Abortion
By: Ali Vazquez and Caroline Rogers
What is Abortion?
History of Abortion and its effects
The biggest landmark in abortion history was the Roe vs. Wade case.It is one of the most famous Supreme Court cases in our history. This case legalized abortion all throughout the United States. The Supreme Court ruled that a woman's decision to terminate their baby or not was protected under the 14th amendment. There are however regulations in terms of when the baby needs to be removed during the pregnancy so that it is not considered an inhumane act.
Today, abortion is still a very controversial topic because some religions find abortion to go against their beliefs and others believe that the woman has every right to make that type of decision. Ultimately it should be up to the woman to decide whether or not she wants to get an abortion regardless of her race, religion, income, or other's opinions.
Abortion and its effects
Politics:
"I have met thousands and thousands of pro-choice men and women. I have never met anyone who is pro-abortion. Being pro-choice is not being pro-abortion. Being pro-choice is trusting the individual to make the right decision for herself and her family, and not entrusting the decision to anyone wearing the authority of government in any regard." Hillary Rodham ClintonThe political views on abortion are very controversial but largely include a woman's right to choose or the unborn child's right to life otherwise classified as pro choice and pro life. Some sources believe that the government has taken away the unalienable rights of the child by questioning when the child actually becomes a person and by recognizing the rights of the mother over the rights of the child. Some believe that the government should not have so much authority. Also, a candidate's position on abortion influences many voters on how to vote and who to vote for. Abortion debate facts are not just black or white,but instead are largely voiced with opinions based upon the health of the woman and her views of whether or not to have the child or deny that child life.
Moral Affects:
The abortion debate starts with the morality of aborting a growing human. It is said that the debate begins when the fetus has rights, because then it doesn't just concern the woman carrying the baby it also concerns the baby. The most popular arguments now are:
The abortion debate begins with the moral status of the fetus. The most prevalent argument that the fetus has a moral status disallowing abortion is:
- A fetus is a member of the biological species homo sapiens ( aka: a human being).
- To destroy a human-being deliberately is unethical (it's murder).
- Therefore, abortion is unethical (murder), since it constitutes the deliberate destruction of a human being.
Religion:
Judeo-Christian tradition going back thousands of years has always valued human life, including unborn human life. The Bible repeatedly refers to children before birth as simply very small/young children. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus and John the Baptist 'greet' one another whilst they are still in the wombs of their mothers. Verse 41 of the first chapter says: "It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."
In Psalm 139 it describes the development of the unborn baby, "For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body." In the early Christian writing the Didache or the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles states: "You shall not kill the child in the womb or murder a new-born infant."
Islamic views:
Islams believe that life begins at conception and that life created by God. An unborn child has certain rights such as the right to care, protection, and of life. Abortion is not allowed by any means in the Al'Quran. "Do not kill or take a human life which God has declared to be sacred." (Chapter 6,verse 151)
Pope John Paul II The Second Vatican Council defines abortion, together with infanticide, as an 'unspeakable crime'
Finally, Society:
Society beliefs are very unclear. Some prefer abortion because it gives the woman the right to choose, some believe that the choice was to have unprotected sex and you should deal with the consequences. Some members of society feel that after a certain number of weeks a woman should no longer be able to have an abortion because the fetus is viable and is able to feel pain.