The Morality Of Abortion: Pro Life
Melanie Little
Mrs. Proffitt
HSE 3: Period 1
November 18, 2014
Abortion: Pro-Life
Death is morally wrong according to American ethics and values so is the killing of unborn fetuses morally wrong as well? A fetus is considered a human life because life begins at the moment of conception. Abortions are painful, inhumane, and dangerous for the child, the mother, and the mother 's health. Women should not have an abortion because it is an act of taking human life, can result in medical complications later in life, and to complete the process the mother and her baby must go through horrific procedures.
Pro-Choice advocates say that since nearly all abortions take place in the first trimester, when a fetus cannot exist independent of the mother, …show more content…
it cannot be regarded as a separate entity as it cannot exist outside her womb so it is not considered a human life. Advocates have said that life begins at conception so abortion is akin to murder because it is the act of taking human life. Adoption is not an alternative because it 's still the woman 's choice. Very few women who give birth give up their child for adoption. Adoption accomplishes the same result and gives other families who cannot have kids a chance to adopt a child. There is no unwanted child. Opponents say that it is still the woman 's choice because it is her body and she understood the consequences. However, those who choose abortions are often minors or young women with insufficient life experience to understand fully what they are doing and many have lifelong regrets afterwards.
Human life is a continuum beginning at conception and ending at natural death. Humans did not come from a zygote, they once were a zygote. Humans did not evolve from a fetus, they once were a fetus. The pro-life position is both scientifically and philosophically sound. French geneticist Jerome Lejeune explains that "Upon fertilization, a human individual is created with a unique genetic identity that remains unchanged throughout his or her life. This individual has a fundamental right to life, which must be protected. To accept the fact that after fertilization has taken place a new human has come into being is no longer a matter of taste or opinion... The human nature of the human being from conception to old age is not a metaphysical contention, it is plain experimental evidence" (ProCon.org). At no point does the fetus undergo a "substantial change" or change of nature. It is and will always be human. It is an immature human, but a human nonetheless. All life should be protected without question. Unborn Babies have a right to life. Unborn babies are considered human beings by the U.S. government so in order to protect their lives some laws were created. "The federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which was enacted 'to protect unborn children from assault and murder, ' states that under federal law, anybody intentionally killing or attempting to kill an unborn child should 'be punished... for intentionally killing or attempting to kill a human being. ' The act also states that an unborn child is a 'member of the species homo sapiens. ' At least 38 states have passed similar fetal homicide laws" (ProCon.org). Since a fetus is a member of the species homo sapiens and considered a human life, the U.S. government works to protect every life; even of the unborn. It is wonderful that the government is putting forth acts that prevent murder. Previously the government did not have such laws, changing their ideals based on the situation. "In the 13th century, abortion after five or six weeks was considered homicide, punishable by hanging. Later during the 1960s and 1970s in the US, many states became more liberal in their abortion laws, allowing abortion for health reasons, like rape, incest, or to save the mother 's life. New York introduced the first 'on demand ' abortion laws and that state was quickly followed by several others. Since January 22, 1973, in Roe v. Wade, abortion has been legal (or, more precisely, prohibition of abortion has been illegal) in the United States" (Rich). The government 's morals changed over time because of the change of society. It became socially acceptable because of bad situations (rape, incest, etc.), but just because the government has changed their laws does not mean abortion is justified and/or morally correct. The government and laws should not change based on societal changes because if society keeps on changing then the laws will slowly loosen until there are no longer any laws or they are not followed. Morals and Values should always stay the same because even though society may change opinion or perceive it a different way, the facts never change.
Women around the world know about abortion and abortion laws have changed so that under certain conditions, it is acceptable.
