My Thoughts On The Topic Of Abortion

May 25, 2021

One Is A Witness To Battle Lines Being Drawn In The Sand Again.

This issue has recently become a hot-button topic again. Sides are taken with a street fight about to take place. Hours of debate will ensure. One who came to Facebook to watch pigeon videos will be flooded with political memes of this topic instead. No minds will change.

At the end of the day, the political cause will take front-page news, but yet, ironically, the one grappling and tormented with the decision, along with that of the unborn, will be forgotten. The one struggling with the decision is seen as a political pawn. A decision which is suppose to be private and personal, and not open for us or the world to see.

The one dealing with the deep struggle might seek spiritual help in finding the answers that she is searching for. The one dealing with the question might be lucky to encounter a church that is full of the love of Jesus. A church that will remind her that she is still a recipient of God's love, despite the decision made. They will have their preference, I guarantee, but they will also recognize that they can't force there will on her or dictate the decision for her. Those spiritual leaders will tend to her spiritual needs first and foremost, and not the rhetoric heard all around them.

The one going through the torment will have to make that decision herself. If those in the church force the decision for her, then they would be overstepping there spiritual role. The responsibility assigned to them is to provide spiritual guidance and try to ease the burden of the decision that one has to make. That's if she's lucky and encounter such a church that I've just described.

When The Topic Of The Sanctity Of Life Is Trivialized

Dealing with this issue means that contradictions must be addressed first. The Sanctity of Life is a worthy topic that demands deep exploration. I'm myself find abortion deplorable, but something was really bothering me. There are many that are "Pro-Life" activist, but yet, done a great disservice to the cause that they were suppose to represent. When the topic of "Pro-Life" was utilized, it’s used exclusively in the abortion debate, but wasn't applied to any topics outside of it though.

This could be a oxymoron as the word "pro" means support, and "life" means all living things, from the time their conceived to the time that they become part of the Earth again. Essentially, all living life. Unfortunately, the Pro-Life movement seem to restricted themselves just to those in the womb. Some could insinuate that they feel that life ends after your born. After one comes out of the womb, their on there own. This is why from this point forward, I will refer to the Pro-Life movement as the "Pro-Birth" movement, as that term is actually a much more accurate description of the cause represented.

One becomes a witness to a movement that embraces catch slogans and platitudes that are used so constantly that they're reduced to clichés that would be forgotten 10 minutes after hearing them. The so-called "bumper sticker" content that trivializes the ideas that their trying to promote.

It would be a disservice that champion the life of the unborn, but not give a (excuse figurative language) crap after there birth. This causes massive contradictions in there cause that resulted in people not taking the movement seriously.

It’s at this point where one comes to the realization that the Sanctity of Life doesn't stop at the womb, and its narrow application just to the abortion debate does a huge disservice to the concept.

Contradiction One: Yemen

People will scream about the fetus at the top of there lungs, but yet, crickets are

heard chirping for those children suffering and dying in the Yemen conflict.

One can't be called "Pro-Life" when there is indifference to those children in Yemen who have been aborted by drones firing American-made missiles. We can't make the declaration that we're protecting women and children when at one part of the world, we're blasting them apart.

How can one make the declaration that they're for life when no concern is shown for children that were killed when there bus was blown to pieces by our missiles in Yemen.

People will scream about the unborn at the top of there lungs, but yet, crickets are heard chirping for those children suffering and dying in the Yemen conflict. Killed either by the bombs or the worst horrible cholera outbreak in a century. Those children were still aborted. Granted, not in the womb, but they still need recognition because they didn't have a voice either when their lives were cut short.

Is there also a contradiction when you have a televangelist declaring that killing people virtually in a video game is the same equivalent as killing someone in real life, but yet, supports a administration that has sold weapons to Saudi Arabia? The same weapons that have resulted in the deaths of countless thousands of civilians in Yemen.

The justification used is that this war is a proxy conflict with Iran. However, one can argue that neither Iran nor Saudi Arabia are suffering that much. The same can't be said for the millions in Yemen. Their infrastructure has been purposely bombed to bring the country to its knees. One could wonder how a bus full of children or a water treatment plant are strategically important for the military. One can also equally wonder how those who supposedly embrace life can show such indifference or even disdain at those children who suffered or died in the conflict.

