Comments on: is criminalization the only pro-life solution?

By: …and jesus wept. –

…and jesus wept. – — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:40:24 +0000

[...] outcome of the anti-abortion position (for which pro-life has masquerades for decades). The outcome is criminalization for those who practice abortion and by default the accomplice mothers who choose to have [...]

By: Drew Tatusko

Drew Tatusko — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:52:34 +0000

ironic that birth control by any other means than abstinence only is not on the table for the gop and other neo-cons.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:47:32 +0000

I think nearly everyone pro-choice/pro-life would agree that abortions are not desirable. In fact, that abortion not happen if at all possible. So why aren't we talking about how to reduce abortions rather than how do we criminalize it?

I think the reason is that the pro-life (anti-Roe v. Wade) movement is really about reducing sex. Therefore birth control is not a useful solution. The reason we keep talking about abortion is because it gets the most traction. But what we really should be talking about is birth control and education.

By: Drew Tatusko

Drew Tatusko — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:52:34 +0000

ironic that birth control by any other means than abstinence only is not on the table for the gop and other neo-cons.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:47:32 +0000

By: Kansas Bob

Kansas Bob — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:05:35 +0000

Any ideas about how to reduce abortions/murders/sentences?

By: Drew Tatusko

Drew Tatusko — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:27:47 +0000

i don't think the issue is a culture that promotes extramarital sex, i think it is a culture that does not know how to support life. our healthcare is a for-profit business not a social service, our prisons help criminals become better criminals, we seem to have no care that more violence is on tv than sex, etc. a culture that places life as its core value can deal with sex more responsibly, but we undercut how we understand sex because we don't know what life really means. i want to save lives rather than fuss over legal definitions. this means reduce abortions, reduce murders, reduce prison sentences, promote universal healthcare, and make adoptions a more fair and less economically impossible options for well-deserving families.

By: Kansas Bob

Kansas Bob — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:13:09 +0000

I resonate with most of what you wrote Drew. I thought you did a great job discussing the issues and the difficulties.

I do struggle with aborting viable babies. At what point do you consider an abortion to be infanticide? It seems that is the term (or one like it) that should be used if criminal charges were to be filed.

Another issue I have is the cavalier manner that abortions seem to be performed. Many states do not require hospital standard facilities for places that abortions are performed. You have probably seen the videos showing fetuses responding to pain in the womb.. I have a concern that these "procedures" are not always humane from the perspective of the fetus.

Of course the real issue of abortion is not abortion.. it is a culture that promotes extramarital sex as normal.. sadly my generation introduced this one.. don't think it will ever be any different.

All things considered I do not think that anything about this issue will change in my lifetime.. our country is split on this.. most seem okay with the way things are today.

By: Drew Tatusko

Drew Tatusko — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:57:02 +0000

I think Greeley & Hout in their book The Truth about Conservative Christians: What They Think and What They Believe do a great job of teasing out all of the nuances in this issue in particular. The GOP platform is just not representative of the majority of conservatism and Fox News ain't helping. The majority believe "abortion is wrong…but…" which is what most pro-choice people I know (and I know a lot) believe.

By: makeesha

makeesha — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:09:23 +0000

I agree with your sentiments here. My frustration with the pro-life/pro-choice "debate" as it's currently argued in this country is that is unnecessarily polarizing. I'm pro-life (across the board). I'm also against the criminalization of abortion. I value life but I also think the morning after pill is a viable option and that there's nothing wrong with birth control. I think both "sides" need to take up the silent majority (where most people find themselves landing) and meet each other in the gray spaces. This is why, IMO, surveys like that which the Pew Forum did recently are rubbish – any time you give people a binary choice they'll choose the one CLOSEST to their view, that doesn't mean it's their LITERAL view on the matter. Most people recognize the nuances of difficult issues like this.