Abortion

[Cal]

It's extremely selective. Pro-life campaigners have no right to tell a woman how to live her life. Hell, you might as well legalize human trafficking while you're at it.

I agree that pro-life campaigners have 'no right' to do that but neither do pro-abortionists. Whether or not life biologically begins at x weeks is irrevelant when some women do already feel bonded with their unborn child when they discover they're pregnant.

So if you say it's not a foetus 'til eight weeks gestation, then no abortion after eight weeks?

But pro-choice campaigners aren't forcing anything upon a woman. We don't want a law which says "You must have an abortion if you fall pregnant.". We just want women to have the right to choose. It's a difficult decision, but everybody knows that life isn't all roses. Abortion is sometimes a blessing for women in some countries. They abort so the child isn't born into a life of war, rape, mutilation and poverty.

I'm going to take the risk and say not all pro-choice campaigners are pro-abortion. I wouldn't encourage it at all because it could be something a woman could regret, but I'm not going to sit back and judge a woman and force her to carry a child. It's not right.

[Jess]

It's extremely selective. Pro-life campaigners have no right to tell a woman how to live her life. Hell, you might as well legalize human trafficking while you're at it.

I agree that pro-life campaigners have 'no right' to do that but neither do pro-abortionists. Whether or not life biologically begins at x weeks is irrevelant when some women do already feel bonded with their unborn child when they discover they're pregnant.

So if you say it's not a foetus 'til eight weeks gestation, then no abortion after eight weeks?

But pro-choice campaigners aren't forcing anything upon a woman. We don't want a law which says "You must have an abortion if you fall pregnant.". We just want women to have the right to choose. It's a difficult decision, but everybody knows that life isn't all roses. Abortion is sometimes a blessing for women in some countries. They abort so the child isn't born into a life of war, rape, mutilation and poverty.

I'm going to take the risk and say not all pro-choice campaigners are pro-abortion. I wouldn't encourage it at all because it could be something a woman could regret, but I'm not going to sit back and judge a woman and force her to carry a child. It's not right.

I'm not judging anyone for having an abortion - I know it must be one of the hardest decisions in the world - but what I'm saying is that it seems that pro-life advocates can't shout too loudly about the right to life for fear that people will label them as being unfair, etc, but that pro-abortionists can shout the merits of termination from the rooftops because it's "the woman's choice" and, heck, the baby isn't even a 'real' baby yet.

Like you said, "life isn't always roses" but that isn't the child's fault, so I'm not sure how so many social abortions can be justified. We're getting into dangerous territory if one's to say that imperfect people born into imperfect situations shouldn't be allowed to live.

I guess the main thing here is that I believe that once a sperm and an egg have met and have fertilised there's a child there and that cihld has much of a right to live as the rest of us.

[Nathan.]

It's extremely selective. Pro-life campaigners have no right to tell a woman how to live her life. Hell, you might as well legalize human trafficking while you're at it.

I agree that pro-life campaigners have 'no right' to do that but neither do pro-abortionists. Whether or not life biologically begins at x weeks is irrevelant when some women do already feel bonded with their unborn child when they discover they're pregnant.

So if you say it's not a foetus 'til eight weeks gestation, then no abortion after eight weeks?

But pro-choice campaigners aren't forcing anything upon a woman. We don't want a law which says "You must have an abortion if you fall pregnant.". We just want women to have the right to choose. It's a difficult decision, but everybody knows that life isn't all roses. Abortion is sometimes a blessing for women in some countries. They abort so the child isn't born into a life of war, rape, mutilation and poverty.

Is it a blessing for the woman or the child? In saying that, would you also support a woman who kills her newly-born child so it can escape, as you say, "war, rape, mutilation and poverty"?

[~Lynd~]

What are your views on abortion?

