Posted by
American Sweetheart on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 10:22:00 PM
Today I am going to cover Part 2 of When Does Life Start?
In my previous blog, we covered the following topics:
The History of Abortion-different techniques throughout the centuries
A brief synopsis of Roe vs. Wade
Statistics detailing the rate of abortion among different groups
In this blog, I will go over:
Pro-life vs. Pro-Choice and the arguments
President Elect Obama’s record on abortion
Education on the risks involved with abortion
Education on prevention and alternatives
Conservatism 101-Chapter 1, part 2: Protecting Life from the Beginning
Pro-Life:
What does it mean to be “pro-life”?
Traditional conservatives view being pro-life as accepting life as starting at conception and respecting life at all stages of development.
Being pro-life does not just mean that you are against aborting children, but it also covers the protection of people whom are unable to communicate for themselves due to various disabilities and illnesses. Pro-life is an acceptance of all life.
Many people that are a part of the pro-life movement not only accept the creation of life biologically, but spiritually. A vast majority of pro-lifers come from a Christian background, therefore protecting the lives of the unborn is also a matter of faith. Roman Catholics carry a strong presence in the pro-life movement, advocating for stronger education in abstinence (willfully refraining from sexual intercourse or other “pleasures” such as alcohol). The Church also argues the use of birth control, believing that we as humans should be blessed with as many children as we are meant to have under the will of our Creator. This stance is also due to the belief that inhibiting a woman’s ovulation is also ending life before it has a chance to grow.
The Bible never specifically speaks of abortion, but does pose views of unborn life:
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” Psalm 139:13-16
Conservatives that believe in life from conception 100% tend to view abortion at any stage in pregnancy as infanticide (The murder of an infant born alive; the murder or killing of a newly born or young child; child murder).
Advocates for the pro-life movement range in urging for legislation outlawing abortion or stronger sanctions and laws regarding the availability of abortion and the reasons that abortion can be sought. Conservatives believe in seeking alternatives to abortion, such as adoption, which will be covered later.
Pro-Choice:
There are many types of “moderates” on the pro-choice side of the abortion debate (meaning that people hold different views regarding what types of abortion should be allowed, how far into the pregnancy, and the privacy rights of the pregnant woman).
To be pro-choice means that you support a woman’s right to choose her fate and the fate of her unborn fetus when it comes to human reproduction. This not only encompasses a woman’s right to decide in every aspect of her fertility, but also with regard to having access to comprehensive sex education.
Those on the side of the Pro-Choice Movement are not all extreme, but most hold a considerably moderate view. Many pro-choice people believe in the choice of others, but it is not the choice they would make for themselves. Not all pro-choicers believe in abortion on demand, partial birth abortion, or unlimited access to abortion.
Some views regarding being pro-choice are that of believing:
- It is a woman’s body and she has the right to choose if and when she terminates her pregnancy
- Abortion is only okay in the case of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother (health risk)---This view is also popular among people on the pro-life side.
- Abortion is okay at any point in the pregnancy
- It should be legal to prevent “back alley” abortions (women would see a medical professional)
President-Elect Barack Obama and Abortion:
It is quite possible, that President-Elect Obama holds the single most liberal views on abortion in the United States. Obama wishes to pass the
"Freedom of Choice Act."
The FOCA legislation seeks to:
- Lift all federal abortion bans
- Impede upon the rights of parents to know that their minor child has had an abortion
- Lift proper education requirements regarding women seeking abortions (risks, safety, alternatives)
- Provide for abortion on demand at any point in a woman's pregnancy for any reason
- Would force faith based medical facilities to perform abortions
- Require tax payer funding for abortions
Obama supports this legislation and has stated at a Planned Parenthood sponsored event: "There will always be people, many of good will, whom do not share my view on the issue of choice. On this fundamental issue, I will not yield, Planned Parenthood will not yield...The first thing I would do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act."
Regarding his daughters, at a rally in Johnstown, PA, Obama said that "If they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."
Having a baby in Obama's view based on this statement, is not a joyous occassion. It is not a miracle, a gift. Having to accept responsibility for your actions (to be held accountable) is PUNISHMENT. A burden.
On the issue of partial birth abortion (described in as little detail as possible in my previous blog, but not without giving an accurate depiction of the process), Obama voted yes twice on legislation that would require medical treatment to be given to babies that survive this horrendous act. The legislation is called the
Born Alive Infant Protection Act.
The following is from the transcript (page 85 of the pdf file) during a debate of the legislation (taken on March 28, 2001 in which then State Senator Obama voted "no" on the legislation):
"Whenever we define a previable fetus as a person that is protected by the equal protection clause of the Constitution, what we are really saying is, in fact, that they are persons entitled to the kinds of protections what would be provided to a-- a child, a nine month-old--child that was delivered to term. That determination would then, essentially, if accepted by a court, would forbid abortions to take place."
Essentially, what I am taking from this testimony, is that if a baby is not delivered to full term, they are not true citizens. I pose this question to Obama: I was born 6 weeks early. I was not able to breathe on my own when I was born because my lungs were not fully developed. My poor mother thought when I wasn't crying and she wasn't able to see me when I was born that she lost a second child. Not lost a previable fetus, lost a child. Should I, having not been carried to term, been left to die due to a "botched" pregnancy much like the babies that are not afforded the right to healthcare after surviving a botched abortion?
