Is this it?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I used to work as a counsellor at planned parenthood and worked at the BPAS in the UK. Here is a list of people I saw and the reasons for their abortions:

1. A women who already had 5 children and couldn't afford the children she had

2. A 48 year old woman who'd had a tubal ligation, thought there was no way in hell she could get pregnant and was a diabetic to boot

3. An 11 year old girl

4. A woman who was being abused by her husband. He even followed her into the clinic threatening to kill her

5. A recovering heroin addict who was on methadone, and didn't feel she could handle recovery and being pregnant at the same time.

I really challenge anyone who thinks these women should be forced to carry their pregnancy to term to offer an easy solution to their problems. I challenge them to walk in their shoes. I don't their going to put their money where their mouth is and volunteer their time to assist in dealing with these kinds of problems.

This is just a small sample. There were people who were annoyingly blase about their abortions, I won't kid you, but they were a very small minority and just because they were making a choice I didn't agree with doesn't mean the women listed above should have someone else would have the first clue how to make decisions about their lives for them.

[pax 0]

When we as a society decide that the circumstances under which women have abortions are unacceptable and truly decide to eliminate those circumstances, then I will happily join the pro-life side. Because then our country will truly be able to say that it is pro-all life.

My guess is that abortion would be a non-issue in such a society.

Exactly.

[Fischkoepfin 1]

I'm going to take up some space to try to give this subject a fair treatment.

I am personally opposed to abortion, and the fact that it happens saddens me. It more than saddens me; it disgusts me. It disgusts me to be a part of a society that has given the message to poor women, minority women, and abused and exploited women that we do not want or care for their children. They are no more to us than another mouth to feed, and we certainly don't care to feed it. The contempt that our society shows for the poor is something we will have to answer for--if not in our lifetime, then in the afterlife. I believe in one and I know that not everyone does, but again, this is my belief.

And so it's not with gladness that I support the continued legality and accessibility of abortion. But it's that I recognize that we have put poor women in an abominable situation. Most of us posting here have never known the kind of poverty into which too many children of poor women are born. And most of us posting here don't know what it's like to be part of a system that deliberately and consciously conspires to destroy the poor. And so, to me, it is the final insult to tell a poor woman that she must carry an unplanned pregnancy to term, that she must bring her child into a world that would prefer to have nothing to do with it. And, dammit, she better be happy about it, too!

This, of course, assumes that the woman's consent was involved in the pregnancy in the first place. It is a million times more insulting to tell a rape victim that she, too, must carry her child to term. Again, our society does nothing to eliminate rape. We have a War on Drugs and a War on Terror, but we've never had a war on rape. And we never will. Rape is the most underreported and underprosecuted violent crime in this country. It damages lives in ways that many people can never understand. And so, again, it is, to me, the final insult to tell a woman that not only do we not particularly care about catching your rapist, punishing your rapist, and making sure rape stops happening, but you must also carry his child.

When we as a society decide that the circumstances under which women have abortions are unacceptable and truly decide to eliminate those circumstances, then I will happily join the pro-life side. Because then our country will truly be able to say that it is pro-all life.

I totally agree with you here. I'm pro-choice, but not pro-abortion; I would never have an abortion myself (unless in a rape case), but I've known enough women for whom an abortion was the only viable choice in the situation, be it for health reasons, social reasons, or both. None of these women has decided to have an abortion without seriously thinking about other alternatives and none of them has not regretted her decision to a certain extent.

There are reasons to have abortions and the lack of support for poor families is certainly one. Another is the fact that rape remains a taboo-issue and is not treated the way it should. But even if we could decide to be more supportive of poor families or move to fight rape, there are still other reasons that make abortion a necessity, as hard to understand as that is. To put the life of an embryo above the life of the mother is hypocritical as is granting the embryo human rights but forgetting about those rights once it is born.

[Carol&Marc 0]

I'm glad I don't live in South Dakota. I'm pro-choice, and always will be. Making abortion illegal would be risking many women's lives.

You mean you are pro abortion? Say it the way it is. If you really need to get one go to the state next door!

I find it unbelievable that the so-called "pro-lifers" equate pro-CHOICE with pro-ABORTION. Is it not conceivable that an individual would CHOOSE to never consider an abortion for themselves but would not impose their decision on another????

