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Abortion Makes America Stronger

 

Introduction

 

     From 1973 to 1987, over 22 million abortions have been performed. Pro-

lifers would call that a terrible waste of human life. True, 22 million

lives were taken, but I believe that we are better off without those.

Please let me explain in the following report.

 

What is abortion?

 

     Webster's dictionary defines abortion as "the expulsion of a nonviable

fetus." Abortion might possibly be the most controversial topic right now.

I'm sure by now that you've heard of all the different types of abortion.

Almost all abortions performed in the US are surgical abortions, where the

fetus is removed by suction or other means. (Medication offers another

option, to be discussed later in this report.) During a suction abortion,

the fetus is dismembered and disposed of by a small tube. This process

takes but about 10 minutes, and the mother experiences very little or no

physical discomfort. Pro-lifers immediately say that emotional trauma and

guilt haunts every woman after she has an abortion. However, during my

research, I found numerous women who led (and continue to lead) prominent

and scot-free lives after their abortions. I think that the mental state of

the mother depends very much on her personal feelings toward abortion, and

the actual experience the had before and during the abortion.

 

Pro-life propaganda

 

     In my study of pro-lifers, I have found that most of the time, they

employ the use of a few strategies for making their views known. One tactic

pro-lifers use to convince people of their views is to play on fear and

emotions. Their graphic descriptions and gruesome pictures are a crude

attempt to "scare" people out of abortion, while their pious talk and

sobbing try to make us feel sorry for them and the unborn.  Another popular

strategy of pro-lifers is to protest things like "Life begins at

conception! The fetus is human!" Science has proven these facts, and pro-

choicers are by no means trying to deny them. However, pro-choicers feel

that the rights of the parents (namely the mother) override the rights of

the unborn child.  Neither of these tactics work on pro-choicers like

myself. True, pro-lifers are entitled to voicing their opinion (just as I

am), but I feel that some of their methods (as illustrated in the next

section) are very unorthodox.

 

Pro-life?

 

     Some pro-lifers don't seem to be for "the preservation of human life."

The tables on page 7 clearly illustrate how often pro-lifers contradict

their "pro-life" ideals by resorting to violent and disruptive acts to try

to force their views on people.

 

New legislature controls irate pro-lifers

 

     A new bill was introduced in April 1994. The Freedom of Access to

Clinic Entrances Act (aka FACE or FACEA) protects women seeking abortion,

and the facilities performing them. Specifically, FACE protects

reproductive health service staff and patients from violent threats,

assault, vandalism, and blockades. FACE was signed by President Clinton on

May 26, 1994, but angry pro-lifers still violate this law. The consequences

for a first-time offender cannot exceed one year in prison and/or a

$100,000 fine. Repeat offenders face a maximum 3 year prison sentence

and/or a $250,000 fine. If any injury is incurred, the sentence jumps to 10

years. If death results from the offense, the maximum sentence is life

imprisonment.

 

     I think it is about time for FACEA. Pro-lifers have gone far enough

with their "demonstrations" in front of clinics nationwide. Many news clips

have shown pro-lifers throwing things at women as they walk into a clinic.

In one extreme case, an off-duty police officer (acting as a bodyguard)

and the husband of a woman seeking an abortion were shot at by pro-lifers.

The police officer died_the husband was severely wounded. Even though FACEA

will not put a stop to the violence toward abortionists and clients, I

think it will definately decrease it. RU486 and "M&Ms"

 

     Different medications are offering a safe and private alternative to

clinic abortions. RU486 is an abortion inducing pill that allows women to

have non-invasive, safer and easier abortions in the privacy of their own

homes. This option also eliminates any contact with livid pro-lifers and

their antagonistic methods. RU486 also offers great medical promise in the

research and possible cures/treatments of breast cancer, endometriosis,

prostrate and brain cancer. Right now, pro-lifers are preventing RU486 from

being used in the US. However, it is currently on the market in a number of

countries, and is being used with great success.

 

     The "M&M" abortion is named after the two drugs used to induce it:

mifepristone and misoprostol. This process is based on the same theory as

RU486, and has been thoroughly tested at Planned Parenthood, Inc. in Omaha,

NB. Mifepristone is administered to disable the pregnancy hormones and

break down the lining of the uterus. The only know side effects are slight

nausea, headaches, weakness and fatigue. After two days, the woman takes a

dose of misoprostol. This drug causes uterine contractions, and expels the

fetus. This stage can be somewhat painful and messy. The woman stays at the

clinic for about four hours after the abortion for observation.

 

     I think that the use of RU486 and other medication would definately

help the dilemma of abortion. By making them readily available to any woman,

any confrontation with pro-lifers is avoided. During this difficult time,

the last thing a woman needs is the harassing shouting of a psycho pro-

lifer outside the clinic.

 

A new perspective

 

     Pro-lifers are bent against abortion, but what other options do they

offer? Most pro-lifers are anti-contraceptive. An over-stated fact among

pro-lifers is "the long waiting lists for couples wanting to adopt." Sure,

lots of people want to adopt children, but with over 1.5 million abortions

each year, imagine the over-population of the orphanages! In Silent Scream,

the number of abortions in the US per day was quoted at 4,000! The pro-life

point about having the baby and putting it up for adoption is very

unrealistic.

 

     I haven't heard any other pro-life options besides adoption. I guess

their most obvious (and equally unrealistic) suggestion would be to have

the baby and deal with it. But what if the mother can't handle the

commitment, or isn't financially secure? The pro-lifers have to think of

better solutions before criticizing the one we are using now.

 

Why am I pro-choice?

 

     I think one of the main reasons that I am pro-choice is the amount of

poverty in this country. Although I haven't found any data to confer with

this, my hypothesis is that most of the abortions are performed on lower-

class, perhaps poor, women. Without this, just think of the poverty our

country would have! At the rate of 4,000 extra people a day, the US would

literally run out of room in a short time!

 

My opinion of Silent Scream and pro-lifers

 

     I think that Silent Scream was another feeble attempt to scare people

out of abortion. Judging by the reaction of the class, people have wised-up

to pro-lifers. People will no longer tolerate being bombarded with graphic

descriptions, gory pictures, and sorrowful testimonies. To but it bluntly,

I am fed up with extreme pro-lifers. Granted, not all of them are as bad as

I make them out to be, but about a year ago, while walking out of my dad's

office at Jewish Hospital, we were "harassed" by three pro-lifers. At first

I thought they would respect our privacy and let us pass. However, they

blurted out "Did you know that there are abortions being performed at

Jewish Hospital?!" What did they intend that question to accomplish? We

tried to ignore them kept walking, but they persisted and attempted to

force their pamphlets and handouts on us. I would have had no problem had

they simply offered us a pamphlet, but I felt violated when they thrust

them into our faces.

 

Conclusion

 

     After researching this report, I still hold my ground about being pro-

choice. I think that the woman's rights override those of the fetus.

Regardless of the reason or circumstances safe, reliable abortion should be

made available to any woman.

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