My Opinion Essay on Abortion
Abortion is a hard and extremely sensitive topic, and to choose to be pro-life or pro-choice is a big statement of opinion, but one debate out there is whether or not abortion should be legal in the united states. Abortion is a highly controversial issue that is affecting our society. People feel that abortion is evil because it is killing an unborn child. On the other hand, people believe it is a woman's constitutional right to choose, but if one were to end an innocent child's life is not only unethical and inhumane, but it is also morally wrong.
Abortion is the killing of a human being, which defies the word of God, spoken from the Bible. The Bible states “Thou shalt not kill,” in Exodus 20:13. In all countries and among peoples, a natural instinct or an unwritten tradition placed murder among the worst crimes, and made its penalty death. According to the Bible, there is no fine line or conclusion drawn between a fetus or a baby. By definition, a fetus is an unborn offspring of a mammal, in particular, an unborn human baby more than eight weeks after conception, whereas a baby is defined as a very young child, especially one newly or recently born. Donna J. Harrison, MD, president of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, argues that if the prenatal being "is nourished and protected, it will proceed uninterrupted through the developmental stages of the embryo, fetus, newborn, toddler, child, teen, adult and aged adult: one continuous existence… The real argument in the abortion debate is whether or not this human being is a 'person,' with all the…protections of 'personhood.'" She compares the exclusion of prenatal beings from personhood to the exclusion of African-Americans. Other pro-lifers connect the exclusion of prenatal life forms from personhood to the exclusion of other groups, such as women, Latinos, Native Americans, people with disabilities, LGBT persons, the poor, and death row prisoners. In other beliefs other than Christianity and catholicism, traditional Buddhism also rejects abortion because it involves the deliberate destroying of a life. Buddhists are expected to take full personal responsibility for everything they do and for the consequences that follow. The decision to abort is, therefore, a highly personal one and one that requires careful and compassionate exploration of the ethical issues involved, and a willingness to carry the burden of whatever happens as a result of the decision. The ethical consequences of the decision will also depend on the motive and intention behind the decision, and the level of mindfulness with which it was taken.
Our world today is full of unsolved, decisive and controversial issues. Most of them relate to our morals, ethics, and religion, thus creating a very strong yes’ or no’, or good’ and bad’ side. Like the Chinese yin and yang sign, abortion has a very prominent black and white side but also contains traces of each in the alternating color. This shows that if you were to come to any kind of conclusion on abortion, there would be a downside to it,and that is primarily why the world cannot agree on this sensitive and emotional issue. Since nearly 60% of women experience at least one unintended pregnancy between the ages of 14 and 44 (a percentage that includes women who don’t have sex at all, or who don’t have sex with men, or who can’t conceive, which means that women who are actually at risk of an unintended pregnancy have an even higher chance of experiencing one) and 43% of women (again, a percentage which includes those who don’t have sex, don’t have sex with men, or who can not conceive) will have at least one abortion at some point during their fertile years, we’re talking about an extremely common dilemma and decision. While the majority of pregnancies are the result of consensual sex, women periodically become pregnant as a result of rape. Should a woman who involuntarily engaged in sex be forced to carry a child to term as a result? Pro-life Advocates say absolutely! They believe that a woman must never terminate a pregnancy, no matter what the circumstances.
Abortion can emotionally affect each woman differently. Emotional and psychological effects Following abortion are more common than physical side effects and can range from mild regret to more serious complications such as depression. A peer-review 2005 study published in BMC medicine found that women who underwent an abortion had “Significantly higher” anxiety scores on the hospital anxiety and depression scale up to 5 years after pregnancy termination. In a New Zealand study headed by a pro-choice researcher, women who had abortions subsequently experienced higher rates of depression, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, and suicidal behavior than women who had not had abortions, even after controlling for pre-existing conditions. Approximately 42 percent of women with a history of abortion had experienced major depression in the last four years (nearly double the rate of women who had not been pregnant and 35 percent higher than those who carried to term). And an analysis of a federally funded longitudinal study of American women found that, compared to women who gave birth, women who aborted were 65 percent more likely to be at risk of long-term clinical depression after controlling for age, race, education, marital status, history of divorce, income, and prior psychiatric state. “These results suggest women who have experienced a previous induced abortion have omnipresent anxiety and depression symptoms during a subsequent pregnancy, especially during the first trimester.” The results also found that women who have had a miscarriage(s) were not at greater risk of depression and anxiety in the first or second trimester of pregnancy when compared to women who have not had a miscarriage. These results were found within a year of the prior loss.