Another thing is where the baby is deformed or will be born with a syndrome, such as Down. Why bring a person like that out into the world, to drain our Disability and respite sources, which will need someone to look after them for the rest of their lives? And who takes over after the parents pass on? The siblings, who have their lives changes because of their PARENTS' decision? An institution? If you give birth to a child knowing full well that child will need care for their entire lives, then pay for it yourself, 100%, I say. Don't use welfare or Disability or respite. After all, you had the CHOICE. Why should the taxpayer pay for your choice? Why should their siblings have to sacrifice their lives to take up the burden once you have passed?

As a disabled person i'm disgusted at this.You're a narrow minded idiot.

[grumble bum]

What are your views on abortion?

Another thing is where the baby is deformed or will be born with a syndrome, such as Down. Why bring a person like that out into the world, to drain our Disability and respite sources, which will need someone to look after them for the rest of their lives? And who takes over after the parents pass on? The siblings, who have their lives changes because of their PARENTS' decision? An institution? If you give birth to a child knowing full well that child will need care for their entire lives, then pay for it yourself, 100%, I say. Don't use welfare or Disability or respite. After all, you had the CHOICE. Why should the taxpayer pay for your choice? Why should their siblings have to sacrifice their lives to take up the burden once you have passed?

As a disabled person i'm disgusted at this.You're a narrow minded idiot.

I am disgusted as well. Some disabilities don't show up until after the baby is born.

[suzannelgnz]

Another thing is where the baby is deformed or will be born with a syndrome, such as Down. Why bring a person like that out into the world, to drain our Disability and respite sources, which will need someone to look after them for the rest of their lives? And who takes over after the parents pass on? The siblings, who have their lives changes because of their PARENTS' decision? An institution? If you give birth to a child knowing full well that child will need care for their entire lives, then pay for it yourself, 100%, I say. Don't use welfare or Disability or respite. After all, you had the CHOICE. Why should the taxpayer pay for your choice? Why should their siblings have to sacrifice their lives to take up the burden once you have passed?

I'm honestly gobsmacked by your comment,particularly because I have a disability myself.

Just because we can be labelled by some, doesn't mean that we can't make the most of our own lives regardless of what is wrong with us. Just because someone has a disability, no matter how minor, shouldn't mean that they should be condemned! (yes there are still some extremely narrow minded people who don't accept people like myself for who I am, but in general people are extremely accommodating )

Salem-You seriously need to open your eyes are realise that there are more people out there with disabilities than you obviously expect, and that life goes on for us, no matter how hard we have to try.

Overall on the issue of Abortion, It's something i'd never do (mind you, I do not intend to have children). However, I would never look down on someone who has made that choice (within reason, ie. Not as a form of contraception).

[sharksarecute]

As a person who wants a baby, has had miscarriages and having trouble falling pregnant, I sometimes feel very angry towards people who carelessly get pregnant and then have an abortion. It doesnt seem fair ! But, that is my issue and it is not for me to judge anyone. As my husband says, life is random and there is no reason for it sometimes.

I think though, that if abortion wasnt available for everyone who wanted it, then we would see alot of backyard abortions which are really very dangerous.

Im pro-choice.

[sharksarecute]

Firstly, it is NOT a 'child'! It is a nothing. A parasite attached to the host (mother), a clump of cells. Harsh, but its the cold hard fact. It is no more a 'child' than a sperm is, or blood on a sanitary pad is.

Being pregnant because of a rape means carrying a bad seed around and I find it absolutely horrific that anyone could even suggest that a person who was raped, would 'adjust' to seeing the 'likeness' in the born baby. That is callous and cruel. Women who say that, sorry, but I feel they betray their own sisterhood. Thats my opinion. A woman who has been raped would NOT want to keep the foetus. Thats common sense. And its easy for someone who has never been raped, to say such a ridiculous and horrifically ignorant and insensitive thing. To keep a bad seed that was the result of rape, is simply not something a normal woman would do.

I know you have a right to your opinion and OK, but Im kind of dumbfounded after reading this.

A question... have you ever been pregnant and felt a life grow inside you? if you had you would realise your CHILD even at 6 weeks gestation is NOT 'nothing' is not a parasite or a 'clump of cells'.

