It shocked me that the hashtag #PrayToEndAbortion was even trending yesterday. Unfortunately, the harassment of women seeking an abortion still continues in the world today.
While I respect that everybody has a different opinion, what I find most horrifying about Pro-Life Activists is their aggressive methods of protest. Outside every abortion clinic in the UK, Pro-Lifers stand armed with leaflets and banners, approaching often terrified and distraught women, telling them not to go through with their abortion. This is quite a scary thing for women and their families to face.
What is most daunting, is the fact that they are there every single day. This is disruptive to a woman's privacy, especially when you are having discreet medical treatment such as an abortion.
There are plenty of good reasons why abortion should be legal.
Most abortions are carried out before the fetus is able to live independently
It is not until 26 weeks that a fetus can support itself outside of the womb. Most women have an abortion before the point, when a fetus is incapable of functioning on the outside. A heartbeat is just the way the fetus pumps blood and nutrients (from the mother) around its body. How can it be murder to abort something, which has not been born and is incapable of basic life processes, such as breathing?
Just because abortion is illegal, doesn't mean it wouldn't happen
In many countries where abortion is illegal, women go to extreme lengths to get rid of the fetus. Backstreet abortions are common in countries where abortion is still illegal. They are carried out in unhygienic conditions with unsafe, primitive methods, by unqualified people. In other cases, women may try to force a miscarriage, for example, by throwing themselves down stairs. Usually these methods do not stop the pregnancy, but do harm the mother.
Abortion is an option, it is not compulsory
Abortion is seen as an option. It does not rule out adoption, birth etc. It is the choice of the woman what she wants to do with her pregnancy. Some women couldn't cope with abortion, whereas others couldn't cope with giving a child away. It depends on the mother. Therefore she should have that choice.
The Human Population is booming anyway
In the UK in 2010 there was a baby boom. There is a severe lack of jobs, housing and food to support the world's largest ever population. To force more, unwanted children into the world is unnecessary. There is no reason why the choice shouldn't be there.
Pro-Choice does not advocate murder
Women who have had abortions do not feel they then have the divine right to go around committing murder. No-one ever has or ever will.
The fundamental difference between Pro Choice and Pro Life is that Pro Choice allows women the option. Options differ greatly between each person's circumstances, and what they believe. Pro Choice allows religious extremists to give birth or adopt, as well as those who are not in a position to give birth the opportunity to abort. This 18th century attitude that forces its beliefs on everybody should be a thing of the past.
