It is so sad that we as a society have become so confused about the value of human life.

All human beings should be valued.... above all. Yes, we woman, should have rights, including to chose, but at the expense of another's right to live? I think not.

An unborn baby has no voice, so I speak for them on this forum:

It's not easy being on this side of this issue, people call us pro-lifers radicals, close minded etc. but I beg to differ. I just want our society to have laws that protect the innocent from being killed. I don't claim that it is always an easy choice for a woman, nor are the circumstances always ideal for her or the baby, but life is a primary right to all.

Curtis'mom,

While you may feel you are the voice of the "unborn", this is not the forum to do this on. This forum is designed specifically for those who are pro-choice.

Thank you Jase.

We know where you stand, Curtis' mom. If you want to continue talking solely about the rights of the unborn, please take it to the pro-life forum here:BellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

Aaah... understood. I wasn't aware, that the discussions had to be for pro-choice...just about pro-choice.

As far as education: I'd think we'd differ on what was taught there too. So I suppose my opinion will be unwanted.

~peace

No. Discussing pro-choice from a pro-life perspective is fine. What primarily concerns me is that people who are not pro-choice will end up thinking that they can come here and try to indoctrinate people who are pro-choice (or unsure of where they stand) into being pro-life. I am concerned about pro-life people being abusive to pro-choice people, and vice versa.

I'm going to jump in and say that I believe that Curtis'mom has the right to her opinion and the right to express her opinion.

I do not have to agree with the opinions Curtis'mom holds to support her right to express her opinions. Or does free speech only apply to the speech of people one happens to agree with?

I do not happen agree with Curtis'mom's opinions at all as I am pro choice and nothing she has to say on the topic is going to change my mind on that point. No one, not the government, the church, or anyone has the right to force a woman to carry a child against their will. Period.

Curtis'mom - if you're coming at this topic from the point of view that abortion is murder because the soul enters the body at conception then your religion and mine disagree on this point so, in arguing your pro-life stance, then you would also be arguing against my religion and therefore attempting to convert me to your religious beliefs. That's not about to happen either.
Heck, I'm not going to change your mind either - not even going to try. You're entitled to your opinion on the subject. So am I. I'm not changing my mind; it's evident that you are not going to change yours. I'm willing to listen to your POV; I'm willing to support your right to express your POV. I'm willing to support your right to have your POV. Are you willing to listen to, support, and stand up for my rights to my POV? If not, then I can only assume that your objective is to attempt to cram your POV down the throats of others.

Thanks for that. No, I enjoy the practice of critical thinking, and believe every person has a right to their "POV".

I challenge myself, as well as others on the beliefs we adopt, especially the beliefs that effect our public policies. No cramming needed just a healthy debate, and a hope to learn the others point of view a little better.

On that note: Is it a religious issue? Is the right of a human life based on whether it has a soul? Some don't believe that we don't have a soul at all, but still believe they have a right to life. Just a thought....

No, no - I don't see the issue as being based on whether or not there is such a thing as a soul. I happen to believe there is but it can't be scientifically proven one way of the other so the issue is open for debate. However, many people seem to make it a religious issue.

Although I agree that we all have a right to our own POV, we do have to recognize that different POVs are as "right" to those who hold those views. And we can never know what all goes into any decision another makes.

I have never been in a position to make such a choice. I dealt with infertility issues, and fortunately, never had any indication that anything was wrong. But, I do not KNOW for sure I would or would not opt for an abortion if:
1. I was raped
2. My health was at risk, but the baby was healthy
3. The baby was doomed to an early and painful death based on genetic info
4. Other scenerios that I haven't thought of.

I have a couple friends who had abortions, and for them, it was the right choice. They both later had two children. Both abortions were early (I have different feelings about later term abortions than first trimester, especially the first handful of weeks -- ever seen a really early embryo? Looks like a grub...)

I think it is sad that any girl or woman finds herself in the position of an unwanted pregnancy. That IS sad.

What is "sad" is to have people interfere in other's lives/bodies/etc. under the guise of "respecting life".
Go adopt some abused, abandoned kids if you have so much concern over the living - leave pregnant women alone to live their own life.
Pro choice is pro life - we respect everyone's right to make their own decision - this isn't Afganistan.

Jase - I meant to hit Reply under the post above yours, I was responding to her, not you -- sorry.

Whilst I agree that everyone has a right to their opinion, it is how some choose to express that opinion I have a problem with.

I went with a friend who was having an abortion. She had really struggled with the decision, been for counselling, but already having five children, and her husband having had an accident that meant he would never walk again, she decided to have the abortion. I believe it was the hardest decision she had ever had to make. We arrived at the clinic to find pro-life activists picketing, carrying banners. We had to run the gauntlet into the clinic and one woman even tried to thrust pamphlets into our hands.
My friend went to 'hell and back' in the process of making the decision to terminate, and she didn't need these people there making it any harder for her, just because they felt the need to express their POV.

Sikpiksie

I am confused then - am i pro-choice or pro-life? I believe that each person/woman should be able to make that decision for herself. And i was raised irish catholic - where in my family- to have an abortion would mean -no one would speak to you again! My mother had six children - and died at a young age (37) - i was only 3. She was taught to pro-create - and she did. Back in those days they used the ryhthm method - but she secretly started taking the pill after she had me (the baby). She smoked and they hadn't perfected the pill in the 60's - she died because she developed a blood clot in her leg that travelled to her heart and burst. Later they found a tumour in her head (she'd been complaining of headaches for weeks) - and if you do research on the pill -don't SMOKE after 30.....

Irish6605: I think you can be both pro-choice in terms of your political belief that a person should make the decision themselves and then anti-abortion for yourself in that you probably wouldn't choose to do it.