Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Abortion rights: stay polarized or compromise?

cellophanedeity · 05-05-2005, 08:08 PM

I responded "Female: I agree close to 100% with the Democrat platform."

Firstly, I don't tend to consider the fetus a baby until third trimester. I don't agree with third trimester abortions, unless having the child will seriously harm the mother physically. After six months, you ought to have made your decision and gone to the clinic. I know it may seem trivial to place a "month of life" upon the fetus, but I do believe that there must be a time when the pregnant woman must take 100% responsibility for the child.

With this, I am not necissarily saying that the third trimester is when the fetus suddenly becomes a Person, but it seems like a good cut off date for abortions. (especially since third trimester abortions are also quite a bit more dangerous for the woman as well)

I disagree with the "potential" aguments, ie. "The fetus holds so much potential! What if you're aborting a nobel prize winner!" I got this one from a female anti-choice friend of mine. I reasoned with her (to no avail) that each time she menstrates, she's technically passing up potential. She has half of the beginnings of a Person! She, of course, didn't take this well.

I don't like the idea of abortions. I really don't, and I doubt most people do. But as a woman, I want the choice. I want to know that if I end up with an unwanted pregnancy, that I have the choice of getting rid of the fetus safely. I figure that seeing as the fetus is inside of my body, it is a part of me for those first nine months. I do with myself what I see best, and I believe each woman deserves this right.

Oh, and liquidlight, I don't know about where you are, but from what I've learned in my training for sex-ed counselling that all women who are going to have an abortion in Toronto go through a process to determine their psychological health and also to see if they are having the abortion for themselves or for someone else. These women are also counselled on methods of birth control, and are offered group and personal counselling after the abortion to make sure that they are getting through okay.

05-05-2005, 08:08 PM	#44 (permalink)
cellophanedeity Heliotrope Location: A warm room	I responded "Female: I agree close to 100% with the Democrat platform." Firstly, I don't tend to consider the fetus a baby until third trimester. I don't agree with third trimester abortions, unless having the child will seriously harm the mother physically. After six months, you ought to have made your decision and gone to the clinic. I know it may seem trivial to place a "month of life" upon the fetus, but I do believe that there must be a time when the pregnant woman must take 100% responsibility for the child. With this, I am not necissarily saying that the third trimester is when the fetus suddenly becomes a Person, but it seems like a good cut off date for abortions. (especially since third trimester abortions are also quite a bit more dangerous for the woman as well) I disagree with the "potential" aguments, ie. "The fetus holds so much potential! What if you're aborting a nobel prize winner!" I got this one from a female anti-choice friend of mine. I reasoned with her (to no avail) that each time she menstrates, she's technically passing up potential. She has half of the beginnings of a Person! She, of course, didn't take this well. I don't like the idea of abortions. I really don't, and I doubt most people do. But as a woman, I want the choice. I want to know that if I end up with an unwanted pregnancy, that I have the choice of getting rid of the fetus safely. I figure that seeing as the fetus is inside of my body, it is a part of me for those first nine months. I do with myself what I see best, and I believe each woman deserves this right. Oh, and liquidlight, I don't know about where you are, but from what I've learned in my training for sex-ed counselling that all women who are going to have an abortion in Toronto go through a process to determine their psychological health and also to see if they are having the abortion for themselves or for someone else. These women are also counselled on methods of birth control, and are offered group and personal counselling after the abortion to make sure that they are getting through okay.