If you are a regular reader, friend, or family member, you already know where I stand on prenatal testing. If you’re new to my blog, you can read my other posts on the subject here. Once you know where I stand on prenatal testing, then it’s not a big leap to figure out where I stand on abortion, but in case you were wondering, I’ll make it very clear. I am pro-life.
I have many friends who don’t agree with me, and consider themselves to be pro-choice. I love them dearly and I believe that they are genuinely sincere in their beliefs. However, I also feel strongly that they are sincerely wrong. I’ve heard all of the arguments – for and against – abortion, and I won’t rehash those here. You won’t hear me railing about eternal damnation or find me posting graphic images.
Virtually all of the arguments in favor of legalized abortion can be broken down into the same category: the unborn child is a burden. The claims range from overpopulation to individual disabilities to financial hardship to reminder of an assault to just plain don’t-want-it, but at the end of the day, it all boils down to the feeling that this unborn individual will be a burden to someone, whether it be society or her mother or family. Whether that’s true or not is certainly up for debate – many people would consider my children to be burdens, even though I don’t (okay, that’s actually not true – they are a burden in a lot of ways, but so are ALL children, but well worth it). Let’s just assume, for the sake of discussion, that it’s true. All unwanted children (pick your reason) are a burden. To society, to mothers – whatever. But in my mind, that begs the question:
Why, exactly, do we think our lives should be free of burdens?
Sometimes unwanted children are the product of bad choices, but…sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes, shit just happens. It sucks. My heart breaks for the women who are in what they perceive to be impossible situations – women who often have little or no support from partners and/or their families. There has to be point at which we, as a society, choose to support and nurture women who are hurting, as opposed to the current practice of ripping their “burdens” away surgically.
The very first March for Life was held in January of 1974, when I was barely four years old. Today, the 2011 March for Life is being held – I am now 41. I wanted so much to just let this day pass without posting. I didn’t want to have to worry about offending someone, or drawing criticism (or worse), and I didn’t want to be accused of being overtly political. However, after a great deal of soul-searching (and self-debating), I finally decided that all of those excuses for not posting were just selfish excuses. I decided that I can’t be silent.
Every person has worth, no matter how old or young, healthy or infirm, disabled or able-bodied, rich or poor. It’s time to recognize that worth and act accordingly, supporting those in need and protecting the defenseless.
I can’t be silent.
I agree. How can we say that a person's life has no intrinsic worth and who are we to decide what that worth is. Children aren't a burden they are a gift and those that disagree don't understand the sorrow of not being able to conceive. Colleen
Andi, on more than one occasion when reading your blog (which I love BTW) I have been compelled to tell my story but never actually got to writing it. Today, I feel like it fits. When I was pregnant with Zachary I had my screening test come by with an elevated risk (1:40) for Down Syndrome. When the dr. called my husband reminded me of a conversation we had before conceiving and how this wasn't the path in our lives. But just days later, I looked at my baby on the ultrasound for the first time and knew that without a doubt no matter what my amnio came back as I was having that baby. The entire two weeks of waiting for the result, my husband and I would argue about our choices and I knew that I would be leaving him if it came down to it. Even today, when I see a child with down syndrome I know that I could have done it on my own and that it would have been the right decision. Sometimes, things that we say we may do in a hypothetical situation, turn out to be something we would never consider when actually faced with the decision. Christine
Andi,
I think of a friend of mine when people raise the issue of abortion. Of course, I know her, so the news story makes me cry. But I don't know how anyone could not be moved to reconsider what they think they know after hearing her story. Her son, Zach, is now 6 years old. http://www.mycatholicvoice.com/media/qagrG9
Christine – Thank you so much for sharing! Sometimes it's difficult to put ourselves "out there" out of fear that we'll offend people. It gives me strength just to know that there are people like you out there who are willing to do the right thing, no matter the personal cost.
Wendy – Thank you so much for the link! Wow. What a strong young woman – mature beyond her years – and such a wonderful example of the power of a mother's love.
I really respect your position and appreciate your thoughts here. You and I wouldn’t agree on everything, but as mothers and as human beings, I think we agree on a great deal. I think the loving answer as a society is to support women and families to raise happy, cherished children; many countries have support systems like this. I love when I hear points of view that differ from my own, yet share so much in common. I will keep your words in my head. best, wb
I had a lengthy conversation a few years ago with a now-friend of mine who at the time was a casual acquaintance and is squarely on the other side of the aisle from me on the issue of abortion. She initially tried to “pin me down” on a particular stance, at which point I said to her that arguing over the legality of abortion misses the greater point: that the people at the center of the debate, the women and babies, need love and support. It’s a fact that’s all too easily dismissed by groups on both sides. She agreed with me wholeheartedly.
Thanks for stopping by.
I am politically pro-choice, but personally pro-life. I think that, as with drug laws and gun laws, the harm done by government prohibition far outweighs the harm does by the thing itself.
That said, I hate seeing society go down this slippery slope:
http://matir-asurim.blogspot.com/2012/10/31-for-21-abortion-and-nbc.html