pick a specific side, but what I have discovered is there are truths between the two, and both of these sides coexist nearly perfectly already. What we have failed to do is recognize this fact due to our own stubborn tendencies and personal belief of what is right and wrong. The truth is there will never be a widespread agreement as to what is right and wrong. Everyone has a their own moral compass, steering them in a different direction, and the best thing we can do is recognize this and try to understand one another and work together, or else no one is going to be content.
No matter how abortion is handled, whether it is legal or illegal, SOMEONE’S rights are going to be infringed upon, whether that be the mother or the child’s, and I believe that is the main reason as to why this is such a tricky issue. Do we make abortion illegal and infringe on the rights of the woman and her body? Or do we make abortion legal and encourage the violation of the rights of the human child? Everyone has the right to life.
I recently saw a post from a pro-choicer on Facebook concerning the lives lost of those who are transgender, and I did not say anything out of obvious respect for her post and the lives lost, but she mentioned the fact these people had the “right to live,” and the common desire for life that is in all of us. I found it funny she could say such a thing, but she could find herself unable to say the same thing about a human soul tucked away inside of its mother’s womb, alive and desiring that same right to live. It doesn’t matter whether or not a child can sustain life on its own when it is aborted, what matters is the human soul inside of it. When you abort a child, you kill that human soul; you kill that desire for life. I feel that some people do not recognize this, which is what prevents that moral monitor from going off when faced with such a decision. Sure, the living circumstances may be inadequate for the baby when it is born, but that doesn’t stop the same right to life and desire to live that is in everyone. For pro-lifers, I truly believe spreading THIS message rather than shaming those who think differently, and attempting to make the whole process illegal, would be more effective. Spread the message of the desire to live, take out the religious connotation, and help council women and educate them of their options, as well as the REAL, not MADE-UP, side effects that come along with abortion. No biased anything. Facts. Because there are negative side effects that come along with abortion, whether it is medical or emotional. They may not apply to everyone, but women should be made aware. Here is a link to a website that provides thousands of testimonies from women about their experiences.
With this in mind, the option for abortion should of course remain legal, so as to not infringe on the rights of women who think differently. For women who truly believe the option of abortion would be best for herself and her situation, the option MUST remain legal so as not to infringe upon her rights either. If abortion is made illegal, it is still going to happen in the most unsafe and savage ways, which not only endanger the life of the child but the life of the mother as well. Argue all you want for the rights of the baby, but you must take into consideration the rights of the mother.
If you take a step back for just a minute from your own agenda, you may just see that this is basically how it is right now. What pro-lifers need to recognize is that their prevention methods may appear inconsiderate to the other side, and their goal should be to lower the numbers, not sweep it under the rug. Advocate the value of life, and slowly people will listen and life will regain its value. Pro-choice people need to stop with the hostile attitude that women’s rights are the only ones that matter, and recognize that someone’s rights will be violated no matter what. The option is available to you, but realize the desire to live is in all of us, even those you cannot see. Both parties need to listen to one another, and recognize the common desire for goodness and justice between them, and maybe, JUST maybe, a general consensus can finally be reached.
