I am wondering what you think a fetus is before it is born.  Obviously it is a living thing, I think we can all agree on that, right?  I mean, if you take it out of its' environment, it will cease living...So, if this is what you consider ok...to cease that living b/c it is not viable..what about a newborn?  That is surely a child, yet if you left a baby unattended, it would surely cease living as well?  This is recognized by all as horrible and inhumane...please explain your views to me.  I am not being facetious...I am not being judgmental, I am just trying to understand.  Thanks.
132178
Well, our reasoning is based on the idea that there isn't a simple answer for every situation. You can't just label abortion "mindless killing," because it might NOT be mindless. For example, what if you got raped? Would you like to go through the pain of birthing the baby and putting it up for adoption just for something that entirely WASN'T your fault? Don't you think that could breed depression and neurotic tendencies in anyone? Don't you think a kid separated from his mother or adopted experiences emotional pain? \nAbortion is done to guard against future harm. If there's a mother who knows she won't be able to care properly for a child, it would be merciful to both her and the growing fetus to undergo abortion. \n\nI do agree with you that the sanctity of a life should be preserved however. Abortion shouldn't be encouraged in women who have sex and think there's just an easy way out. It should be PERMITTED, however, because it is a RIGHT and because in the case of rape it is not a case of a woman having made a bad choice; it is a case of BAD LUCK.
580355
This is an interesting point because pro-abortion people always ingore the fact that a newborn can't survive on it's own either.\n\nIt's not about a woman's rights, it's about killing babies. That's it. Some people would rather rip a babies body apart with a suction tube than take a birth control pill.\n\n(now watch, some lib will post something about rape and insest as though more than just a few abortions are as a result of rape and insest)
464484
Well Dr. Lifemaker, may I ask why you are so bitter?  Do you agree that murder is wrong?  Is your argument simply that you do not believe a fetus is life?\nI just wondered because you seemed really angry in your answer, but did not explain your views.\n\nIn my view, I agree that abortion is murder.  I had a choice once, when I was a teenager.  Thank God and all that is decent in the world, I decided on adoption, not murder.\n\nI can honestly say that I have never murdered anyone.
424754
I always thought that if I was ever confronted with the situation, I would have an abortion.  I was all for pro-choice.  Then it happened.  I couldn't do it once I knew there was a life inside of me.  Hey, that's just me.  I think it should be every woman's choice, and if she can not think of the fetus as a "life" and abort, then that's where she's coming from and shouldn't be criticized.  \n\nLikewise, if someone can't bring themselve to do it, so be it.  That is also her choice.  \n\nBottom line:  Stop trying to force your views and opinions on others and live and let live.
455806
I think you're on the right track here in pointing out the hypocrisy of the "personal freedom" argument that baby killers use. How is killing an unborn child in support of the CHILD'S freedom? They always come back with "but it's not a child, it's a clump of cells". That's all they have, but I think they do know better in their hearts. They're just in denial, which is really sad.\n\nBTW, it is also not hypocrisy to be anti-abortion but pro-death penalty. Those folks who believe this are making the distinction between the taking of innocent life vs. taking the life of a person guilty of the heinous crime of murder. However, I personally do not support the death penalty either in ANY case. All people were put on earth for a reason and it should be left up to God to work his magic in their lives and help them come to see why their actions were wrong and change their hearts. They should be put in jail for life simply to protect the public from them in case they never change.\n\nEuthanasia is wrong as well. Those who are not inside a person's head to know for sure what they are thinking and what their wishes are should not make a decision to actively or passively take a person's life. Who are they to make the judgment that this person's life is no longer worth living?\n\nAnyway, I like that you are standing up for what you believe in. It's important that we all do that, no matter how persecuted we are by those who would silence us.
489860
I've never heard of a foetus.  What is that exactly?  You're quite the genius.
417091
Disgusting and barbaric.  I am pro choice.  I am even more pro choice up until the 2nd trimester.  Once the first trimester is over, abortion should no longer be a topic of interest.
25086
You can't abort a baby after 12 weeks because that's when the baby starts to be able to feel things.  Before then their nervous system isn't advanced enough.  I understand your frustration, and yes the baby does have rights too which is why you can't abort after 3 months.  I have to say I agree with pro-choice.  I would much rather have unfit parents not go through with the pregnancy.  In addition, I feel rape victims should not have to go through with a pregnancy that would remind them for 9 months of a horrible act against them.  It's a case by case thing.  Just because it isn't right for you doesn't mean you can take away someone else's rights.  I would not personally do it, but I feel others have the right to choose.
567825
The basic thing about abortion is that it kills a living creature.  There can be no argument about that fact.
460821
I believe in God.\nAnd I know that there is nothing we could do about abortion. If God wants that fetus to live, the mom wont get an abortion. \nGod can do anything he pleases.\nSo I wouldnt worry about what my kids will be doing.\nA fetus is not a baby, an abortion isnt murder - simple as that - and the bible also says so too, losing an unborn child can be repaid by a cow.\nYou cant kill whats not born, so why should I worry about my kids view of abortion??