Some are considering it and some have gone through with it, although their reasoning is not a 'special case '. "There are many reasons why a woman may choose to have an abortion; occasionally, about 0.5 percent of the time, the decision is based on concern for the woman 's health or the health of the embryo or fetus. But, according to a 2004 study, 92 percent of women who had abortions, cited "social" or "other" reasons, rather than medical reasons or sexual assault, as the primary basis for their abortions. These social reasons included such things as the timing being wrong for having a child; not being able to afford a baby; having relationship problems with the father; or not feeling mature enough to raise a child. Many people think that some abortions are legitimate while others are not, and that the government should determine the specific cases in which abortions are legal. Others think that the decision should always be left up to the woman as a matter of personal privacy" (Rich). Women are getting abortions for reasons that go against what laws say. Breaking the law and the murder of an unborn child should not be justified by social reasons. However, previously women were more passionate about their choices and had legitimate reasons to have one, where they fought legal battles to gain the right to choose. "By the mid-1960s, such feminist organizations as the National Organization for Women were focusing on abortion as a key to women 's liberation. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, several state legislatures liberalized their abortion laws. It was based upon a woman 's right to privacy under the United States Constitution. In the years since legalization, millions of American women have obtained abortions" (Neumann). Women fought for their rights and won. Though women should be allowed to have choices, how can they make a choice
for a life they have no right to take? On top of that, most of the women who are considering an abortion are young teenage girls who are not ready to be making those kinds of choices. "Advocates argue that notification laws enhance family communication and promote the health and best interests of minors. They say that most teenaged girls are unprepared to deal with the physical and psychological effects of abortion. They also argue that parents ' responsibilities to oversee their children 's health outweigh teens ' right to privacy. Moreover, many advocates believe that notification and consent requirements have reduced the numbers of teen abortions, as well as teen pregnancies. Confidential access to abortion services, advocates claim, makes teens more likely to engage in sexual activities" (Ballaro). If girls aren 't old enough to understand the consequences, they could try abstinence. Are people willing to commit murder because of their own gain? The thought of killing an infant because of stupidity, selfishness, and carelessness does not seem justified at all.
Women are allowed a choice whether or not to keep their baby, but do they really know how the procedures go? Doctors execute murder that is most often excruciatingly painful for the baby. Abortion is painful for everyone—psychologically and physically. "Neurobiology and Anatomy Professor Maureen Condic, explains that the most primitive response to pain, the spinal reflex, is developed by eight weeks gestation and that there is universal agreement that pain is detected by the fetus in the first trimester" (ProCon.org). These pain reflexes show that a fetus/embryo is a living human being. An abortion is never painless and never without consequence whether it is for the mother or her child. Most women do not think of the baby 's feelings, believing that it is not a human life, does not feel pain and has not yet started life. Doctor Bernard N. Nathanson stated that when an abortion is performed on a 12-week-old fetus, "We see [in an ultrasound image] the child 's mouth open in a silent scream... This is the silent scream of a child threatened imminently with extinction" (ProCon.Org). A fetus does feel pain and sometimes some women do not know that. They are putting their own child under agonizing situations to improve their own situation. That is the most horrible thing a mother could do to her child. The fetus feels enough pain with the regular type of abortion. However there are more intricate ways to kill a fetus, apparently. "The most common method for performing second-trimester abortions is dilation and evacuation (D & E), a procedure which may require, if the pregnancy is sufficiently advanced, the use of a forceps to dismember the fetus and extract it in pieces. Roughly 15 percent of late-term abortion cases, however, are performed using a variation of this procedure in which the fetus is removed intact from the womb. The medical term for this procedure is intact dilation and extraction (D & X). This procedure takes 2-3 days while the cervix is gradually dilated. Once dilation takes place, the fetus is turned into the breach position, and pulled feet first from the birth canal. An incision is made at the base of the skull and the brain tissue is removed, causing the skull to collapse. The entire body is then removed. Opponents commonly refer to this procedure as "partial-birth abortion." Both opponents and proponents of the legality of late-term abortion have focused their efforts specifically on the D & X procedure. Rarely, early induction of labor, a third type of abortion is used" ("Points of View: Late-Term Abortion"). That is almost the same thing as giving birth to a baby and snapping its neck and maybe even more painful. An unborn baby and a (born) baby are both still human lives. A fetus are allowed the right to life and feel pain like any other person. Since the third procedure is extremely inhumane and unjustified it "is now considered against the law in the U.S. according to the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 1995" ("Abortion Procedures"). If the government did not make laws to prevent inhumane procedures like this one, would women still continue to have abortions based on their own selfish wants? If a woman is not mature enough to make that decision, she shouldn 't be mature enough to be in a sexual relationship. Women do not realize how extreme and unnecessary abortion is and if the government did not set up laws and if the government kept the procedures a secret, society would keep on twisting the perception of abortion until it was completely acceptable. Women should look at the facts first rather than looking at public opinion. Life begins the moment a person is created and ends the moment a person is dead. Everyone deserves a chance to live and nobody deserves to die. No one should be responsible for another person 's life. Abortion is murder and murder is never justified. Women should not base their reasoning to have an abortion on societal norms or because of their own wants and should not use social reasons to justify it. If someone was raped, the woman would be able to put it up for adoption. If someone had incest (why on earth would anyone do that?) they 'd be able to put it up for adoption. No one 's life has to end because of someone 's bad situations and there is always another option to save that life if the mother wants to choose it. Subjecting a living human being (or any creature for that matter) to pain because of someone 's mistakes is morally wrong. Women do not even know how much agony their child is under during the procedure, not even realizing what doctors are doing or the murder they are committing. It is important to understand that life begins at conception, look the facts before considering the public opinion and society 's opinion, and make sure to stay informed and do not make an unborn baby de before it has the chance to live.