Contradiction Two: Gun Violence

Any belief becomes moot when it becomes more important than Life itself.

What about those that take the pro-life stance, but yet, is opposed to laws that would restrict gun sales to those with known violent tendencies that are out to cause harm? The children and teens that were aborted because of gun violence in school shootings and other random places throughout this country.

Those that are suppose to uphold the lives of children and teens are not only ignoring their pleas, but they are painted as revolutionaries that are hell-bent on taking away people's guns so that they can send them to concentration camps (Which is ironic because even most of those in protest feel thatpeople have a right for gun ownership, but feel that regulation is needed).

Those in the Pro-life movement contradict there cause by upholding there own self-interest instead of the general welfare of those that they are suppose to represent. Even though gun ownership is a precious right in this country, it's not greater than the Sanctity of Life itself. Any belief becomes moot when it becomes more important than Life itself.

What Does One Do To Preserve The Sanctity of Life Then?

Since abortion is a very ugly thing though, and is a unhealthy aspect of life, attempts should be made to reduce it though. How does one go about this though?

One thing that is being done to fight abortion is already being done: education. In a part due to education, abortion rates are at the lowest since 1973 (something most political memes will ignore). Proper sex education is essential for reducing abortions. While on this topic, one thing has to be declared: abstinence-only education doesn't work. Various universities and government studies have shown that have abstinence-only education have higher pregnancy rates, and likely, more abortions than those schools that teach both.

For those teens that let there hormones do all the talking, where there is a will, there is a way. Sex will result for several as a result. This is just a fact of life. As a result, a combination of a abstinence education with safe-sex teaching is shown to be the most effective as it provides both alternatives for students to consider. We want them to make the right decision. As the man on the street will say: "If they still make a stupid decision, then be smart about it!"

Safe-sex education is that insurance policy that kicks in when abstinence fails for whatever reason (probably due to lack of control of hormones). If safe-sex isn't taught though, then when the policy-holder of abstinence wavers there claim, without safe-sex education to fall-back on, there is aa much higher chance that more unprotected sex would result in unplanned pregnancies. More unplanned pregnancies will also result in more abortions. Things go hand-n-hand.

If one is to effectively fight abortion, then the underlining economic and social issues have to be addressed. A major portion of abortions take place within households living underneath the poverty line. As a result, dealing with poverty would greatly reduce abortions as rates well. Many women in this situation often have no support system in place. If such a system is instituted, then abortion rates would start declining. Abortion rates and economic/social stability are tied together. If poorer women have access to birth control as those in the middle class, there would be a significant fall in abortion rates. If their social and economic needs are ignored, then abortions will continue at a higher rate than if there needs are addressed. If one wants to stop abortions, then healthy alternatives and economic opportunities must be provided to women to incentives them not to have one. Have children when there ready, and they can take care of them both emotionally and financially.

One of the things that results in more unplanned pregnancies (and thus, more abortions) is when one treats birth-control and abortion as the same thing. It's not. By definition, abortion is the termination of the fetus when it already exist, while birth control is a preemptive measure taken to prevent contraception. When people see birth-control as abortion, it leads to more unprotected sex that leads to more unplanned pregnancies, and thus more abortions. In tackling this issue, one has to examine the social , economic, and cultural issues and tackling them. This will reduce the number of abortions taking place.

I Know What WONT Work Though

Many of those who want to promote abstinence-only education are sticking there heads in the sand thinking of that happy place where sex doesn't exist and that any problem it can be stopped just by mandating it.

The irony though is that the polices embraced by Conservatives (outlaw, abstinence -only education) in stopping abortions are actually counter-productive to the issue, making the problem worse. Abstinence-only education is actually counter-productive to the abortion issue. Many of those who want to promote abstinence-only education are sticking there heads in the sand thinking of that happy place where sex doesn't exist and that any problem it can be stopped just by mandating it. This mentality will enhance the problem and make the abortion issue worse.

The Trump administration has de-funded teen prevention programs that teach safe sex education, despite the statistical information presented that states that states with abstinence-only education have higher pregnancy rates. Combine this with states making abortions AND in some cases, contraceptives harder to get, these actions will actually cause a rise in abortion rates and increasing the chances of those abortions taking place in unlicensed places, potentially putting the lives of the women who are there at serious health risk. In several states this is also the case, which is another reason why abortion rates are at there lowest recorded. Despite what some Internet memes tell you, it's not harder to get a abortion than it is to deport a undocumented immigrant.

