Comments on: Abortion: that dreadful enemy of the so-called Right

By: Jose

Jose — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:10:28 +0000

Here again, D Sutherland, it may be up to Science to decide on this issue.

By: David Sutherland

David Sutherland — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:08:52 +0000

Sounds all good until you ask “what about the baby?”

re: “…once a new being is begot in her womb to decide whether to dispose of it or not is not an easy question.”

Ever ask ‘why?’ this isn’t an easy question? Maybe it’s such a difficult question because she is “deciding” to kill a person-! If it’s not a person then it’s not really such a difficult question.

By: Merkin

Merkin — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 23:04:32 +0000

Jose, did you really think that multi-cultural stuff is dead?
I think not.
Certainly not from our friend.
Check it out on the merkin site.

By: Merkin

Merkin — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:27:59 +0000

Jose, can I ask you to have a look at my latest story of small town coruption and give a comment?.
All are welcome – just say what country you come from and whether this crap is the same there, too.
Thanx

By: earthpal

earthpal — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 09:17:03 +0000

Absolutely Jose. There are many complicated factors in this issue.

And it’s in the countries where abortion is illegal or unavailable that there is much death from unsafe abortions. These abortions are very primitive and the women are at great risk of grave complications such as infection, blood-poisoning, haemaorrhage, internal injuries and much more.

Making abortion illegal or unavailable to the poor is uncompassionate and counterproductive.

By: Jose

Jose — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 10:06:30 +0000

As to the responsibility for the abortion I agree should be shared, whenever possible, between the two parties, the woman having the last and ultimate word about it.

By: Jose

Jose — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 10:04:14 +0000

Of course we are speaking here of the abortion in normal circumstances. There exist circumstances where contraception is not available and although the “day after” contraceptives could be got these have not been proved to be really effective. And there exist individual cases where the contraceptives do not work or are not advisable. And there exist the cases of poor countries, as happens with Africa, where the little money they can dispose of is imperatively spent in other most necessary – for them – things.

And of course education should be top of the list of priorities.

By: earthpal

earthpal — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 05:23:26 +0000

Jose, isn’t it remarkable how the Right, especially the Christian Right, insist that all women should be made to have their babies under all circumstances. But then, they stigmatise and label many of these women for being single-parents….for sponging off the state. They are very protective of unborn babies no matter what the social or medical circumstances are, yet when those babies are born they refuse to support and care for their welfare and well-being. Sheesh, in the States, they’ve only recently made children exempt from the death penalty, something which was greatly opposed by many right-wing fundamentalists. Those same fundamentalists insist that abstinence is the only answer and this of course is quite ludicrous and totally never-going-to-work. In fact, abstinence-only programmes, which the silly George Bush supports, are likely to result in large increases in pregnancy and STD’s.

Abortion is a very emotive and sensitive issue and there are no easy answers. I’m certainly uncomfortable with ‘lifestyle’ abortions although I can’t believe there are many women who take the decision to have an abortion lightly. I do also have misgivings about the upper age-limit for legal abortions. In the UK it’s 24 weeks. That is over half way through the pregnancy. 24 weeks is the BMA’s position and I could only accept that such late abortions are necessary in exceptional circumstances such as a continued pregnancy carrying a greater risk to the woman’s mental or physical health than a termination of pregnancy.

The thing about making abortions illegal, something which the Right desperately want to see happen, is that like most other banned activities, it tends to be counter-productive. Desperate women will attempt self-induced miscarriage by dangerous means such as throwing themselves down the stairs. Or they will seek unsafe illegal abortions. All of which carry great risks. It already happens in countries where abortion is illegal. Backstreet abortions result in much more distress – criminalisation, ill-health and death.

The need to promote education, preparation and easily accessible/widely available contraception is paramount. And Anticant is so right, the Roman Catholic church and the Christian Right have a heck of a lot to answer for on the issue of contraception.

By: anticant

anticant — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 01:29:38 +0000

Of course I agree with seachanges that it should be the woman’s individual decision. But it is also the woman’s individual decision to become pregnant in the first place, and she ought not to do so – unless forced against her will – if she does not wish to have a child. It is for BOTH parties to take responsibility over this. I repeat: abortion is not a morally acceptable alternative to inadequate contraception.

By: seachanges

seachanges — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:31:51 +0000

I think that in the end it should be a woman’s individual decision – too many men are in power, thinking that they can legislate over women’s feelings and emotions, and their bodies! This is fundamentally wrong. Political parties have no right to legislate one way or another. personally I would find it extremely hard to decide one way, but I don’t think that middle class self rightenousess (whether left or right) should provide the ultimate sanction or otherwise! No 15-year old or even 25 or 30 year old should have to plead her case. I agree with Jose that much of this is based on religious dogma, and not enought space is given to serious considerations about individual and moral well being.