Works Cited
"Abortion Procedures." American Pregnancy Association. American Pregnancy Association, July 2014. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Ballaro, Beverly, and Geraldine Wagner. "Abortion & Minors: An Overview." Points of View: Abortion & Minors. Boulder: Lakeside, 2014. 1. EBSCO Points of View Reference Center. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
Neumann, Caryn E. "Abortion." ABC-CLIO Issues. N.p., 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Points of View: Late-Term Abortion. Ipswich: Great Neck, 2014. EBSCO Points of View Reference Center. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
ProCon.org. "Should Abortion Be Legal?" ProCon.org. Ed. ProCon.org. N.p., 27 June 2014. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
Rich, Alex K., and Geraldine Wagner. "Abortion: An Overview." Points of View: Abortion. Ipswich: Great Neck, 2014. 1. EBSCO Points of View Reference Center. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
Bibliography
"Abortion Procedures." American Pregnancy Association. American Pregnancy Association, July 2014. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Ballaro, Beverly, and Geraldine Wagner. "Abortion & Minors: An Overview." Points of View: Abortion & Minors. Boulder: Lakeside, 2014. 1. EBSCO Points of View Reference Center. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
Neumann, Caryn E. "Abortion." ABC-CLIO Issues. N.p., 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Points of View: Late-Term Abortion. Ipswich: Great Neck, 2014. EBSCO Points of View Reference Center. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
ProCon.org. "Should Abortion Be Legal?" ProCon.org. Ed. ProCon.org. N.p., 27 June 2014. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
Rich, Alex K., and Geraldine Wagner. "Abortion: An Overview." Points of View: Abortion. Ipswich: Great Neck, 2014. 1. EBSCO Points of View Reference Center. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
Mrs. Proffitt
HSE 3: Period 1
November 18, 2014
Abortion: Pro-Life
Death is morally wrong according to American ethics and values so is the killing of unborn fetuses morally wrong as well? A fetus is considered a human life because life begins at the moment of conception. Abortions are painful, inhumane, and dangerous for the child, the mother, and the mother 's health. Women should not have an abortion because it is an act of taking human life, can result in medical complications later in life, and to complete the process the mother and her baby must go through horrific procedures.
Pro-Choice advocates say that since nearly all abortions take place in the first trimester, when a fetus cannot exist independent of the mother, …show more content…
it cannot be regarded as a separate entity as it cannot exist outside her womb so it is not considered a human life. Advocates have said that life begins at conception so abortion is akin to murder because it is the act of taking human life. Adoption is not an alternative because it 's still the woman 's choice. Very few women who give birth give up their child for adoption. Adoption accomplishes the same result and gives other families who cannot have kids a chance to adopt a child. There is no unwanted child. Opponents say that it is still the woman 's choice because it is her body and she understood the consequences. However, those who choose abortions are often minors or young women with insufficient life experience to understand fully what they are doing and many have lifelong regrets afterwards.