And to say that a normal woman who is pregnant following a rape would see her child as a reminder of what happened and would want an abortion is quite naive. Nothing is ever that cut and dry and you have NO RIGHT telling a woman in that situation that what she should or should do, or should not feel is right or wrong.

[Cal]

I'm not judging anyone for having an abortion - I know it must be one of the hardest decisions in the world - but what I'm saying is that it seems that pro-life advocates can't shout too loudly about the right to life for fear that people will label them as being unfair, etc, but that pro-abortionists can shout the merits of termination from the rooftops because it's "the woman's choice" and, heck, the baby isn't even a 'real' baby yet.

Like you said, "life isn't always roses" but that isn't the child's fault, so I'm not sure how so many social abortions can be justified. We're getting into dangerous territory if one's to say that imperfect people born into imperfect situations shouldn't be allowed to live.

I guess the main thing here is that I believe that once a sperm and an egg have met and have fertilised there's a child there and that cihld has much of a right to live as the rest of us.

I don't think you're limited to how loud you can shout. Protesting outside abortion clinics is a right, and it's a regular occurrence. Numerous far-right political figures have labelled pro-choice campaigners as "baby killers". I don't think pro-choice campaigners have resorted to name-calling yet. I have no problem with pro-life campaigners as long as their views aren't forced upon other people. I share the same view when it comes to religion. I'm totally open to religion and supporters of it just as long as it's not forced upon others or used as a tool to discriminate. A lot of my friends are pro-life and I will stand by them, but they're on their own when it comes down to life -v- choice.

You can be pro-choice, but anti-abortion. I would never label myself as a "pro-abortionist" because that's not what I am, I'm pro-choice. I know somebody who thinks abortion is wrong, but is willing to give women the choice.

Is it a blessing for the woman or the child? In saying that, would you also support a woman who kills her newly-born child so it can escape, as you say, "war, rape, mutilation and poverty"?

There's a rather large difference between cells and a fully formed, living baby. The cells cannot survive outside of the woman's womb, therefore it is not actually a seperate living entity as it is feeding off the woman, nor is it a baby. A baby is a young or newborn child, not a few cells in a womb.

I must reiterate that just because people are pro-choice doesn't mean they will force women to have abortions. It's a woman's decision. Pro-choice activists don't force anything on a woman. We just want to give women in today's society a choice. And if she decides to have an abortion, then it should be safe, legal and discreet. Banning it just increases the cases of coat-hanger abortions. Some of you may not agree with the choice, but nobody (pro-life or pro-choice) has the right to force a woman to do something.

[adelleforever]

Having a limited amount of Faith. I would see abortions as an incredibly diverse issue and one of the most controversial issues in our world today . And not neccesarily wrong. It all depends on the situation that woman/girl has placed herself into and personally I would never criticize or judge a woman/girl who has had to of made that decision. As it is completely up to them.

From another woman's point of view (Teacher) allegedly woman/Spouse she had met that either regretted having an abortion. Or always would wonder what their child would look like now .etc .

If I had been placed in that situation especially at my age!. I would have no Idea what to do and I -as some minors generally would- need extra guidance or counselling etc. . If you decide to go there then you need to be able to deal with the consequences especially at an age below 18.

I believe that if sexual education was improved in Government Funded schools (Especially in Australia) then It is my view that Abortion rates would be lower as well as rates of teenage pregnancy. In Australia I think about 1/10 girls may fall pregnant before they turn 18. And the legal age for sex is 16. With 16 being a relatively low age It's no wonder. And I believe that as some teenage girls/boys may not have the closest relationships of sorts with their parents they may-be misgiuded luckily I am very close to my parent's. Generally the only other sources teens have are The Internet and Magazines such as Dolly and Girlfriend for Girls and Explode, Zoo and various car magazines? for Boys, Friends, . I would say the number of lessons I have had in sexual education at the most would be 4 - 6. And I have participated in activities such as looking at different types of contraception, watching videos on the reproductive system but never put the use of contraception into practice i.e. condoms on banana's.