About 45 minutes before Jordan (my son) was delivered, his heartrate suddenly dropped. Since I went into labor a week early, should I have told my doctor and nurses not to do everything in their power to save Jordan because I wasn't carrying him to term anyway?
Just something to ponder over...
Since the election season, most of us have become familiar with Gianna Jessen. Gianna is a 31 year old woman who survived an abortion.
Is Gianna "previable?" She is alive today. Obama defined the babies that survive abortions as "temporarily alive." Gianna was 2 pounds at birth and due to the abortion process, now has Cerebral Palsy after she was burned with saline solution for 18 hours in the third trimester in her mother's womb. She was then placed in foster care and was later adopted by the daughter of her foster mother.
This is the man that the American people elected to be President of the United States. A man that believes so strongly in abortion, that he would spin the definition of a viable life to trample on the Constitution and the right of a living human to have medical aid to save their life.
A fetus is defined as: the young of an animal in the womb or egg
I would like to place emphasis on "in the womb" for the following reason: abortion is the process of ending the life of a fetus. Once a fetus "breaths air" it is no longer a fetus. It is a baby. A person. A human. A citizen of the soil on which he or she is born. President Elect Obama is for the killing of US Citizens when their life is inconvenient by this definition. (Which is legal and biological. That's just science! Biology 101)
The Risk in Abortion:
There are many risks involved during the process of an abortion. It is extremely important for a woman to be informed not only of the risk to her physical health, but to be aware of the emotional issues that may arise from having an abortion.
The website
After Abortion is a great resource detailing different physical problems that could result from an abortion including, and not limited to: future ectopic pregnancies, cervical cancer, endometriosis, hemorhagging, convulsions, cervical lacerations and tearing, and excessive bleeding.
The site
Pregnancy Centers not only provides information about immediate consequences and future possible physical complications, but provides for information regarding a woman's mental and spiritual healing and overall health.
Many women (and at times their male partners) experience depression, sexual disfunction, suicidal thoughts, overwhelming feelings of guilt, or even increased use of drugs and alcohol following an abortion. It may affect their relationship and the ability to hold together future relationships.
When choosing to go through with an abortion, it is extremely detrimental for a woman to know all of the facts before following through. The FOCA would inhibit pertinent information from being provided to women during the process of their choice.
Prevention:
The most ideal way to put an end to abortion and the ongoing debate would be to prevent situations in which women would be seeking an abortion. This can only be achieved through comprehensive education on safe sex, abstinence, and alternatives to abortion (like adoption).
It is important to not only know your options for participating in safe sex, but knowing what methods are right for you and your partner. Condoms are the most common method of practicing safe sex. In any given year, 2 out of 100 couples that properly use condoms will experience an unintended pregnancy. (Therefore, a properly used condom is about 98% effective). 15% of women that use no form of contraception will not get pregnant.
The FDA has released
important information regarding different types of contraceptives and their effectiveness when used properly. It is extremely important for women and their partners when looking into contraceptives to talk to their doctor about how to use the contraceptive to achieve optimal effectiveness.
Of course, the only full proof way to prevent unwanted pregnancy is to remain abstinent. Abstinence in this day in age is controversial. In a culture dominated by sex in the media, there is a great amount of pressure, especially on pre-teens, teens, and young adults, to engage in sexual activity before they are mentally ready to handle the consequences. It is important to teach our youth about respecting their bodies and letting them know with facts, that they are not invincible and that anyone can get pregnant.
Adoption:
The alternative to abortion is to carry a child to term and place the child up for adoption. There are many different types of adoptions, ranging from closed adoptions (where the biological mother will not be permitted to have contact their child) to open adoptions, where the child lives with their adoptive family, but the mother and possibly the mother's family members are a part of the child's life.
Here are some stastics from National Adoption Day:
Right now, there are an estimated 510,000 children in foster care in the United StatesOver 129,000 are waiting to be adopted into a permanent home
The average child waits more than 2 years for a family to take them in permanently
The average age of a child waiting to be adopted is 8 years old
Over 26,000 children each year will reach age 18 without ever being adopted
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I encourage everyone to look into adoption and fostercare. In college, I volunteered a group home for children that have been taken from their parents/guardian's care for various reasons. It was heartbreaking. It was one of the most rewarding and one of the most difficult experiences of my life. I will never forget those children and the impact that they had on me.
I want to conclude this blog with a poem that was sent to me when I lost my first baby:
An angel in the book of life wrote down my baby's birth, and whispered as she closed the book "too beautiful for this earth."
A heart of gold stopped beating, two shining eyes at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove he only takes the best.
God knows you had to leave us, but you did not go alone.
For part of us went with you the day he took you home.
To some you are forgotten, to others just the past.
But to us who loved and lost you, your memory will always last.
Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you took something from it and that I succeeded in giving information that will help you to better understand this issue and the future of abortion in the United States under our pending presidential administration.
***ETA*** I just wanted to add a link to inchdeep's blog and an article he posted about a recent atrocity out of a botched abortion. It's really hard to take in, but I encourage you to stop by his blog and check it out!