Kinross

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision and the debate has never been hotter. I personally stand neutral on the issue and can see where both sides are coming from. Regardless of your stance on the issue I propose a compromise between the two sides.

Typically pro-life advocates are socially conservative and are against abortion and want abstinance only sex education. On the other hand pro-choice advocates are for abortion and more liberal sex education.

So here is the proposal. Would you agree to limited abortion only in the case of rape and incest while agreeing to liberal sex education and making birth control more accessible?

cheetah

No. Liberal sex education (ie not hiding info about sex from teens who are having sex and not pretending abstinence education has any sort of record ofworking nearly as well as sex education) and more available birth control should be available because it helps society: less teen/unwed births, medical costs, etc.

Abortion should never be made illegal because it is not the right of legislators to strip rights and freedoms from the people unless they explicitly give that right to them, which hopefully we will never do (and I am not going to get into when I think abortion should be legal vs. at what time it should be illegal. Suffice to say, I would be fine leaving it the way it is, with some restrictions).

So, they are two separate, but related issues. I always tell pro-lifers, though, that if they allowed the former it WOULD have the effect of reducing the latter, which is their goal. Pro-lifers who refuse quality sex education are being irrational (you can't talk about sex or get condoms, but if you accidentally get pregnant, you have to take responsibility for it. I know life's not fair, but do we need to make it any more difficult than it already is???). I do not think pro-choicers are similar, because mostly their goal is to reduce unwanted births. Pro-choicers would be just as happy to prevent them in the first place as to be allowed to abort them. We have already compromised. We are already consistent. I don't think it's necessary to strip anymore freedoms from people, nor is it necessary to be anymore puritanical than we already are. It's not working.

viscousmemories

No. I believe women have a right to choose what happens to their own body, and I don't want to see any legislation that restricts that right.

I also support having thorough sex education in the schools. I'm not sure what is meant by "liberal" sex education, but if it means teaching kids how the body works, how to avoid pregancy and transmission of STD's when having sex, and what alternatives are available to them if they do get pregnant, then I'm all for it.

Non-praying Mantis

No, because under the above circumstances, women who become pregnant, but who used birth control, would be forced to bear the pregnancy (at least, if they do not want to have an illegal abortion).

Birth control, while generally effective, is not 100%. Accidents can happen, especially when the methods are not applied properly, but there are other reasons that birth control fails besides that reason.

I do not think that women should be forced (by force of law) to be pregnant.

NPM

Bree

In my opinion, the right to knowing how your body works should be exactly that: a right. Not something to be thrown into the fray as a bargaining tool.

I frequent a message board for teenage dancers. Sex questions abound, and it is frightening how little these girls know about their bodies. They have been 'taught' that you can't get pregnant if you have sex during your period, if you urinate immediately after sex, or if a man withdraws before ejaculation. It's just sad. So many accidents could be prevented if these kids were educated.

DarthMom

I have had an abortion, and it is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I am not proud of it, but I am thankful that I was able to have that choice. The way I look at it is this, the "we have a right to do what we want to our body" argument is valid, yet very cold in my opinion. I think too many pro choicers are way to callous. I do believe it is a baby, and think late term should definitely be considered murder. Although I am not up on the topic..what is considered late term? When I went for mine, there was a young girl who was there in her 23rd week. babies have been born at that age and lived. I couldn't have done that. And it is my opinon that if you can, then you have some issues. But that is just an opinion huh we all have em...
I do not think they should be banned by any means. But I do wish we as women would try to be a bit more responsible and not look at abortion as a form of birth control. When I was researching international adoption recently I think I read that a factor that contributed to Romanias horrible child abuse and neglect conditions was a ban on abortions...i should look it up before mentioning it but im a little short on time right now...so I definitely think that is one argument for abortion. I look at a cousin of mine who is living in projects..federal housing..whatever it is called..the neighbor is a young girl with 6 children and pregnant with twins. all the kids are seriously messed up, horible behavior issues, etc. partying drugs all nite long all that fun stuff..In cases like that i not only advocate abortion, but also forced sterilization so sad...

Kinross

That is what I meant. There was no negative conotation to be had with it.

Shake

As of my viewing here, it's a 25-0 shutout for the 'No' choice. Cheetah and Bree bring up very good points, and thanks to DarthMom for sharing your own personal experience.

As a man, I feel my say in the matter is minimal, as I feel this is really more of a woman's issue. (Please don't take that the wrong way!) That is not to say that I am not concerned about it, I mean, I agree that a woman should have the majority say over what happens to her. I feel that the husband/BF's role should be advisory and supportive only.

Bree, I'm sure these myths get perpetuated through the "Susie said that Jenny said that Mary said ..." kind of passing of "knowledge." Ideally the parents of these girls (and young boys as well) would talk to them about the birds and the bees and dispell any myths that they had picked up at school or whereever. One would hope that the girls would be not afraid to have an open dialogue with their mothers (or even fathers - don't forget us!) and dispel such nonsense.

Ab_Normal

No because:

1) Birth control failures happen (mine's in fourth grade ). I tell you what, the last time the condom broke, I was at Planned parenthood the next day getting my double dose of birth control pills.

2) My daughter will be hitting puberty soon. While I hope she never feels the need to have an abortion, I want her to have the option.

Melkor

I am against abortion. Therefore I shall refrain from ever having one.

Of course, since I am male, the point is moot. Therefore who am I to tell women what to do?

Those who cannot have abortions should have absolutely no say in the matter (i.e., men).

And those who potentially can have abortions, who happen to be against abortions, should refrain from having them if they are so against them.

That should pretty much cover everything.