465449
I think this is a deeply personal issue that should be left for families or women to make with their doctor according to their own personal beliefs. I have a somewhat different perspective about a fetus being the equivalent to a baby since I did the pre-med program in getting my biology degree. I really just don't see the first trimester  embryo (until 10 weeks) or fetus (after 10 weeks) as a baby although I do feel the issue is not entirely morally neutral since if left to develop it would result in a baby. I think though that a nonsentient potential human should not be given equal or even greater rights than the fully developed thinking, feeling person carrying it. It should be a private issue.\n\nAs for the morning after pill, I can tell you that this is not considered an abortion pill. It acts to either block conception or in some cases prevent implantation. Medically a woman is not considered pregnant until after implantation. Until such time the fertilized egg is considered a pre-embryo. A large number of fertilized eggs fail to implant naturally anyway and besides this as I said the Plan B pill is preventing conception from occuring as well. I think the Plan B pill is actually a wonderful medical tool to prevent the necessity of abortion. \n\nAt any rate since different people and religions take different viewpoints on this issue I think the government should stay out of making the decision for people.
451661
You have logic in your argument, and it makes complete sense.  People just want a reason to justify not having to deal with a baby, because they wanted to have sex more.  People need to speak up for, and fight for those that cannot fight for their own lives.  Unborn humans, which if left alone, will grow to become like you and I, did not ask to be made or born, but have the right to life like you and I.  I will always fight for them, and speak up.  There are little souls in there, and people don't realize how totally serious it is to stop a beating heart.
66389
This is a highly loaded question.  At least you are up front about your intentions.\n\nThe beginning of life is subjective. Not all species follow the same rules.\n\nTake for example a jellyfish. When a jellyfish releases spermatozoa and eggs, these combine to form a planula. This is technically a living cluster of cells. It has no nervous system, no perception, no way to feed, or direct its movement. As it drifts through the water it develops further and has rudimentery chemical senes that will ultimately tell it where to settle and begin its next phase of life.\n\nA mammal is a cluster of cells a few days after conception. These are undifferentited stem cells. They have not yet begun to differentiate. An embryonic dog looks like an enbryonic whale at this stage. It is very fragile and any number of problems will cause it to self terminate and stop growing. It cannot survive without its host, and has no brain or nervous system to be conscious or self aware.  In the case of humans, whose gestation is about 42 weeks, at about week 12, the fetus now has a rudimentery circulatory system and a beating heart. This system now is responsible for delivery nutrients provided by the host (mom) and removing waste products. Any earlier and the fetus/embryo is  in early development. In many cases if you were showed any mammal at the same stage you could not tell a mouse from a dog from a human at 4, 6, or 8 weeks. Even an embryonic fish at 2 weeks looks like a human at 3 weeks. If you had to put a date on this type of question, then 12 weeks seems reasonable. Another perspective is when a fetus could survive outside the uterus, which is about 26 to 30 weeks. In some cases slightly earlier. The nervous system begins development around week 10 to 14 and for all purposes is not finished until about 2.5 years of age. The brain and spinal chord are not cohesive until about 16 t 20 weeks and there are no sensory systems or pain receptors until closer to 30 weeks. Even at birth, newbornes are only semi conscious as their brains interpret the new environment.\nIn short, you cannot accurately and faily put a number on this. Esecially when it comes to a womans right to dictate how her bidy is used. Pregnancy is much like a parasitic infection. Forcing a mother to be a host to this is as cruel as terminating a pregnancy. Prevention is far better and education and access to reliable methods and information should be everyones goals. But you cannot expect the number of pregnancy terinations to go down if you do not educate kids about sex and provide confidential access to birth control.
385725
That's a good question and I appreciate your respect.  I must first make a disclaimer that I am a guy and have never been pregnant, so I can't claim what emotional bonds there are between a pro-choice mother and her unborn child.  That being said, I think it is the potential of the child that I would love.  What it had a chance to be and experience once it was born.  It would be wonderful to see it develop into that potential through ultrasounds etc. To answer your questions: Yes, I would think of it as alive.  Yes, I would think of it as a mass of tissue with the potential to become a human being (I assume you are asking about the first trimester, when aborting is currently legal).  Yes, I cold still bond with it, knowing that it will be loved and grow up to perhaps be a wonderful person some day.  I don't think the same is true of a child that grows up unwanted/unloved/abused/addicted to drugs etc.  I don't think I am a hypocryte just because I don't force my beliefs on others.  I am pro-choice, not pro abortion.
311644
If you get in early while the cell is still in it's simpler stages then I don't feel it can be considered murder...you kill a living organism when you pick a flower to put in a vase, you SLAUGHTER a cow then you EAT it with lettuce, both of which are/were living organisms!\nI think to truly be anti-abortion you have to be vegan, otherwise you are a hypocrite.
435434
A fertilized egg will develop and grow and one day enter the world where it will be given a name. \n\nAnyone can argue that it is not human until it breathes but, even they must admit by aborting the fetus it is prevented from being born. \n\nA fetus has a heartbeat. Abortion stops that heartbeat. Think about it.
137635
Blingme - Her question was stated correctly. She is essentially trying to determine why states allow abortion if it is illegal to kill a human being. And if a state charges a murderer with two murders for murdering a pregnant woman, what is the exact definition of life. \n\n1) Either a baby is alive and the two murders is correct. In this case, abortion should be illegal; or,\n\n2) A baby is not alive and only one murder should be charged. In this case, abortion would be okay.\n\nShe is pointing out a convenient catch-22 in the abortion debate.\n\nEDIT: bree123 - I do not believe she is calling out the hypocrisy of the double homicide law. She is calling out the hypocrisy of abortion.\n\nAnd citing the ACLU does NOT make me put a lot of trust in your judgment. It is a little like me citing all the evidence the National Right to Life cites proving that life starts at conception. You aren't going to buy that. Any evidence cited should be from a) a disinterested party, or b) a source that gives BOTH sides of the argument - like my initial assessment of her statement above.\n\nSource(s): Debate 101.