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[anigo]

You probably haven't heard, unless you're a local, and most aren't, that there have been some abortion reforms in New Brunswick, taking down a lot of barriers for women in the region.

I have mixed emotions about this.

You see, I'm anti abortion. I do not support abortion. I think it's wrong. Yup, here I am taking a stance on shit. I actually do believe that it's a life being removed from the planet. A life that could have had opportunities. That could have discovered a cure for cancer.

That's what I believe.

Here's where the mixed emotions come in though.

That's what *I* believe.

What I also believe, however, is that I have never been in a situation where I am unemployed and unexpectedly pregnant. Or pregnant because of a rape. Or even just unexpectedly pregnant and with a totally different mindset than the current one I have. So while what I believe is what I believe, I also know my beliefs are based on my experience, or lack thereof.

I know I also believe two more things.

I believe that YOU should have the right to decide what happens to your body. Not me. I am sad for those lost opportunities, but that's not MY choice.

It's kind of like smoking. I hate smoking. I am an anti-smoker. However I have also never smoked so I can't walk in a smoker's shoes and I also will never presume to tell every smoker in the world that they must STOP SMOKING NOW OR ELSE!!!

I also believe that too many people use abortion as a regular form of birth control. And I think that's wrong. I think we need to educate people on how to effectively prevent getting pregnant and stop using abortion as a method of birth control.

It's funny, because my perception of the term "Pro Choice" isn't so much pro choice, it's more like pro abortion, because my experience (and again, to be clear, my experience has all been second hand) is that pro choice doesn't educate on the choices - adoption, prevention, etc., instead it supports the choice of abortion.

However, having said all that, I need to reiterate, these are MY thoughts and beliefs, and I would never expect anybody else to feel pressured to think them or believe them.

Anyway, that's my thought. I'm interested to hear yours.

Comments

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of pro-abortion myself. I fully acknowledge that being male it's not something I really ought to have a say in, but I did support my partner while she made up her mind to have one or not. [as it happens not]

Here's the thing. It's not a life, it's a potential life. Much in the same way as a seed is a potential tree but not a tree itself. But ok, yes it's removing a potential life from this planet that might be important in some way...probably wouldn't be given the numbers [how much of the population is really that important?] And either way isn't it somewhat selfish to consider whether a life is 'worth' based on it's utility to society?

Plus, the evidence refutes the claim that abortion is being used regularly as birth control, unless you buy the disingenuous argument that 'plan B' is actually a form of abortion, which medically and biologically it is not. However, anti-abortionists falsely claim otherwise along with claiming that all those "sluts" keep getting pregnant and having abortions, when the incidence of two or more abortions per patient is less than 0.013%. [in other words, the vast majority of women who have one, never have another.]

However, this nebulous 'potential' and any moral arguments are nothing when weighed against the very real and long lasting harm that comes from an unwanted pregnancy, both to the mother and to the child born into such a situation... and frankly, the human population is growing out of control as it is, we do not need more.

That said, the position I really support is: It's the woman's right to decide what to do, and everyone else can Shut The Fuck Up!

[anigo.livejournal.com]

I think you and I agree strongly on a number of points and disagree somewhat on others. Here's the thing. It's not a life, it's a potential life. Much in the same way as a seed is a potential tree but not a tree itself.

I do see it as life. I'm not really sure when "life" really starts, and I'm pretty confident that the 8 cells of some zygote isn't exactly ready to be the president of the world, then again, most 2 year olds aren't either. Newborns need to have ongoing support to get them to survive, just different support from a 5 month old fetus.

I digress. We could join in the argument about when life really does start, but let's not. I'll respect your opinion and I'll have mine.

But I will underscore your last point. Regardless of what I've said here, or when you think life really starts, I'll repost your statement, because it's my statement too...

...The position I really support is: It's the woman's right to decide what to do, and everyone else can Shut The Fuck Up!

It's just a difficult position to have, even though I'll continue to have it, when you feel that life does start earlier than the actual birth date.

[m-danson.livejournal.com]

Of all the many pro-choice people, activists, and organizations I've personally come in contact with… every single one had issues other than abortion on the table and advocated for education. Pro-choice is mostly about Rights not Abortion when we talk to each other about it and those conversations are mostly about reproductive health, women's rights, gender and sexuality issues, medical availability issues, structural misogyny, education, and information availability.

