...Kathleen Sacchetti Professor Brenza Essay-2 March 17th 2015 Pro-life vs. Pro-choice The issue of abortion in the United States will always be a controversial one. Developing two sides of the debate, pro-life and pro-choice. Pro-life are the individuals who do not believe in the option of abortion. Pro-choice are the individuals who believe every woman has the choice to go through with their pregnancy or to not. Despite their contrasts, pro-life and pro-choice explore valid ideas of religion, law and health care in their debates. Supporters of the movement pro-life vs pro-choice use religion to justify their beliefs. Pro-choice looks to Judaism for their answers. They have this idea that since God created every human being, we are all significant beings. Pro-choice advocates researched more information to support their statement and found this one by Moses. “[I have set before thee life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live]” (Bennett). This quote seems to be bashing pro-choice, but it is actually supporting it. According to the Jewish law and practice, a fetus is not considered a human until they can breathe their own air independently, so abortion is not considered a murder, or a life taken. But in the pro-life debate, they turn to Roman Christianity, which claims that the moment of conception is the start of new life. Pro-life advocates believe that all abortion is murder, and have no empathy for the women...
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...who are either pro-life or pro-choice advocates. These opposing sides have compelling arguments regarding the abortion policy in the U.S. that have been largely debated since the legislation of Roe vs. Wade in 1973, where the U.S. government declared that abortion was a “fundamental right” of American women. (Procon.org) While majority of Americans agree that abortion should not be recriminalized, there is still controversy over policies regarding abortion. Pro-choice advocates discourage all policies restricting abortions or taxes making them less affordable, where as pro-life advocates encourage stricter policies on abortions. In the U.S., The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) and the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) are opposing advocacy groups that have greatly influenced this public policy and continue to inform and educate the general public on the abortion issue. Public policy regarding abortion is not just a national debate, other democratic countries face debate over abortion policies. For example, Canada has faced similar debate over abortion policies, but differs from the U.S. in significant ways. Pro- choice advocates in the U.S. believe that the government does not have to right to interfere with a women’s choice to get an abortion. They argue that women must have the right to abortion in order to posses the freedom and equality promised by the U.S. constitution. There are numerous interest groups that advocate these pro-choice views. One of...
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...Perfectionist/Prudential Debate on Abortion [Name of Writer] [Name of Institute] Perfectionist/Prudential Debate on Abortion George Carlin - Pro-Life is Anti-Woman There are several different views on abortion, but no matter how one looks at it there will always be disagreement among people on whether it should be legal or not. Some people view it as negative strictly based on their religious beliefs, while others view it as negative strictly on their morals beliefs that abortion kills an unborn human. Prochoice individuals believe that a woman has the right to decide what to do with her own body. Many of their arguments begin with the idea that if a woman is raped she has the right to abort the pregnancy because it could traumatize her even more. Some women use abortion as a form of birth control and feel that it is their right to do so. No matter how one looks at abortion, it will always be a topic of extreme disagreement among people. According to the video, people who take a pro-life stance on abortion are people who are against abortion. These people strongly believe that the life of an unborn fetus is just as important as the life of the mother. Many pro-lifers feel it is their responsibility to be a voice for the unborn child. Women should be educated on all of the issues they may face physically as a result of abortion. Abortion can be a life altering event for the mother even after the death of the fetus. Another issue of importance is the negative...
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...survival." However, if only the debate over the abortion issue was as simple as the definition provided above. Much like every aspect of human life, a statement is neither right nor wrong, but simply left open for interpretation. There is no black and white in life, only gray areas. Some issues tend to provide us more gray areas than others. Abortion is a prime example of that. Those who refute abortion claim that it is the murder of a helpless baby who has not yet had the chance to live and function as a human being. However, the debate opposite it is just as fervent: it is a woman's right to choose what happens to her body, and if she decides that she is not capable of bringing a child into this world, than she shouldn't be forced to out of nature. Where do we draw the line between humane and inhumane, necessitated death and murder? When does a woman's right over her internal reproductive organs become that of the government's? Is abortion wrong or is it right? Are rape, incest, and potential fatality to the mother exceptions when abortion is "okay"? Are there truly any at all? So many questions are raised by such a fervent debate, that we must look at both sides of the issue to better understand it in a general, but yet thorough approach. As expected, there are many people that are opposed to abortion. These people are better referred to as "pro-life advocates", or essentially, they...
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...Anglia Sagely English 1020 Mr. Joshua Mills My Choice, “Pro Choice” Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century gives a brief description and history over abortion. Abortion is one of the most sensitive issues occurring all through the early history of the world. Abortion did not only effect the poor, it was also seen throughout all society and cultures. The procedures were all different in how they were performed, depending on the level of care available to the practices. Different societies shunned this practice and women began seeking any means possible. People all around the world had strong opinions on this subject, which have been constantly changing. In 1982, ten to 18 percent of the world’s population resided where the procedure of abortion was illegal. If abortion was legal for restrictive use only, it should be used when the mother’s life is in danger. Surveys done by the United States National Library of Medicine during 1965 showed great change in the attitude toward abortion. The public was accepting the pregnancy termination. Roe vs. Wade was one of the most important points in the history of abortion. This Supreme Court Case decision made in 1973 legalized abortion. Recent polls show little change in public opinion since 1972-1973. Over eighty to ninety percent of Americans are for abortions for mothers in poor health, rape, defective fetus and forty to fifty percent approve for other reasons. Ten percent of Americans want abortion to be illegal...
