Smasharoo wrote:
women should have the right to kill their own children while those children reside inside of their bodies
Why stop there? And why the sexist approach? The man should have a say in this as well. After all, the mother isn't the only one who will be charged with taking care of the thing once it's outside. I say pass a bill (or whatever it is you guys do) on retroactive abortion. And why not? Isn't it our god-given right to end the life we create? Aren't we made in God's image, and doesn't God giveth and taketh away?
On a more serious note, I don't support ending a life without a good reason. As for when the thing is actually considered life, I guess it depends on personal definitions. Is it life when cellular growth occurs (are plants alive?) or is brain activity needed? Are you alive if you don't have a defined personality yet? I mean, children don't develop their identities until around age four or five.
As for me, I draw the line at brain activity. If there's no brain activity, it's not alive. You can grow an ear in a Petri dish, but the ear isn't alive. If the fetus hasn't developed a brain or there's no measurable brain activity, is it anything more than an ear with a body attached to it? I mean, we could argue that the fetus would eventually grow a brain and become alive, but then we'd be basing it on assumptions (I don't know the legal term, guys, it's super early in the morning here). If we can justify not carrying out an abortion because of what the fetus might be, where do we draw the line? Say a couple want to have a kid. They try real hard, but nothing happens. They find that something was wrong with the calendar or whatever and make ready for another go, but then have a change of heart. Wouldn't that be an abortion of something that might have been? Pre-conception abortion?
I don't know. I just don't think that parents should be allowed to abort life if they aren't satisfied with the result for whatever reason. Unless the child is severely brain damaged or otherwise handicapped to a point where euthanasia, which I'm a supporter of, by the way, might be considered. But like I said, it depends on whether the fetus is alive or not and I guess that's morally up to each person to decide. Legally, I don't know what the US law says, but it's something about so and so many weeks, right?
I'm just glad I don't have to sort out that mess.
Edited, Jun 16th 2012 4:42am by Mazra