Abortion In America: An Introspective Approach

11.02.08

As we all know rather well, abortion is one hot topic in the United States. And rightly so. Each year worldwide, 42 million abortions are performed, roughly 115,000 per day. Here in the states in 1996 alone we averaged 1.4 million of them. This is by no means a small amount of aborted fetuses. Even for a hardcore pro- choicer, the ethical consequences of these procedures are questionable. As in any debate though, both sides have their facts and figures ready to go if need be. Sometimes the information is accurate, most of the time it's skewed to fit the organizations agenda. As a result of millions of Americans commitment to this issue, millions of voters this election will cast their vote for a particular candidate simply due to their stance on abortion. This is without a doubt, the most morally and ethically pressing issue of our time.

But the fact is, nobody is for abortions. Abortions are gruesome, detestable acts of disparity in which very little good comes from. The powerful opinions deeply rooted in this argument are so strong and unwavering, that this issue rattles the oft golden lauded nerves of our socio- ethical conscience.

But, it is impossible to speak of abortion without mentioning the landmark 1973 supreme court case of Roe v. Wade. In this case it was officially presumed, at least on a theoretical level, that the mother may abort her pregnancy for any reason up until the "point at which the fetus becomes 'viable'". Abortion was now a constitutional right.

Naturally we're still debating the outcomes of that ruling decades later. Both sides have their arguments and tactics as do I. Some placid tactics, some downright violent, and even deadly ones. This sometimes turgid issue can and does lend itself to opinionated interpretation.

-It is my belief that abortion laws should be federally mandated
-It is my belief that abortion should only be allowed between conception and the following 28 days.
-It is my belief that abortions should only be allowed after that period if...
- the pregnancy threatens the mothers welfare (health wise or financially)
- the pregnancy is a result of incest, or rape
- the fetus has scientifically provable deficiencies that may tax the mothers welfare or the
integrity of the child.
-If the mother is under the age of 18, the parent(s)/guardian(s) legally need(s) to be notified of the child's situation if they are not.
-Each abortion would require the mandatory blood test of the mother to determine if illegal substances are present. If so, the mother should be apprehended by authorities and denied an abortion. UNLESS the fetus is scientifically provable to be born with severe deficiencies due to the use of illegal substances.