Many believe that abortion should be legalized for the extreme cases of pregnancy due to rape and incest. If a child is a product of violence, there is no need to harm another person’s life trying to heal the pain of the woman. This only guarantees further emotional stress for the victimized woman in the future. The disgusting descriptions and pictures available showing the dead baby after the process can change one’s mind. The tiny, innocent looking little babies have suffered a great deal of pain in their last minutes of survival. Because a brain, heart, and nerves have been developed, a baby is able to feel death just as any other human would. A mother whose child is killed is always devastated with her loss. It is natural for a mother to feel the same way after having her child aborted before having a chance to care for and nurture her son or daughter who is a part of her. In conclusion, through research and evaluation of data, we have determined that abortion is morally wrong and destructive in all circumstances. God, the ultimate creator who decides the fate of all humans who come into existence, is the only One with the ability to choose life or death for His people. For us to make this decision ourselves, we are taking dominion over God and disregarding the Predestination that He intends for each living person.
There are around 41 million abortions a year which means 41 million hearts don’t get to beat. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. The abortion rate is appalling in the United States. That being said, abortion should be stopped and brought from 41 million lives lost to 41 million first breaths taken in upon birth.
Science has proven that a new, human life begins at conception, at the moment when a human sperm attaches to a human egg, generally in the upper portion of the Fallopian Tube, it becomes something new, a Zygote. A zygote is the name of the first cell formed at conception, the earliest developmental stage of the human embryo. (Conception & Pregnancy: Ovulation, Fertilization, and More) Therefore, the argument that a baby is not living upon conception is invalid if scientific evidence proves otherwise. Dr. LeJeune, a French pediatrician and geneticist stated, “after fertilization has taken place a new human being has come into being.” He stated that this “is no longer a matter of taste or opinion,” and “not a metaphysical contention, it is plain experimental evidence.” He added, “Each individual has a very neat beginning, at conception” (Scientists Attest to Life Beginning at Conception - Resources - Eternal Perspective Ministries).
When women decide to get an abortion they don’t really truly know the consequences, the end result of what they’re doing and the physical symptoms that come with it. Many abortions are performed by the drug RU-486; this drug blocking progesterone, a crucial hormone during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman's body doesn’t have progesterone, the uterine lining does not provide food, any type of fluid and oxygen to the baby, therefore killing the fetus. ("How Are Abortions Done?). The drug has some physical consequences that appear after the abortion, a few being nausea, severe cramping, vomiting and bleeding. A woman whom was interviewed talked about the symptoms emotionally and physically after her abortion. Yes, she stated there were physical repercussions, such as the pain in her abdomen/stomach and the bleeding and horrible cramping for 4 days straight, yet the worst symptoms were the emotional toll it took on her. The woman said she immediately was discouraged by herself and disgusted by her own decisions. She knew that she had ended the life of a soon to be child. This woman is now very Pro-Life and encourages people to choose other options rather than kill a soon to be beautiful child. When a woman goes through an abortion the repercussions are immense not only physical but emotionally, not only does the baby get viciously killed but they aftermath for the woman is everlasting.
When a child gets aborted there is one less baby, for a family who wants a child, to adopt. When adoption is chosen over abortion not only is a child getting to live but the hospital bills and even some living expenses are paid for by the adoptive parents. A huge perk to adoption is the satisfaction that you gave a baby a chance to live rather than killing the child; a woman can smile and know in her heart that a child she gave life to is getting to live out his or her life. Put yourself in the shoes of a woman who does not have the privilege of carrying a child. They would give anything to hold a baby in their arms and call it theirs. The child that you are carrying can make someone's world better than you can imagine. A child is so much more than just a little zygote in your stomach, it is a soon to be breathing baby that so many women would die to have in their arms. 1.5 million or 6% of women in the United states are infertile ("ASRM: Quick Facts About Infetility) and millions of families/women waiting to adopt a child. If a child is not wanted by his or her biological mother there is always a mother who has her arms wide open to shelter and love the beautiful soon to be child.
