The Multifaceted Issue of Abortion
In my opinion, the problem of abortion is a multifaceted issue. And, it is more of a symptom than a problem in itself.
A symptom of what? Fear. Taking yourself out of your normal perspective, can you imagine how scary it would be to find out you are pregnant and do not have the means to care for this child? And what about what your parents will think? They might even disown you. Or if you're a single mother living in a poor community...how will you provide for your child? You can't work and take care of her at the same time, except for very select jobs that probably won't pay much money. And besides, you're not married. What will society think?
I know it is their fault for getting into the situation (at least most times...rape is a special circumstance that most people are more compassionate towards), but that still doesn't change the fact that the guiding principle in these situations is fear.
Making abortion illegal, in my opinion, will only increase that fear. Because before there was an out, a backup, if you couldn't figure anything else out. And now there is no (legal) escape. Because of this increased fear, I think women might go to greater lengths, unsafe ones, to be rid of that fear.
But then what do they trade the fear for? Regret and guilt. It's not a happy situation.
So I would approach the problem with the goal of easing these fears so
that the woman can make a genuine choice from her heart rather than let
her fear consume her.
On a social level, I would probably do things like provide free
childcare in poorer communities, so the mother can work and earn money
to take care of her child, or continue going to school. I actually
stole that idea from Obama. ;) In addition, I would try to find ways
to increase the quality of schools in poorer areas. As it is, richer
schools = better schools, and so the poor keep going in circles.
Basically, find things that will make it easier for the mother to give
her child a good life, and you'll reduce some of the fear that consumes
her.
Also, reform and improve the foster care system. Address the issues that make people think growing up in the foster care system is a nightmare you wouldn't ever wish on your child. Perhaps also offer tax credits or extra benefits to couples who adopt a child.
But the most important thing, in my opinion, is the hardest to implement. I would make it a rule that before a woman can get an abortion, she must attend one or two counseling sessions. The purpose of these sessions is not to persuade her to change her mind. If it were, it would never work. Abortion has to remain an option because it serves as the initial fear-reducer that will get them into the building, where counselors can hopefully help guide them to be sure they are making the best decision...the one their hearts tell them to make.
On a wide level this idea will only work so well because it relies upon an abundance of really good counselors. If the counselor is pushing the woman towards one particular option (be it keeping the baby, giving it up for adoption, or having the abortion), she will sense that and resist. The conversation really needs to be centered around the woman's situation and her psyche. And the counselor must give up the idea that they can control the outcome, because by exerting control the situation is only made worse.
The idea is to get them to talk and think about their situation. There might be an option they hadn't thought of, or a way to make it work they hadn't considered. It also may be that they hadn't been thinking of the long term, only the short term goal of being rid of all this fear. Regardless of the situation, their life would drastically change if they kept the child, and some of that fear is rational, and some of it isn't. It would help to have someone you can trust, someone who isn't going to push anything on you but who will help you come to your own decision...one you can live with.
Yes, some of these women will still end up choosing to get an abortion. But, if we approach them with compassion and understanding, I believe that many more women will make other, better decisions. And our society as a whole will not look upon these women with either indifference or contempt but rather with compassion.
I think a combination of all these ideas plus many many more, all aimed at making the decision to keep the child or give it up for adoption easier to make, will help the situation the most.
But to just make it illegal, to me, is admitting we don't understand the problem, or that we don't have or want to give up the resources needed in order to really address it. It's easier to just call something wrong and disallow it than to really engage the problem on all levels. And that is what I think we need to do.
Comments
I think another way to curb this would also be to encourage doctors to be more open minded about young women sterilizing themselves. Some doctors simply won't perform the procedures on women under 30. There are some cases where a young woman knows that she cannot provide for a child (not just financially.) Some of us are genetically inferior.
What cruel person would allow a child to be born with such a strike against them. The decision to have to destroy such a life would not have to be made if young women could be sterillized if they so choose. I know many doctors claim that a female may change her mind. Yes, at 37, I would have liked to had a child of my own, but I also could not suffer making my offspring 30x more likely to develop an autoimmune disorder. People have enough strikes against them in this world.
I am also reluctantly Pro-Choice when it comes to laws about abortion. I think there should be limits, restrictions, which I think differs from the approach of the Obama administration and the Democrat party, who legislate free and open and unrestricted abortion. You write well about compassion toward acts committed out of fear. Is it not true that many crimes are committed out of a poor choice motivated by fear? To kill a person because you fear his skin color is still wrong. If a pre-born child is a distinct human being, seems to me whether he lives or dies should not be the decision of another, even if that person is afraid. So the ultimate question, to me, is when the fetus is a person. I do not think a few dividing cells qualify. But, along the way, comes brain waves and a heartbeat. And, because of advances, viability is being pushed back further and further.
You are quite thoughtful and multi-faceted about this subject. Why not equally so concerning national defense and treatment of enemy combatants?
Finally, I don't have all the answers! More questions, really. And If I should become an irritant, don't start a Group in protest of me! Just let me know.
I can definitely understand putting some limits on how late in the pregnancy you can get an abortion. The longer you wait the more traumatic it is for everyone involved. The woman should be encouraged to come forward and seek help sooner, even if she is undecided about her next course of action. I wouldn't even call them abortion clinics. I would have these centers primarily be about counseling and helping a woman deal with the situation. A safe place to be open and not have to worry about feeling judged. The secondary function would be to provide the abortion if necessary.
Though I agree with the whole "when is the fetus a person" question and idea...I think people focus too much on that question, and the debate becomes more scientific and more cut and dry...and people forget about compassion. I just try to put my emphasis in places that are often overlooked.
And don't worry about being an irritant. In fact, that's usually what I worry about in these types of conversations. :)