Abortion is a tricky and heated issue. Some of the complications surround the issue of life. For example, when does life start? At birth? At the moment the sperm fertilizes the egg? Somewhere in between? This question can be answered using a number of different analytical categories. The biologist will give you one answer, the lawyer another, and the theologian or philosopher a third. However, all of these opinions will be underpinned by differing premises. The biologist will determine life through an examination of chemical processes; the lawyer might use the precedence of the law; and the philosopher will offer another, equally different paradigm. Consequently, the curious citizen will be unsure about which judgment to trust.
To further entangle things, the question of “life” only marks one of the critical questions that must be resolved in order to arrive at a sound and proper conclusion on the issue. So, this all begs the question, why support the right for women to have an abortion?
For me, the most important element is quality of life. The world can be a wonderful, inspiring, and joyful playground, but it can also be a dark, indifferent, and unspeakably cruel prison. In general, I believe parents should focus a lot more on whether they are ready to make all of the sacrifices required to have a child. When you bring a child into the world, you have to be ready to commit your life to your baby. Your needs suddenly come second. Your life has to undergo a fundamental reorientation. No longer do you judge an action by how it affects you, but first how it affects your child. Obviously, this responsibility requires much personal maturity as well as monetary security.
I believe the decision to create life should be taken with much more scrutiny. Even colloquial phrases to do with childhood are suspect: “a baby will bring you joy and happiness.” A baby should do nothing for you. It owes nothing to you. You owe everything to it. You decided to bring another life into the world, and it’s your own responsibility to ensure that he/she sees, knows, and lives in the best world, not the worst world. Any positive consequence is only that: a consequence. For this reason, I believe abortion should be allowed for all of those parents who do not feel they are ready to take the immense steps required to properly raise a child. There should be no stigma to the decision. In fact, it should be viewed as a wise, cautious, conservative move. Far too many children are born into a world no one should be subjected to.