Most people have been taught their whole lives that they are accountable for their own actions and the repercussions that come of them. This being said, why is abortion an option. Besides rape, each woman should be responsible for the fact that she is pregnant. Having sexual intercourse, even when contraceptive methods are used, still has a risk of pregnancy (British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), "Responsibility of the Mother," bbc.co.uk (accessed Apr. 22, 2014)). An innocent unborn child should not be held responsible for the fact that you didn’t use a condom or chose to have sex in general. “Sure a woman has the right to choose whether or not to become pregnant. She makes that choice before engaging in sex. To make that 'choice' after a pregnancy is underway, merely as a matter of birth control, is an immoral act” (Mona Charen). 16 million girls ages 15-19 give birth each year. ("Teen Pregnancy Statistics - Teen Help.") That means every 16 million teen mothers took responsibility for their own actions. If these girls who are still in school and do not have a stable job can raise a baby and give it the chance to live life, then any woman should. It is not the baby's fault that he/she was conceived, the mother chose to have sex but shouldn’t be able to choose to kill their living child. Some women demand complete control of their body, that being said they should control their bodies by preventing the risk of unwanted pregnancy by using contraception or abstinence.
A Memphis man was charged after killing a woman Tamara Davis, who was shot to death and happened to be pregnant as well. This man went through trial and was convicted with two counts of first-degree murder (http://wreg.com/2016/02/05/man-arrested-for-triple-homicide-involving-a-pregnant-woman/). Under law if a woman is killed or harmed while pregnant the person responsible would be guilty of manslaughter ("Fetal Homicide Laws (U.S.)"). A man named Scott Peterson was convicted and sentenced to death for killing his wife and killing his own unborn son, the law made it very clear that fathers do not have the right to kill or terminate a pregnancy, even if it is their own child. However, every mother in America has the right to kill her unborn children, until she is literally about to give birth ("Fetal Homicide Laws (U.S.)."). The government literally contradicts themselves in their laws. Abortion is manslaughter. Abortion is no different than what Scott Patterson chose to do to his unborn son in the womb.
There are doctors who refer to abortion as “termination” not “killing.” To put it bluntly, killing is “to deprive of life in any manner; cause the death of” ("The Definition of Kill."), that being said every abortion is a kill and every kill is a murder. A famous physician, Pastor E. L. Bynum, talks about how abortion is murder saying “Abortion is murder. Each abortion snuffs out an innocent human life. Tragically, doctors have deceived the American public. Referring to unborn babies as "fetus," "embryo," or "zygote," may be scientifically correct, but does not change the fact: These little ones are little human beings. Though called "parasite," "blob," or "tissue," give each wee creature about 266 days after conception and see what emerges from his mother's womb. It will be a human baby, not a zebra, a trout, frog or an orangutan.” (Byum, A Physician Tells Why Abortion Is Murder). Like said before, a child is living upon conception. In fact babies begin to start to hear by week 6 of conception ("What to Expect.") and legally a woman can have an abortion at 6 weeks of pregnancy. Knowing that, the women who claim the baby cannot feel it because they are not developed yet are purely incorrect. If a baby can hear you it has developed his/her eardrums. Women are murdering their developed children and lying to themselves while doing it so that they feel better about it. The truth is, there is no way around it. They cannot make the fact that they are inhumanely killing an innocent child just go away. Each abortion deprives an innocent baby of a full life. Think about this, each person who supported slavery was never a slave… and every person who is for abortion wasn't murdered and got to live.
To any person who is for abortion or is contemplating having one of her own, think about this, everyone who is alive got the chance to live and experience wonderful things. Your mother gave you this amazing opportunity (or should I say gift, since life is a gift), pass it on…give the most precious thing in the world…Life. There are babies dying every day, 910 to be exact ("Planned Parenthood Did One Abortion Every 95 Seconds”), and those children are being inhumanely killed/murdered for something that they are not responsible for. “Some babies die by chance, none should die by choice” (Society for the Protection of Unborn Children).