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...Abortion is defined as “The removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end the pregnancy” (dictionary.com). However, if only the debate over the abortion issue was as easy as the definition listed above. However, similar to most things in life, a statement or opinion is never right nor wrong, but simply left open for clarification. Those who are against abortion believe that abortion is the murder of innocent human beings who aren’t given a chance at life and the ability to function as a normal individual. However, those who are for abortion believe that it is a women’s right to choose what she does to not only her baby but also to her body and if she decides she is not capable of bringing a child into this world, then she should not be forced to. Everybody has their own opinion so therefore, abortion should not be right nor should it be wrong. As expected, there are millions of people who are against abortion. These people are considered pro-life, otherwise known as people who feel that, for no reason at all, should any woman feel the need to abort her child while being pregnant. There are many reasons as to why those who are pro-life do not support abortion. The main reason is that, in her decision to have an abortion, the mother is deciding to kill or murder an innocent human being who hasn’t been given a chance at life. Some may also feel that abortion is a very harmful procedure which not only kills the child, but also puts the mother at risk as well. For...
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...procedure that was used when a woman’s life was in danger for medical reasons, rape, or incest. The Landmark case that set a new standard for Abortion in the United States came in 1973 in the state of Texas. “On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in Roe v. Wade, a challenge to a Texas statute that made it a crime to perform an abortion unless a woman’s life was at stake. The case had been filed by “Jane Roe,” an unmarried woman who wanted to safely and legally end her pregnancy. Siding with Roe, the court struck down the Texas law. In its ruling, the court recognized for the first time that the constitutional right to privacy “is broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy” (Roe v. Wade, 1973). Roe has come to...
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...a huge topic of debate in the United States and in the world. In the United States, the majority of the members of the Democratic Party are pro choice, meaning they are for abortion, while the majority of the members of the Republican Party are pro life, meaning they are against abortions. In the United States, abortions are legal, but everyday there are people working to stop them. Abortions are still illegal in many developing countries and women die from unsafe abortions every day. There are many valid arguments on both sides of the debate, such as the fetus being a human vs. women-having control over their own bodies. Scientific research has been conducted for both sides of the argument, and both sides will say that the research...
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...Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life People love to argue. Not in a screaming at each other because the peanut butter lid was left off again kind of way, but with intentions of being progressive. With a little bit of structure to an argument, it ends up being more of a debate and is usually enjoyable, especially if you win. Since people have been debating for so long, and like to do it, you would think that there would be a surefire way to come to a mutual understanding. However, certain topics will be debated until the end of time before there is ever any sort of resolution. When it comes to abortion, seldom is somebody without an opinion; and others could not be more rooted in their beliefs. In order to form an objective opinion it is imperative to understand both sides of a debate and then make a decision based on the facts. On the matter of abortion, the logic behind being pro-choice is more objective and therefore the stronger viewpoint. The first step in choosing a stance on abortion is to understand what the different beliefs are. There are two main beliefs on the matter: pro-life and pro-choice. A recent poll shows that about 51 percent of Americans are pro-life while 42 percent are pro-choice (Operation). According to the world’s oldest and largest pro-life organization, the mission of the pro-life belief is “to protect and defend the most fundamental right of humankind, the right to life of every innocent human being from the beginning of life to natural death” (NRLC)...
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...destroy offspring. It is a chosen miscarriage. The controversy of abortion in the United States is unique because there seems to be no grounds of compromise between two completely opposite sides. That is mostly because either a living human is or isn’t being killed. This is a case between life and liberty, but the complexities of abortion make it hard to settle the two sides. There is much debate whether this is an action of life or death, and the difference is rather large. Yet both sides to the abortion dispute share a common goal: that abortions should become safer, and the number of abortions should decrease. Within abortion, there are many different questions. Does the constitution defend an individual’s right to abortion? Does this include confidentiality? Is a developing fetus a being? Should the law allow abortions for rape or incest cases? The constitution does allow abortion. Constitutional protection of the woman's decision to terminate her pregnancy derives from the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. It declares that no State shall 'deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. (Findlaw 2013) The Supreme Court Decision in 1973, Roe vs. Wade, legalized abortion in the first trimester (NAF 2010). Since then, over 35 Million women have had legal abortions. In America, 24% of pregnancies end in abortion, and 41% of that is on teenagers. 88% of abortions are performed during the first trimester. (Womenscenter 2012) ...
