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Abortion
Introduction
From 1973 to 1987, over 22 million abortions have been performed. Pro-
lifers would call that a terrible waste of human life. True, 22 million
lives were taken, but I believe that we are better off without those.
Please let me explain in the following report.
What is abortion?
Webster's dictionary defines abortion as "the expulsion of a nonviable
fetus." Abortion might possibly be the most controversial topic right now.
I'm sure by now that you've heard of all the different types of abortion.
Almost all abortions performed in the US are surgical abortions, where the
fetus is removed by suction or other means. (Medication offers another
option, to be discussed later in this report.) During a suction abortion,
the fetus is dismembered and disposed of by a small tube. This process
takes but about 10 minutes, and the mother experiences very little or no
physical discomfort. Pro-lifers immediately say that emotional trauma and
guilt haunts every woman after she has an abortion. However, during my
research, I found numerous women who led (and continue to lead) prominent
and scot-free lives after their abortions. I think that the mental state of
the mother depends very much on her personal feelings toward abortion, and
the actual experience the had before and during the abortion.
Pro-life propaganda
In my study of pro-lifers, I have found that most of the time, they
employ the use of a few strategies for making their views known. One tactic
pro-lifers use to convince people of their views is to play on fear and
emotions. Their graphic descriptions and gruesome pictures are a crude
attempt to "scare" people out of abortion, while their pious talk and
sobbing try to make us feel sorry for them and the unborn. Another popular
strategy of pro-lifers is to protest things like "Life begins at
conception! The fetus is human!" Science has proven these facts, and pro-
choicers are by no means trying to deny them. However, pro-choicers feel
that the rights of the parents (namely the mother) override the rights of
the unborn child. Neither of these tactics work on pro-choicers like
myself. True, pro-lifers are entitled to voicing their opinion (just as I
am), but I feel that some of their methods (as illustrated in the next
section) are very unorthodox.
Pro-life?
Some pro-lifers don't seem to be for "the preservation of human life."
The tables on page 7 clearly illustrate how often pro-lifers contradict
their "pro-life" ideals by resorting to violent and disruptive acts to try
to force their views on people.
New legislature controls irate pro-lifers
A new bill was introduced in April 1994. The Freedom of Access to
Clinic Entrances Act (aka FACE or FACEA) protects women seeking abortion,
and the facilities performing them. Specifically, FACE protects
reproductive health service staff and patients from violent threats,
assault, vandalism, and blockades. FACE was signed by President Clinton on
May 26, 1994, but angry pro-lifers still violate this law. The consequences
for a first-time offender cannot exceed one year in prison and/or a
$100,000 fine. Repeat offenders face a maximum 3 year prison sentence
and/or a $250,000 fine. If any injury is incurred, the sentence jumps to 10
years. If death results from the offense, the maximum sentence is life
imprisonment.
I think it is about time for FACEA. Pro-lifers have gone far enough
with their "demonstrations" in front of clinics nationwide. Many news clips
have shown pro-lifers throwing things at women as they walk into a clinic.
In one extreme case, an off-duty police officer (acting as a bodyguard)
and the husband of a woman seeking an abortion were shot at by pro-lifers.
The police officer died_the husband was severely wounded. Even though FACEA
will not put a stop to the violence toward abortionists and clients, I
think it will definately decrease it. RU486 and "M&Ms"
Different medications are offering a safe and private alternative to
clinic abortions. RU486 is an abortion inducing pill that allows women to
have non-invasive, safer and easier abortions in the privacy of their own
homes. This option also eliminates any contact with livid pro-lifers and
their antagonistic methods. RU486 also offers great medical promise in the
research and possible cures/treatments of breast cancer, endometriosis,
prostrate and brain cancer. Right now, pro-lifers are preventing RU486 from
being used in the US. However, it is currently on the market in a number of
countries, and is being used with great success.
The "M&M" abortion is named after the two drugs used to induce it:
mifepristone and misoprostol. This process is based on the same theory as
RU486, and has been thoroughly tested at Planned Parenthood, Inc. in Omaha,
NB. Mifepristone is administered to disable the pregnancy hormones and
break down the lining of the uterus. The only know side effects are slight
nausea, headaches, weakness and fatigue. After two days, the woman takes a
dose of misoprostol. This drug causes uterine contractions, and expels the
fetus. This stage can be somewhat painful and messy. The woman stays at the
clinic for about four hours after the abortion for observation.
