Let's Get Serious: The Big Issues About Abortion

One of the biggest issues in our country is the morality and legality of abortion. The pro-choicers and pro-lifers are sharply divided, to the point that I've seen friendships ended over arguments about abortion. And there is no middle ground - if you are pro-choice, you're pro-choice all the way, and if you're pro-life, you have to be against abortion for any reason. If you're liberal, you have to be pro-choice, and if you're not, then you're labeled as conservative. But it's not that simple. Abortion should be removed from political discussions... it's not about politics, it's about people.

People tend to get fired up about these issues to the point that they refuse to hear the other side of the argument, or worse yet, are unable to put together a coherent and logical response when asked the tough questions. I hope that I can address some of the common questions here, and I hope that the points I bring up will give you some food for thought.

So we understand each other: the terminology of abortion
Before we get started, let's clear up something about the terminology, and get all the stereotypes out of the way. I am pro-life. I choose to call myself pro-life rather than anti-abortion. No, that doesn't mean that I think pro-choicers are anti-life - I'm not that naive. They support a woman's right of choice; I support a baby's right to life. Simple as that. And my being pro-life doesn't somehow imply that I'm anti-women's rights. I am a woman, I'm all about women's rights -- I just also happen to support the rights of the unborn. I refuse to place the rights of the woman above the rights of her unborn child. It also doesn't mean I'm some crazy right-wing conservative, or that I think "a woman's place is in the home raising her family." I think that line is a load of crap... a woman's place is wherever she wants to be, whether that is at home or in the office. And also, just because I'm pro-life does NOT mean that I hate people who are pro-choice, or that I think badly about women who have had abortions. I can't judge these women based on one action. I can, however, have opinions on the morality of the act itself.