Human life is a continuum beginning at conception and ending at natural death. Humans did not come from a zygote, they once were a zygote. Humans did not evolve from a fetus, they once were a fetus. The pro-life position is both scientifically and philosophically sound. French geneticist Jerome Lejeune explains that "Upon fertilization, a human individual is created with a unique genetic identity that remains unchanged throughout his or her life. This individual has a fundamental right to life, which must be protected. To accept the fact that after fertilization has taken place a new human has come into being is no longer a matter of taste or opinion... The human nature of the human being from conception to old age is not a metaphysical contention, it is plain experimental evidence" (ProCon.org). At no point does the fetus undergo a "substantial change" or change of nature. It is and will always be human. It is an immature human, but a human nonetheless. All life should be protected without question. Unborn Babies have a right to life. Unborn babies are considered human beings by the U.S. government so in order to protect their lives some laws were created. "The federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which was enacted 'to protect unborn children from assault and murder, ' states that under federal law, anybody intentionally killing or attempting to kill an unborn child should 'be punished... for intentionally killing or attempting to kill a human being. ' The act also states that an unborn child is a 'member of the species homo sapiens. ' At least 38 states have passed similar fetal homicide laws" (ProCon.org). Since a fetus is a member of the species homo sapiens and considered a human life, the U.S. government works to protect every life; even of the unborn. It is wonderful that the government is putting forth acts that prevent murder. Previously the government did not have such laws, changing their ideals based on the situation. "In the 13th century, abortion after five or six weeks was considered homicide, punishable by hanging. Later during the 1960s and 1970s in the US, many states became more liberal in their abortion laws, allowing abortion for health reasons, like rape, incest, or to save the mother 's life. New York introduced the first 'on demand ' abortion laws and that state was quickly followed by several others. Since January 22, 1973, in Roe v. Wade, abortion has been legal (or, more precisely, prohibition of abortion has been illegal) in the United States" (Rich). The government 's morals changed over time because of the change of society. It became socially acceptable because of bad situations (rape, incest, etc.), but just because the government has changed their laws does not mean abortion is justified and/or morally correct. The government and laws should not change based on societal changes because if society keeps on changing then the laws will slowly loosen until there are no longer any laws or they are not followed. Morals and Values should always stay the same because even though society may change opinion or perceive it a different way, the facts never change.
Women around the world know about abortion and abortion laws have changed so that under certain conditions, it is acceptable.
Some are considering it and some have gone through with it, although their reasoning is not a 'special case '. "There are many reasons why a woman may choose to have an abortion; occasionally, about 0.5 percent of the time, the decision is based on concern for the woman 's health or the health of the embryo or fetus. But, according to a 2004 study, 92 percent of women who had abortions, cited "social" or "other" reasons, rather than medical reasons or sexual assault, as the primary basis for their abortions. These social reasons included such things as the timing being wrong for having a child; not being able to afford a baby; having relationship problems with the father; or not feeling mature enough to raise a child. Many people think that some abortions are legitimate while others are not, and that the government should determine the specific cases in which abortions are legal. Others think that the decision should always be left up to the woman as a matter of personal privacy" (Rich). Women are getting abortions for reasons that go against what laws say. Breaking the law and the murder of an unborn child should not be justified by social reasons. However, previously women were more passionate about their choices and had legitimate reasons to have one, where they fought legal battles to gain the right to choose. "By the mid-1960s, such feminist organizations as the National Organization for Women were focusing on abortion as a key to women 's liberation. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, several state legislatures liberalized their abortion laws. It was based upon a woman 's right to privacy under the United States Constitution. In the years since legalization, millions of American women have obtained abortions" (Neumann). Women fought for their rights and won. Though women should be allowed to have choices, how can they make a choice
for a life they have no right to take? On top of that, most of the women who are considering an abortion are young teenage girls who are not ready to be making those kinds of choices. "Advocates argue that notification laws enhance family communication and promote the health and best interests of minors. They say that most teenaged girls are unprepared to deal with the physical and psychological effects of abortion. They also argue that parents ' responsibilities to oversee their children 's health outweigh teens ' right to privacy. Moreover, many advocates believe that notification and consent requirements have reduced the numbers of teen abortions, as well as teen pregnancies. Confidential access to abortion services, advocates claim, makes teens more likely to engage in sexual activities" (Ballaro). If girls aren 't old enough to understand the consequences, they could try abstinence. Are people willing to commit murder because of their own gain? The thought of killing an infant because of stupidity, selfishness, and carelessness does not seem justified at all.