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...ENGL 1001 – 22 Catherine Joseph September 25, 2012 Annotated Bibliography Abortion: Parental Consent Abortion is defined as the removal of a fetus or embryo from the uterus or a termination of pregnancy. The abortion debate is full of controversy as two opposing groups (pro-life/pro-choice) argue about the legal and ethical issues surrounding the debate. Sarah Glazer, author of the article “Roe v. Wade at 25,” discusses the 1973 Supreme Court cases that legalized abortion, which thus sparked unprecedented social change and the unsettling debate of abortion. One major aspect regarding this issue is parental consent; it is still undetermined [on both a state and federal level] whether parents should be involved in a minor’s decision to terminate a pregnancy. The following sources provide both pro-life and pro-choice perspectives over whether parental consent should be required or not. Many of the sources supported the idea of parental consent through a pro-life perspective. In Charles S. Clark’s article titled, “Teenagers and Abortion,” he expresses the idea of how parents have the right to be involved in any medical decisions regarding their child and suggests that teens may be too immature to make a grave, life-changing decision on their own. Hyman Rodman, author of “Should Parental Involvement be Required for Minors Abortions,” expresses the idea of how parental consent can benefit teens as they are able to make a better decision about their pregnancy with the input of...
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...I believe that, “thou shalt not kill” however, there are circumstances in our lives that cause us to believe differently. Life is about making choices and our maker and society gives us the freedom to choose. It is because of these choices that we will make a decision as to if we are ethically right or wrong. This is because regardless of what people may believe abortion is neither right nor wrong. It is the matter of a personal opinion where each side can say with conviction that the other side is wrong. Abortion is the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy. Abortion is one of the most controversial issues around and it will remain an issue that will never be agreed upon. The issue of morals has been put into the question of whether it should be legal to have an abortion thus elevating the subject to a higher level. Some people no longer look at abortion as a question of choice but as a question of morality, and these perceptions have led to a full-blown debate over something that should not be questioned. A single pregnant woman brought a class action suit that challenged the Texas law that prohibited abortions except when medically advised with the purpose of saving the mother’s life. Roe was the single mother in this case and Henry Wade was one of the attorneys that argued the case in Texas’s defense. Roe vs. Wade was first argued in the Supreme Court on December 13, 1971, was reargued in October 11, 1972 and again on January 22...
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...necessary to save the mother’s life. Her doctor was also a plaintiff in the case because he was facing two counts of murder for performing an abortion on a mother that was not medically necessary. A couple who could not have children and believed taking an unborn child’s life was unethical and wrong counter sued with the defense attorney by the name of Wade. This brought about a court decision almost two years later upholding legalized abortion and stating the laws in Texas were vague and unjustifiable. Stating that it was a woman’s right to choose abortion. Allowing women the option to have an abortion up until twenty four weeks gestation. Leading the way for other states to change their laws governing abortions. This brought about a whole new issue as to whether abortion should be legal or not. Prior to Roe vs. Wade an abortion could not be performed unless the mother’s health was at great risk. After the case, many states reevaluated their laws so that mothers could have an abortion for various reasons including “just because they weren’t ready to settle down.” This decision divided the American people as to whether it was ethically and morally right for a woman to choose abortion. In 2013, there were over one million abortions performed in the United States. We will examine both sides of the debate from an ethical and moral stand point as well as the pros and cons. Pro-life activists state that abortion is morally wrong because it takes the life of an innocent child. The belief...
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...governmental restrictions of abortion. The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 was one of the greatest victories in congress related to this topic. The ban restricts a certain form of abortion (partial-birth abortion) past 24 weeks from conception (United States Congress). Even though this is a positive step in the right and moral direction, the act needs to be revised. It needs to have the allotted time reduced from 24 weeks to 20 weeks based upon new medical research that fetuses can “feel pain” prior to 24 weeks. Abortion will never become completely illegal (that is just harsh reality), but the restrictions that govern abortions can be fine tuned to incorporate a smaller and more humane window for abortions. Abortion has been a topic of debate for the past two hundred years. During the years shortly after our country’s independence, abortion laws were little to none other than the common law adopted from England; which held abortion to be legally acceptable if occurring before quickening (the fetus’s ability to stir in the womb) (Lee). Various anti-abortion statutes began to appear in the 1820s, and by 1900 abortion was largely illegal in every state. Some states did include provisions allowing for abortion in limited circumstances; generally with the purpose of protecting the...
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...on- going debate since 1973, in the Roe vs. Wade case. This did in fact legalize abortion and is now in the United States Constitution. There are many reasons why abortion should stay legalized and why I am pro- choice abortion. Under certain circumstances, abortion may be the most appropriate or suitable action to take. The government and religious beliefs should not be included with a personal decision such as abortion. It is acceptable to have an abortion to sustain and stabilize a normal healthy lifestyle. First, anti-abortion people tend to judge mothers who went through with an abortion, but what they do not understand and realize is the type of situation the mother might have encountered to end up getting an abortion. For example, what if a women got raped by a stranger and ended up pregnant? First off, the woman was probably unprepared for a pregnancy let alone a rape attack! The baby’s life wouldn’t be the same without a father, especially not knowing who the father is, I agree that it is not the baby’s fault it got conceived in a terrible way, but the lifestyle the baby and the mother will live after the baby is born will be unhealthy and very unstable. Another example is if a young woman in her teen years has had an unplanned baby. The young woman has her education to think about and is not ready and cannot handle the responsibility y of a child. Most teen relationships do not often succeed; therefore the father may or may not be in the child’s life. When a child...
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