I know what one group will declare: outlaw it. Throughout the history of our country, laws against abortion didn't stop it. It only resulted in the issue being pushed underground. Even with laws were in place, there have been many times in the 19th Century were abortion were rampant.

If these laws are reintroduced on a state-by-state basis, abortion will not magically disappear. I will be frank: anyone who thinks anti-abortion laws will stop the act are morons. When one makes the declaration that the "country lost its way because abortion is common" are ignorant of the fact that abortion was always a thing in this country that was common underground. Those who make this declaration are wearing rose-tinted glasses and living in a world dreaming of a Christian utopia that only existed in there minds, and was actually never a thing.

Not only that, unwanted healthy consequences could result from women getting these underground abortions. There health would be put into danger.

If one wants to tackle abortion, there has to be comprehended access to contraceptives, comprehensive sex-education that's taught in public schools, and addressing the social and economic issues affecting the lives of the women impacted by this topic.

When A Personal And Private Issue Becomes A Divisive Political Pawn

If someone ask me or a opinion like-minded if your against abortion, my response would be: I'm personally against abortion. This response is appropriate because it highlights that I myself have a disdain at the act of abortion. However, the use of the word personally also highlights that the opinion applies to my own viewpoint though. It still leaves room for interpretation for those that feel that women have a right for one.

For the longest time, I embraced the views of the Republican Party as well, eating their ideas morning, noon, and night. However, one gets to the point where one has to start thinking for themselves instead of letting their party dictate their views for them. One sees the contradictions in their pro-life stance. The lack of response to those children aborted in school shootings. Those children aborted by the missiles in various parts of the world. Those children aborted due to unfortunate situations like homelessness and domestic violence. They might as well not exist to the GOP.

The Republican Party are just users. They will go all out to declare why one should support there "Pro-Life" platform (which is anything but). After the unfortunate voters cast his ballot though, the GOP has no use for you. They will kick you by the side of the road. They got your vote, and that's all that matters to them.

Yet, this secular institution is treated as if a sacred, holy deity. Despite being full of corruption and moral and ethical shortcomings, it's viewed as a divine institution. One isn't a true Evangelist unless one conforms to the views of the party and is a card-carrying member. Anyone who disagrees with the party stances on issues aren't regarded as a true Christian. In a polarized climate, only the extremes are embraced.

Even Billy Graham himself warned against the incorporation of religious elements into politics as it distorts both the party and the church. Political indoctrination is passed off as Biblical teaching. Billy Graham also saw the Party as it was, a secular institution that had different goals than the church. His biggest regret was his involvement in politics. He kept the Christian Right at a distance because he realized that life continued beyond the womb. His son, Franklin Graham, didn't get that memo though, as he embraced the politicization of religion and his for all intensive purposes, a politically-slanted puppet of that institution full of ethical and moral shortcomings that existence is different than that of the church. A institution that just sees the members of the Evangelical Church as ballots, nothing more.

This material works its way into sermons as vague blanket statements. Those declaring that the Democrat Party celebrates abortions and that they are OK and cool now. This is despite the fact that they never actually said that The Democrat Party never declared that abortions were OK, cool, acceptable. They only thing they stated is that women have a right to one if they choose. If one exercises her decision for one, then that's her choice. If she decides to have a healthy baby, that was also her choice. It's a personal decision that was intended to remain personal, and not to be brought into the spotlight.

Moderates who are personally against abortion, but view that the choice is a deep, personal one that isn't for others to decide are labeled as "abortion lovers". The Republican Party will take no prisoners. One is either against abortion and it applies to all or "abortion-lovers" despite the contrary. Their is no middle ground for personal thoughts in this divisive environment. People are labeled as demons and Satanist because they have a difference of opinion. Hardly a motivator for sparking intelligent conversation. This reminds me of a meme that I ran across that stated "Calling people idiots and morons will win them to your side said nobody ever!"

Conclusion

As someone like myself who finds abortion deplorable and isn't healthy aspect of society, there needs to be attempts made to reduced it as a result. Something that can be achieved successfully when all sides work together. For those who want to curb abortion responsibly and in a civic manner, there is hope . The hope where most unborn children can have a future. This topic can be addressed successfully in a manner that preserves the woman choice if she exercise her right or not, and not by others dictating that decision.

