Pro-Choice Versus Pro-Life - Research Paper Example

Pro-Choice Versus Pro-Life Introduction: The Pro-life versus Pro-choice argument has been going on for a long time. There appears to be no end to the argument, with public opinion swaying depending on events that occur. On one side is the Church with its conservative supporters and on the other side are the women’s right protagonists with their liberal supporters. In April this year the Supreme Court upheld the Federal Abortion Ban case, virtually reversing the judicial stand on abortion, which was seen in the Roe v Wade case. (1). In essence it is argument on the religious ethos that life is a God given gift, which is not for humankind to destroy and the right of a woman to do what she desires with her body. There is no end in sight to the pro-life versus pro-choice argument. The Pro-Life Argument: The pro-life argument is against the practice of abortion, and the legalizing of abortion. In the pro-life argument the main point of view is surprisingly supported both by religion and by science. The religious perspective is that life begins at conception. It is a gift of God and human beings do not have the right to deny this life from seeing the light of day. This makes abortion tantamount to murder. Science supports this argument through its findings that the fetus starts to display several determinants of life at a very early stage. Thus the main basis of the argument against abortion is based on the fetus as an individual life separated from that of the mother, and that it is wrong to destroy such life. It also goes on to argue that abortion is denial of the right to live of the fetus, and by abetting abortion, society would be guilty of denial of the rights of the fetus The other perspectives against abortion include the harm that abortions cause the mother, and the impact of abortions on society. Abortions are unsafe, and can lead to severe complications for the woman immediately after the abortion, or in terms of long term complications, including the dreaded breast cancer. Other complications could be demonstrated at the time of delivery of a child, should the woman choose to have a baby later. The impact on society lies in two arguments. The first is the economic costs to society as a result of abortion. The second argument is that if the fetus is morally expendable, child abuse is bound to arise. Instead of abortion, avoidance of unnecessary pregnancies could be brought about through use of contraceptives or abstinence from sexual activity. (2) The Pro-Choice Argument: The fundamental arguments of those that support abortion or are pro-choice is that delivering a baby is the decision of a woman, as it is her body that goes through the whole process. Having an abortion or not is thus the right of a woman. In the United States of America, where the rights of an individual are considered as sacred, denying this right to a woman would be ignoring the basis of the founding of the state. Opposition to abortion is based on religious and moral beliefs, and religious and moral beliefs should not be imposed on a woman. This is more so, when there is doubt on these beliefs, as there is no clarity still, as to when life really begins. The pro-choice argument points out that if abortion is made illegal, it would lead to many illegal abortions that would cause more complications for the women, and even cause death. The economic cost to society would mount, as it would become necessary to provide for the pre-natal care of women do not want to have the child. Teenage pregnant girls find themselves at times thrown out of their parent’s home, and society would have top cater to the needs of mother and child. Forcing women to have children would lead to many unwanted children being delivered. Many of these children are likely to end up abused. It would be better for these children not to have been born, than to face the torment of child abuse. The final issue is the case of rape victims falling pregnant. If pregnancy is denied, the victim carries the torment of the event throughout the period of pregnancy (3) Conclusion: There is no end in sight to the pro-life versus pro-choice argument. The arguments in favor of abortion and against abortion do not counter the main basis of the arguments of either side. Neither side looks at themselves as ant-life or anti-choice. Through the use of different frames of argument the two sides try to make the position taken by the other side irrelevant, and their position the one of importance. The pro-choice proponents do not state that the killing of the fetus is appropriate, and do not address the issue of the rights of the fetus. Instead the position that they take is that there is no killing involved in abortion, and therefore no denial of rights. In a similar vein the pro-life argument does not address the rights of a woman, and the issue of rape victims. They counter to the rights of women issue, by bringing into play the rights of the fetus and try making the debate an issue on the life of the fetus, and not an issue on the rights of women. They remain silent on the issue of abortion for rape victims, so that they do not continue to be tormented by an event for which they were not responsible. Both sides thus operate within a framework of comfort avoiding stepping into the framework of the other side. Stepping into the framework of the other side would be asking for trouble, as it would be an awkward defense that could be offered, when operating in the framework of the opponent. It is for this reason that the pro-life and pro-choice protagonists skirmish with one another, and seldom do battle. This makes the arguments in favor of abortion and those against abortion to continue without any end in sight. (4) Works Cited 1. “ROBERTS COURT SHOWS ITS CARDS: IN A STUNING REVERSAL, SUPREM COURT RULES AGAINST WOMEN’S HEALTH IN FAVOR OF ABORTION RESTRICTIONS. REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. 2007. 30 July 2007. http://www.reproductiverights.org/pr_07_0418FAB.html 2. “PROLIFE: 10 Arguments Against Abortion”. CHRISTIAN ACTION FOR REFORMATION & REVIVAL. 2003. AFRICA CHRISTIAN ACTION. 30 July 2007. . 3. Johansen, Jay. “A Summary of Pro-Choice Arguments”. 2000. Pregnant Pause 30 July 2007. . 4. Burns, G. “The Moral Veto: Framing Contraception, Abortion, and Cultural Pluralism in the United States”. 2005. Cambridge University Press. 22 March 2007. http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780511114175&ss=exc Read More