Soon after we posted a link to Editor Kristin Palpini’s article “Why I Am Pro-Abortion And You Should Be Too,” to Facebook, the comments came pouring in. Here’s what readers had to say about the staunchly pro-choice Between the Lines that ran in the July 30, 2015 Advocate. Comments were edited for length and clarity. Join the conversation and like us on our Facebook page.
I am pro-abortion in the same way I am pro-triple bypass surgery and chemotherapy. In general, I am “pro” any helpful, legal medical procedure.
Being pro-abortion is different than being pro-angioplasty, though, and that’s because, ostensibly, there is a second human being — with all the attendant rights — involved.
But I don’t believe that.
“Why I Am Pro-Abortion And You Should Be Too”
Josh Pelland: Unlike the deluded author of this op-ed, many people are waking up to the horrors they’ve been complicit (or active) in endorsing. “I am anti-abortion in the same way I am against the murder of any other human being.”
Cara Callahan: Then there’s the fact that women are autonomous human beings and it is no one’s business what anyone else does with their life and their body. A potential life has no rights over the grown up, born, alive-right-now human being. Who are you to criticize women? Who is anyone to judge when you are clueless to the situation?
Josh Pelland: The problem is in people not realizing the value of the unborn life. I don’t consider it my duty to force beliefs, values or policies on anyone else. However, this is a straightforward issue for me. Everything possible should be done to save the child unless the mother’s life is at harm. I don’t have all the answers. But I know supporting all abortion on-demand requires a degree of intellectual dishonesty and moral failure that I cannot support. Most Americans are somewhere in the middle on abortion and very high percentages would like partial bans or ultrasounds/education and options for would-be mothers.
I understand your concerns because I was a full-on liberal and supported abortion until just a few years ago. But if you all would just admit this is a real problem — 55 million babies didn’t get to be born in this country since Roe v. Wade, disproportionately black — then we can get around to finding ways to reduce this tragedy and also respect people in difficult situations.
Justin Davis Jacobs: You are denying it though and I do not consider myself a liberal. I hate labels, labels automatically skew any debate. You don’t consider it your duty to force beliefs, but that’s what your doing here. It’s of course your right to voice your opinion and I accept anyone’s opinion wholeheartedly. When people’s opinions are used to take away someone’s rights is where it gets evil for me. This is as straightforward to me as it is for you, except my opinion doesn’t take away someone’s right. Say what you will regarding the unborn to counter that, but by doing so you’ll be saying the undeveloped unborn’s “rights” trump a living being’s rights and who gives anyone THAT right? I don’t actually like the idea of abortion and in an ideal world accidents wouldn’t happen, but they do and I’m not here to judge who gets an abortion or not, it’s none of my business, or yours.
Michael Lee Rohm: What I do with my body is my right. Except for legislation against drinking, smoking, doing drugs, urinating in public, etc., etc.