In order for this to be achieved though, the us-vs.-them mentality needs to be stopped as its counter-productive to the issue. This mentality littered with empty blanket statements, pointless catch sayings and platitudes that's been used to the point of being clichés, and the posting divisive content on impulse. The demonetization needs to stop as well. The rejection of preconceived biases and stereotypes instead need to occur as well.

Abortion can be greatly reduced if healthy alternatives are provided to women and addressing the economic situation for many of them. The proper education needs to be there was well, along with the medical resources too.

Now I must get to the point of why this article exist. I don't want people to think that they can speak for me. I'm a independent mind, and I represent myself. With that said, I'm not in the business of persuasion. As a result, this blogger would be truly offended if someone tagged this article with that "Share If You Agree" tripe attached to it. This is my personal response to it though, nothing more. If one agrees, cool. If one doesn't agree, that's cool to. My views aren't validated fact, as those that post there views on there timelines aren't validated fact either. This is important to state because the vast majority of people that one is likely to encounter today will think that there opinion as doctrine. This article is intended to reflect my thoughts and views on the topic. While ideas are presented, one is free to embrace or reject it.

It's important to state that most forget that the only role that the church is suppose to play in this role is to guide the woman spiritually in the decision if she chooses spiritual guidance. She has to make that decision though. Spiritual leaders can force that decision for her. If they do, then they would be overstepping the responsibilities, committing spiritual malpractice in the process. A church where the leaders and the congregation are pious, self-righteous, and holier than thou-art. The ones that see the church as a self-centered movement passing political beliefs as Biblical teaching instead of a spiritual movement as intended.

The final thing we need to remember is that abortion, like undocumented immigration, can never be entirely eliminated. Where there is people, there will always be abortion. Its been there since the start of recorded history. The main thing we can do is try to reduce it, and reduce it in a way that still respects the rights and provides the choice. This is the situation where everybody wins.

Nobody wins when opponents are demonized. Nobody wins win people partake in rhetoric, and ignore the underlining social and economic issues, and blames scapegoats like rap music, "evil liberals", secularism, or immorality. Nobody wins when people embrace the us-vs.-them mentality, and portray there opponents using inaccurate stereotypes and caricatures. Nobody wins when religious leaders, instead of listening and relating to the spiritual suffering that one goes through, decide to use the pulpit as a tool to politically indoctrinate people, and then cry like a baby for show when people don't conform to how they want things to be. It doesn't help when fake, sensationalist statistics grabbed from the sky by a random blogger are used without fact-checking to see if the numbers used are factual or not.

Once we move past the partisan rhetoric, party politics and propaganda and addressing those underlining social, cultural, and economic issues, then one can deal with this topic.

I'm pro-life and I voted for Beto O'Rourke because I'm done being used by the GOP
Dallas News
WWW.DALLASNEWS.COM

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2018/10/31/i-m-pro-life-and-i-voted-for-beto-o-rourke-because-i-m-done-being-used-by-the-gop/

Why Do Poor Women Have More Abortions?
Slate
WWW.SLATE.COM

https://slate.com/human-interest/2015/03/poor-women-have-more-abortions-even-though-middle-class-women-abort-more-of-their-pregnancies.html

Abstinence-Only Education Is Ineffective And Unethical, Report Argues
NPR
WWW.NPR.ORG

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/08/23/545289168/abstinence-education-is-ineffective-and-unethical-report-argues#:~:text=The%20analysis%20confirms%20previous%20public,intercourse%2C%22%20the%20authors%20write.

In Texas, Abstinence-Only Programs May Contribute To Teen Pregnancies
NPR
WWW.NPR.ORG

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/06/05/530922642/in-texas-abstinence-only-programs-may-contribute-to-teen-pregnancies

Research Confirms That Abstinence-Only Education Hurts Kids
Forbes
WWW.FORBES.COM

https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2017/08/23/research-confirms-the-obvious-that-abstinence-only-education-hurts-kids/?sh=479c8a616615

A Better Way To End Abortion In America
PATHEOS
WWW.PATHEOS.COM

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/keithgiles/2019/01/a-better-way-to-end-abortion-in-america/