I think that the use of RU486 and other medication would definately
help the dilemma of abortion. By making them readily available to any woman,
any confrontation with pro-lifers is avoided. During this difficult time,
the last thing a woman needs is the harassing shouting of a psycho pro-
lifer outside the clinic.
A new perspective
Pro-lifers are bent against abortion, but what other options do they
offer? Most pro-lifers are anti-contraceptive. An over-stated fact among
pro-lifers is "the long waiting lists for couples wanting to adopt." Sure,
lots of people want to adopt children, but with over 1.5 million abortions
each year, imagine the over-population of the orphanages! In Silent Scream,
the number of abortions in the US per day was quoted at 4,000! The pro-life
point about having the baby and putting it up for adoption is very
unrealistic.
I haven't heard any other pro-life options besides adoption. I guess
their most obvious (and equally unrealistic) suggestion would be to have
the baby and deal with it. But what if the mother can't handle the
commitment, or isn't financially secure? The pro-lifers have to think of
better solutions before criticizing the one we are using now.
Why am I pro-choice?
I think one of the main reasons that I am pro-choice is the amount of
poverty in this country. Although I haven't found any data to confer with
this, my hypothesis is that most of the abortions are performed on lower-
class, perhaps poor, women. Without this, just think of the poverty our
country would have! At the rate of 4,000 extra people a day, the US would
literally run out of room in a short time!
My opinion of Silent Scream and pro-lifers
I think that Silent Scream was another feeble attempt to scare people
out of abortion. Judging by the reaction of the class, people have wised-up
to pro-lifers. People will no longer tolerate being bombarded with graphic
descriptions, gory pictures, and sorrowful testimonies. To but it bluntly,
I am fed up with extreme pro-lifers. Granted, not all of them are as bad as
I make them out to be, but about a year ago, while walking out of my dad's
office at Jewish Hospital, we were "harassed" by three pro-lifers. At first
I thought they would respect our privacy and let us pass. However, they
blurted out "Did you know that there are abortions being performed at
Jewish Hospital?!" What did they intend that question to accomplish? We
tried to ignore them kept walking, but they persisted and attempted to
force their pamphlets and handouts on us. I would have had no problem had
they simply offered us a pamphlet, but I felt violated when they thrust
them into our faces.
Conclusion
After researching this report, I still hold my ground about being pro-
choice. I think that the woman's rights override those of the fetus.
Regardless of the reason or circumstances safe, reliable abortion should be
made available to any woman.
Acts of Violence Against Abortion Providers and Clients 1,991 1,992 1,993
1,994 1,995 Total Murder 0 0 1 4 0 5 Attempted Murder 2 0 1 8 0 11 Bombing
1 1 1 3 0 40 Arson 10 16 9 5 8 100 Attempted Bomb / Arson 1 13 7 4 0 68
Invasion 29 26 24 2 0 347 Vandalism 44 116 113 42 1 596 Assault & Battery 6
9 9 7 1 96 Death Threats 3 8 78 59 13 238 Kidnapping 0 0 0 0 0 2 Burglary 1
5 3 3 3 37 Stalking N/A N/A 188 22 4 214 Total Acts of Violence 95 194 434
159 40 1,754 Refers to all 1995 incidents up to April 30 in all tables.
Refers to 1977 to April 30, 1995 in all tables. Stalking wasn't tracked
until 1993. Acts of Disruption Against Abortion Providers and Clients 1,991
1,992 1,993 1,994 1,995 Total Hate Mail/Phone Calls 142 469 628 381 33
1,856 Bomb Threats 15 12 22 14 5 317 Picketing 292 2,898 2,279 1,407 90
7,868 Total Acts of Disruption 449 3,379 2,929 1,802 139 10,071 Abortion
Clinic Blockades 1,991 1,992 1,993 1,994 1,995 Total No. of Incidents 41 83
66 25 3 637 No. of Arrests 3,885 2,580 1,236 217 34 33,699
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