Is abortion right or wrong? Is it a mere choice or situational response? Many believe it to be equivalent to murder while some do not. Several say it is unimportant, then why was it a determining factor for the presidential votes? How would Americans feel if the government classified life to be a 1 year old? Are we just sitting back letting people do this and not be punished. If this were an accident (rape, incest, etc.), then is it right to abort?

Abortion as defined by Webster is ‘the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus; especially: the medical procedure of inducing expulsion of a human fetus to terminate a pregnancy.’
The definition says that the woman was pregnant and she kills or terminates the embryo (baby) while it is still in its growing stages.

The pro-choice notion says that an embryo during the early stages of pregnancy cannot live outside the womb; it is truly a part of her body and not a separate identity. At this stage if the abortion takes place, a woman is exercising her property rights over her body and not killing an individual. Once the embryo is old enough to live outside the womb, a woman is still under no obligation to carry the child to term. She can invite guests to her house and later ask them to leave. Similarly, she can invite an embryo inside her body and later change her mind. But, if her unwanted guests do not leave immediately she might just pull out a gun and shoot them. This is called ‘overkill’. An abortion during the latter stages of pregnancy is ‘overkill’ as embryo is now an individual.

If our government considers abortion to be legal, then what will hold them back from passing a more serious law about children like the Chinese government? How is it related to abortion? An article in the New York Times statistics showed that out of 100% of women who do get abortions, 21.3% of women cannot afford a baby, 14.1% of women have a relationship issue or their partner does not want a child, and 10.8% of women feel a child will disrupt their education or career. That is only 46.2% of women that get abortions. What about rest?

Let’s say a woman cannot afford to support her child. A pro-life person would say to give the child to an orphanage; a pro-choice person would say to let the women decide. Either way we look at, someone is right, but only one is wrong. Wise men say that when given a choice we make them on circumstances and not on right or wrong. If this is true then could abortion be one of the circumstantial decisions? I fashioned a survey that asked a woman if she would still abort a child if she were established. About 85% percent of them said they would not, and only 15% stated they would. One of my variables was if the woman wanted to have children. This may not speak on a global scale but it still presents a fact that many women have children out of wedlock.

People say that abortion is not an issue that we should be focusing on, and there are more things to be highlighted. Americans never stood for killing the innocent. In 2001 alone abortion clinics killed 1.31 million. Just visualize about 16.5 football stadium’s seating 79,469 children, and then a bomb blows up all 16.5 of them. That would be the biggest tragedy ever in the world. Everyone would wonder what the children did to deserve such heinous punishment. How is this different from killing 1.31 million now? Only 6.1% of women choose to abortion because they are risking maternal health and/or fetal health. Then why are clinics still catering to the other 93.9% of women who do not want the responsibility and/or just do not want the child? Instead of sacrificing a future life, we should sacrifice our own personal pleasure.

Look at abortion from the unborn child’s side. What is the difference between our lives and that of a fetus (aborted child)? It was the women’s choice, and since they chose to have unprotected sex then whatever happened she knew the consequences. The problem is now since the abortion is legal they can have unprotected sex and not deal with the consequences. That is like saying that you can drink and smoke all you want and have excellent health. Say that you were given a choice to cheat on the SAT’s without any penalty. Either cheat or to work hard and to study, which one would you pick. Many people would choose to cheat because they would not have to do any work and because there would not be any penalty for doing it. That is also the mindset of the people who have unprotected sex and abort their unborn child. That is what abortion clinics are allowing women to do. Not only are the clinics performing the procedure but they are doing so without letting their clients know the associated risks. Many clients don’t receive any information on how to take care after the procedure.

According to a National Abortion Federation; abortion information pamphlet, “someone should offer to ‘explain the abortion procedure and what to expect” and “make sure you understand any risks or possible complications in the procedure you will be having.” The pamphlet goes on to explain how medical and surgical abortions are done. It says that “complications are unlikely” and “the provider should also explain what to expect and how to take care of you after the abortion. Thus stating that if there was nothing wrong with it why is there so much conflict surrounding it.

Are Americans selfish enough to take away a life just because the parents are not ready or feel a child would interrupt their education or career? Will Americans just let abortion kill 126,000 children a day? Or, will we stand up for what is right and end abortion now. Abortion may become obsolete when technology permits an embryo to grow outside a woman’s body into a healthy infant. An alternative could be to induce pregnancy than abortion and let the adopted parents take over the responsibilities of nurturing the infant.

Anyone who supports the pro-choice notion believes that embryo is not a human being. On the other hand, those who oppose abortion believe that embryo is a human being. Thus, distinction lies in the definition of human being. Science has proved that embryo is a separate living organism distinct from mother. Still many refuse to consider an embryo as human. They argue that the point where human life begins is unknown. Does this means that there is no objective point where begins? Many people resolve this by saying human life begins at birth. Thus, if a child is killed a day after birth it’s a murder. But what differentiates the same child till a day before birth. Why killing of same child then is not considered a crime?

Some people say human life begins before birth. For them the time when embryo is deemed viable is the start of human life. But this ignores the difference between the fertilized and unfertilized zygote. Still it is not independence that defines human life. Under this view, a baby dependent upon mother would not have the rights of an individual. At the time of conception, something unique takes place. It is a point of change when something unique comes into existence. This new thing is an individual. This therefore marks the beginning of human life. Many individuals claim to be pro active for avoiding interference in other person’s life. Does it mean that laws that outlaw abortion restrict woman’s freedom? Chastity, adoption, motherhood and even use of contraceptives are alternatives to abortion. Men have equal responsibility and if they are not ready to take the responsibility, they must refrain from such activities. If they are not willing to have children, they must not engage in activities that produce children.

Both men and women are biologically different and neither of sexes is inferior. However, the recognition of these differences has resulted in oppression of woman since ages. Thus, there is a growing belief that in order to liberate, it is empirical to deny the aspects of womanhood that make her unique. This includes motherhood. With abortion, a woman endures great injustice and suffering for achieving equality with men. Freedom does not come free of cost not only to children but to women as well.