As far as going to the state next door...yeah, that's real practical for everyone...oh brother.

When I was 20 my girlfreind got pregnant because we were irresponsible,after discussing the matter with a counselor,she described the abortion procedure it discusted us both and we both left in tears! we adopted and it worked out fine and our consious was left intact, PSSSSSSST google:abortion pictures! Dont be scared!

That is what I did! NEVER will I have an abortion. Its is so sad. I don't know where I stand with the whole rape issue... it's still abortion and an innocent baby still suffers. I think adoption no matter what.

I used to work as a counsellor at planned parenthood and worked at the BPAS in the UK. Here is a list of people I saw and the reasons for their abortions:

1. A women who already had 5 children and couldn't afford the children she had

2. A 48 year old woman who'd had a tubal ligation, thought there was no way in hell she could get pregnant and was a diabetic to boot

3. An 11 year old girl

4. A woman who was being abused by her husband. He even followed her into the clinic threatening to kill her

5. A recovering heroin addict who was on methadone, and didn't feel she could handle recovery and being pregnant at the same time.

I really challenge anyone who thinks these women should be forced to carry their pregnancy to term to offer an easy solution to their problems. I challenge them to walk in their shoes. I don't their going to put their money where their mouth is and volunteer their time to assist in dealing with these kinds of problems.

This is just a small sample. There were people who were annoyingly blase about their abortions, I won't kid you, but they were a very small minority and just because they were making a choice I didn't agree with doesn't mean the women listed above should have someone else would have the first clue how to make decisions about their lives for them.

Statistics:

most abortions are not due to rape nor incest:

- There have been 45 million abortions in USA since 1973.

- 95% cited social reasons ,"concerned about how baby could change her life, can't afford a baby now, unready for responsibility, etc.". (In a survey conducted by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a research arm of Planned Parenthood, of why 1,900 women aborted their child).

- Only 1% cited fetal abnormality, rape or incest as a reason for her abortion... but fetal abnormality is the reason for the 99% of these 1% abortions...

[Fischkoepfin 1]

And just to shock the hell out of the rest of you, you'd be surprised to know that I'm a republican and I feel this way

No surprise here. There are as many rational republicans as there are rational followers of other political parties, but they are sort of under siege at the moment. Thanks for reminding us of that!

[faith 0]

statistics aside..

the entire point here is that who gives YOU the right whether a woman has an abortion or not? Who gives the lawmakers the right to decide what a woman does to her own body?

[I'm Gone 60]

Statistics:

most abortions are not due to rape nor incest:

- There have been 45 million abortions in USA since 1973.

- 95% cited social reasons ,"concerned about how baby could change her life, can't afford a baby now, unready for responsibility, etc.". (In a survey conducted by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a research arm of Planned Parenthood, of why 1,900 women aborted their child).

- Only 1% cited fetal abnormality, rape or incest as a reason for her abortion... but fetal abnormality is the reason for the 99% of these 1% abortions...

That's what I figured, so it's somewhat of a red herring for the pro abortion people to say "what if" to justify the legality of abortions.

[faith 0]

And just to shock the hell out of the rest of you, you'd be surprised to know that I'm a republican and I feel this way

No surprise here. There are as many rational republicans as there are rational followers of other political parties, but they are sort of under siege at the moment. Thanks for reminding us of that!

I think we should allow stem cell research as well.... but that's a whole new issue that I am SOOO not gonna go into now

[pax 0]

Statistics:

most abortions are not due to rape nor incest:

- There have been 45 million abortions in USA since 1973.

- 95% cited social reasons ,"concerned about how baby could change her life, can't afford a baby now, unready for responsibility, etc.". (In a survey conducted by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a research arm of Planned Parenthood, of why 1,900 women aborted their child).

- Only 1% cited fetal abnormality, rape or incest as a reason for her abortion... but fetal abnormality is the reason for the 99% of these 1% abortions...

That's what I figured, so it's somewhat of a red herring for the pro abortion people to say "what if" to justify the legality of abortions.

How is citing the many reasons that women might have abortions a red herring?

