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abortion

Pro-depression

Anglosphere

Regardless of what you think of the effects of abortion on the embryo, it's bad for mommy:

Researchers found that at age 25, 42 per cent of women in the study group who had had an abortion also experienced major depression at some stage during the past four years.

This was nearly double the rate of those who had never been pregnant and 35 per cent higher than those who had chosen to continue a pregnancy.

Interesting, it's rare for the abortion debate to include any science. This will sound a little simplistic, but I think everyone would be happier if we had fewer major depressions.

Daddy doesn't love me

Anglosphere

My dad thinks the final decision on abortion is up to the woman and that undesired children are scarred for life, so abortion should be legal. But then why not give men a say? If it is unbearable mommy didn't want a baby, why is it okay to let children grow up without a desiring father? Why is it bad to have children growing up not desired by both parents but okay to grow up knowing daddy would've given up on me had mommy not desired me?

Wade vs Roe vs Eugenics

Anglosphere

The Beeb makes me think about abortion again.

There is Levitt's economic analysis of abortion and crime rates, which has rattled America. He claims that Bill Clinton's apocalyptic warning of a crime wave in the 90s did not come to fruition because of Roe vs Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling of 1973 that legalised abortion in the USA.

He argues that the women most likely to have taken advantage of Roe vs Wade were poor and unmarried, whose kids - if they had been born - would apparently have "led unhappy and possibly criminal lives".

Do you see where the argument is heading? In a nutshell, Freakonomics claims that legalised abortion killed off many future criminals, using data to show that 20 years after Roe vs Wade there was a dip in the crime rates. It's a distasteful claim and it has stuck in the throats of many in the USA. But Levitt stands by it.

Conservative question: could it be that the claim is distasteful because it is true, and abortionists are confronted with the notion that they are guilty of eugenics, for which pro-choice is just a modern euphenism?

Background of this entry: I have grown up in a world where abortion is considered to be normal and acceptable. Later I started agreeing with conservatives, stating that an innocent human life should not be taken - a noble argument. But.. discussions on the death penalty and most importantly strong support for abortion amongst some of my peers have made me waiver.

I do maintain my ground rule that if you agree with the abortion of unwanted children, you should also agree with the death penalty for (unwanted) convicted criminals. But the other way around? The death penalty is undeniably a very effective way to remove the unwanted from society. And the key argument, especially under a three-strikes legislation, appears to be avoiding possible future harm to individuals or society and not mere punishment for past crimes. Better safe than sorry. Could that argument then be extended for pregnant women seeking an abortion?

Not without noting that pregnancy is (with the exception of rape) the result of a failure to take responsibilities and therefore a self-inflicted condition. Negligence, accidents, drunkenness and/or an addiction to sex do not add up to a license to kill a human life. Not even rape. A human fetus is a human life but no convict. But some would say a "better safe than sorry" abortion might actually be taking acceptable responsibility, regardless of whether there might be better moral options.

That's where my logical argument ends: I lean towards pro-life for moral reasons.

And yet.. I'm not pro-life.

And the sad part: it's pure physical weakness why I'm not, damnit.

See, the facts are: I wouldn't be able to resist sex with my muse (we all know who that is), in fact I'm very fond of that idea. Her public opinion (hurray for MySpace quizes) is "agree agree agree". I respect that, so without bringing up my feelings for her again, I suppose one could say I would kill for her. I could be pro-life and claim moral superiority, but if I'm honest: I'd even pay for it. Sad? Perhaps. Truth? Certainly. And this actuality extends to many more girls: I want to and do sleep with pro-choice women, so I should shut up.

I still do not think abortion is the best of moral options in case of a pregnancy.

I insist on a limited period of legality. It is currently 24 weeks in the UK, based on the development of higher brain functions and capability of the fetus to survive outside the womb. I do think 24 weeks is insanely long.

Supporting equal rights, abortion should be supported by both potential parents. Strictly speaking this is compatible with pro-choice, but a tad more conservative as it requires the choice to be known prior to intercourse. (Don't sleep with someone who might disagree on the consequences.)

I still do not think abortion is the best of moral options in case of a pregnancy. But I prefer sex over abstinence and would rather have safeguards when getting laid than be moral king of the world.

I feel honest, but weak. It's not peer pressure, I played the "what if" game and figured this out myself, but I do feel weak for realising that when it comes to pregnancy and abortion I would be submissive and let the girl decide.

Positive end-note, I can quote Spike: "I may be love's bitch, but at least I know it". Love's bitch, and lust's bitch.

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Tom has more friends but mine are prettier! (#1/1)