All of my experience with people who make abortion a one issue topic, while taking issues like education and contraception off the table, have been individuals in the Pro-Life movement, Catholic church groups, and fundamentalist groups. (I'm talking about both personal conversations and presentation.) They've done an impressively effective job over the decades at controlling the frame of the conversation.

I believe that YOU should have the right to decide what happens to your body. Not me. I am sad for those lost opportunities, but that's not MY choice.

That statement, even with the anti-abortion stance, will get you welcomed by the pro-choice people I know. Welcome to the fight for our Rights and Choices. It's good to have you.

I'm Childfree-by-Choice. I've had to fight for my Right not to have children. I'd rather that others don't have to go through what I went through. (Dear-fucking-fuck people can be shitbags when they think they are being "helpful".) I also don't want people to have to go through all the other horrific stories I have of other people I know who had their options blocked because someone else thought they shouldn't have choices or rights. (Structural prejudice is the home and sword of shitbags.)

So yeah… that's why I'm pro-choice. I want people to have choices and make them for themselves.

[anigo.livejournal.com]

Is it possible for one to be pro choice and anti abortion at the same time? Because I think I am truly "pro choice" in your description of the term above, though I've never had an opportunity to come in contact with a lot of people who feel that way - though again, to be clear, I haven't been in a situation where I've needed to come in contact with the situation, so I appreciate your feedback here. It's helpfully educating.

I am pro *your* choice. I just know my choice would be anti abortion.

[anita-margarita.livejournal.com]

This is a rational discussion and I thank you for that. I particularly love this:

I have never been in a situation where I am unemployed and unexpectedly pregnant

Despite your feelings you are also able to put yourself in the position of a woman who finds herself pregnant and desperate, and understand that she does not see this as a miracle but as a terrible burden that she is unable to bear.


I am very pro-choice. I am sure there have been women who had abortions because it interfered with their prepaid trip to Hawaii, but I believe they are the minority. They would also be the ones for whom access to safe abortion is never in doubt.

[anigo.livejournal.com]

It's funny my reaction to your last sentence there. The human being (I first typed feminist, but I changed it. I think it goes beyond feminism to just being human, but that's a debate for another day...) in me says HELL YES! EVERY PERSON SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO A SAFE ABORTION. Because yes, everybody SHOULD. If you've gotta do it you should have access to it and it's should be safe. That's a no brainer. At the same time my inside is crying just a bit because of (again, strictly my own perception, not forcing it on anybody else) all of those lost "opportunities".

(Interesting that I have a hard time putting "lives" in the sentence above. I'm enjoying this conversation for the sheer personal enlightenment it's bringing me.)

[renewedme.livejournal.com]

I've hesitated to post anything but here goes ...

Just like you I am against abortion. I think life begins at conception. I don't think this for religious reasons, personal belief. I fell in love with my little one the very moment I found out I was pregnant and he was definitely a life.

I wish no one had an abortion. There are so many wonderful people out there that want children but are unable to have them. I really wish the pro-abortion side of things pushed for adoptions.

All of that said I realize how important it is that women are in sterile, safe environments on what is probably the scariest thing they've been through.

I waiver back and forth with this. I have a few close friends who got pregnant in college and had an abortion. While I understand their reasoning I think it was an incredibly selfish decision. Give the baby up for adoption ... don't take the life. What angers me the most is that most universities will give birth control pills out for free or a very low cost and they hand out condoms like candy.

Side note: I have reread what I wrote 3 times and I think I am too tired to post anything coherent!

[fyremaven.livejournal.com]

I've always been against abortion, largely for the reasons you state. One other reason, though, is that I have gone through the process and know how hard it is to live with.
Of course I was young when it happened, and the "grown ups" in my world sort of decided what was best for me...but I had a mouth and could have stopped it if I really wanted to. I just let things happen and regretted it almost immediately.

My public stand is that women should be able to decide for themselves what is right for them at that particular moment in time, but I'm dead against abortion and would try to talk any woman out of it and give her a zillion other options.

Here in the US pro-choice isn't about choice much at all. Like you said, choices are not emphasized. Just mainly where to get a free/cheap abortion. Not good at all.