[Sister Fracas 5]

most abortions are not due to rape nor incest:

Where in Robinlake's examples did she mention that the majority are due to rape????

I think her examples ARE the norm...women in very difficult situations, which most of us are lucky to never have to experience.

I think we should allow stem cell research as well.... but that's a whole new issue that I am SOOO not gonna go into now

oh g'wan!!

Edited February 23, 2006 by Frances

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Statistics:

most abortions are not due to rape nor incest:

- There have been 45 million abortions in USA since 1973.

- 95% cited social reasons ,"concerned about how baby could change her life, can't afford a baby now, unready for responsibility, etc.". (In a survey conducted by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a research arm of Planned Parenthood, of why 1,900 women aborted their child).

- Only 1% cited fetal abnormality, rape or incest as a reason for her abortion... but fetal abnormality is the reason for the 99% of these 1% abortions...

Source?

[Traviesa 0]

I have always been of the opinion that women should have the choice of what to do with their bodies, but NOT the choice of what to do with the unborn child's body. The choice to have sex and get pregnant is a choice that a lot of women make. How about some personal responsibility? Well, yeah, maybe I didn't make the best choice but rather than look for the easy way out, let me sleep in the bed I made.

As for victims of rape or incest, there is a morning after pill which is NOT an abortion pill, available in most clinics for free. If they choose to take the risk that they may be pregnant, they should carry the pregnancy through and make the choice to give the child up for adoption.

Forgot to add, that I think there are a few (VERY few) situations where abortion may be appropriate, such as when the life or health of the mom is in jeapordy.

Edited February 23, 2006 by MissLiss

[keltic 1]

Statistics:

most abortions are not due to rape nor incest:

- There have been 45 million abortions in USA since 1973.

- 95% cited social reasons ,"concerned about how baby could change her life, can't afford a baby now, unready for responsibility, etc.". (In a survey conducted by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a research arm of Planned Parenthood, of why 1,900 women aborted their child).

- Only 1% cited fetal abnormality, rape or incest as a reason for her abortion... but fetal abnormality is the reason for the 99% of these 1% abortions...

and how many women will admit to being raped? how many fear that it will be thrown back at them as if it was their own fault, that they asked for it? how many women will admit they were molested, either incestuously or not, for fear they will be branded as dirty or filthy?

it is not a perfect world, by any means... things are better than they used to be regarding reporting a sex crime, but its still a stigma that is very heavy...

it takes a lot to be able to admit such things... in my case, many years of healing and working on it

a lot of those 'social reasons' are other ways, that are more socially acceptable, for a woman to state she wanted an abortion... i dont claim that all abortions are based on this... but i do think it is much more than ppl realize... for many reasons...

and ultimately, if you go by those statistics... if you fall in that 1%, but cant get an abortion... you wont know how you feel about that until it happens to you... and the right choice for you may not be the right choice for your neighbor

[Carol&Marc 0]

statistics aside..

the entire point here is that who gives YOU the right whether a woman has an abortion or not? Who gives the lawmakers the right to decide what a woman does to her own body?

Stats ASIDE,HMMMMM! My concious is clear! And YOURS

[ChristinaM 0]

Isn't not being able to afford to have a baby a pretty damn good excuse not to have one? Since you're throwing out statistics, find some about poor people and crime, poor people and drugs, poor people and domestic abuse, poor people and quality of housing and nutrtion.

If the government funded childcare better, maybe that would help.... but oh no, the same people abolishing abortion are making it more expensive to have a child.

Not being ready to have a baby is also a pretty good one. Is is better to have a baby you're not ready for and loath it's presence, resent it, treat it badly, leave it in a dumpster.... These things happen because people aren't ready to have a baby.

"Concern about how a baby could change one's life" doesn't necessarily mean that it's a case of a baby stopping someone partying all night. Maybe it's a case of the fact that a woman would have to stop working, or that they would have to relocate. Change in one's life can be a tremdously good thing or nothing short of a catastrophe, depending on the circumstances.

There are reasons which are not selfish for not wanting to have a baby. My concern when I have kids will be to provide an adequate standard of living (at the VERY least) for them, because I feel that it would be unfair to them to bring them into anything less.