Women are allowed a choice whether or not to keep their baby, but do they really know how the procedures go? Doctors execute murder that is most often excruciatingly painful for the baby. Abortion is painful for everyone—psychologically and physically. "Neurobiology and Anatomy Professor Maureen Condic, explains that the most primitive response to pain, the spinal reflex, is developed by eight weeks gestation and that there is universal agreement that pain is detected by the fetus in the first trimester" (ProCon.org). These pain reflexes show that a fetus/embryo is a living human being. An abortion is never painless and never without consequence whether it is for the mother or her child. Most women do not think of the baby 's feelings, believing that it is not a human life, does not feel pain and has not yet started life. Doctor Bernard N. Nathanson stated that when an abortion is performed on a 12-week-old fetus, "We see [in an ultrasound image] the child 's mouth open in a silent scream... This is the silent scream of a child threatened imminently with extinction" (ProCon.Org). A fetus does feel pain and sometimes some women do not know that. They are putting their own child under agonizing situations to improve their own situation. That is the most horrible thing a mother could do to her child. The fetus feels enough pain with the regular type of abortion. However there are more intricate ways to kill a fetus, apparently. "The most common method for performing second-trimester abortions is dilation and evacuation (D & E), a procedure which may require, if the pregnancy is sufficiently advanced, the use of a forceps to dismember the fetus and extract it in pieces. Roughly 15 percent of late-term abortion cases, however, are performed using a variation of this procedure in which the fetus is removed intact from the womb. The medical term for this procedure is intact dilation and extraction (D & X). This procedure takes 2-3 days while the cervix is gradually dilated. Once dilation takes place, the fetus is turned into the breach position, and pulled feet first from the birth canal. An incision is made at the base of the skull and the brain tissue is removed, causing the skull to collapse. The entire body is then removed. Opponents commonly refer to this procedure as "partial-birth abortion." Both opponents and proponents of the legality of late-term abortion have focused their efforts specifically on the D & X procedure. Rarely, early induction of labor, a third type of abortion is used" ("Points of View: Late-Term Abortion"). That is almost the same thing as giving birth to a baby and snapping its neck and maybe even more painful. An unborn baby and a (born) baby are both still human lives. A fetus are allowed the right to life and feel pain like any other person. Since the third procedure is extremely inhumane and unjustified it "is now considered against the law in the U.S. according to the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 1995" ("Abortion Procedures"). If the government did not make laws to prevent inhumane procedures like this one, would women still continue to have abortions based on their own selfish wants? If a woman is not mature enough to make that decision, she shouldn 't be mature enough to be in a sexual relationship. Women do not realize how extreme and unnecessary abortion is and if the government did not set up laws and if the government kept the procedures a secret, society would keep on twisting the perception of abortion until it was completely acceptable. Women should look at the facts first rather than looking at public opinion. Life begins the moment a person is created and ends the moment a person is dead. Everyone deserves a chance to live and nobody deserves to die. No one should be responsible for another person 's life. Abortion is murder and murder is never justified. Women should not base their reasoning to have an abortion on societal norms or because of their own wants and should not use social reasons to justify it. If someone was raped, the woman would be able to put it up for adoption. If someone had incest (why on earth would anyone do that?) they 'd be able to put it up for adoption. No one 's life has to end because of someone 's bad situations and there is always another option to save that life if the mother wants to choose it. Subjecting a living human being (or any creature for that matter) to pain because of someone 's mistakes is morally wrong. Women do not even know how much agony their child is under during the procedure, not even realizing what doctors are doing or the murder they are committing. It is important to understand that life begins at conception, look the facts before considering the public opinion and society 's opinion, and make sure to stay informed and do not make an unborn baby de before it has the chance to live.
Works Cited
"Abortion Procedures." American Pregnancy Association. American Pregnancy Association, July 2014. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Ballaro, Beverly, and Geraldine Wagner. "Abortion & Minors: An Overview." Points of View: Abortion & Minors. Boulder: Lakeside, 2014. 1. EBSCO Points of View Reference Center. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
Neumann, Caryn E. "Abortion." ABC-CLIO Issues. N.p., 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Points of View: Late-Term Abortion. Ipswich: Great Neck, 2014. EBSCO Points of View Reference Center. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
ProCon.org. "Should Abortion Be Legal?" ProCon.org. Ed. ProCon.org. N.p., 27 June 2014. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
Rich, Alex K., and Geraldine Wagner. "Abortion: An Overview." Points of View: Abortion. Ipswich: Great Neck, 2014. 1. EBSCO Points of View Reference Center. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
Bibliography
"Abortion Procedures." American Pregnancy Association. American Pregnancy Association, July 2014. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Ballaro, Beverly, and Geraldine Wagner. "Abortion & Minors: An Overview." Points of View: Abortion & Minors. Boulder: Lakeside, 2014. 1. EBSCO Points of View Reference Center. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
Neumann, Caryn E. "Abortion." ABC-CLIO Issues. N.p., 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Points of View: Late-Term Abortion. Ipswich: Great Neck, 2014. EBSCO Points of View Reference Center. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
ProCon.org. "Should Abortion Be Legal?" ProCon.org. Ed. ProCon.org. N.p., 27 June 2014. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
Rich, Alex K., and Geraldine Wagner. "Abortion: An Overview." Points of View: Abortion. Ipswich: Great Neck, 2014. 1. EBSCO Points of View Reference Center. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.