Janyce's SOAP BOX

TO ABORT OR NOT ©

When it comes to abortion I feel like I am wandering the streets looking for a home - I don't fit in any group, be they Republican or Democrat, Right-to-Life or Abortion Rights.

Why is "everyone" so extreme? It almost seems as if both sides of the issue are taking the position farthest from the center, in anticipation of having to give a little ground should a compromise be in the offering.

And it sure wouldn't hurt abortion issue peace prospects, if religion would voluntarily be kept out of the discussion. I can respect the religious convictions of others, but why do "they" insist on trying to convince me "they" are right, by using their personal religious rules that I don't necessarily subscribe to?

That just doesn't make any sense. If you want to convince someone of anything, you must use the standards and rules in your argument that the person already believes.

The "other side" isn't lilly-white either. They don't seem to care how much it costs taxpayer-me to provide abortions for people who can't keep their zippers up and skirts down. What ever happened to the concept of personal responsibility?

Why doesn't anyone talk about the real issue? The answer is because "the real issue" is an unknown that nobody can scientifically prove or disprove (like the "meaning of life," or "the existance of god").

WHAT'S "THE REAL ISSUE," ANYWAY?

You probably already know the answer ....
"Exactly when does a sperm and an egg become a person?" This is a VERY important question because the correct answer (known only by the gods) will affect any conclusion drawn by either side of this issue.

The possibilities are endless. The Christian's savior (Christ) said, If you think (i.e. consider doing) a sin, you have already done it in your heart. So, using the same logic, one could say a person is created when a man and woman consider having sex together.

If that were to turn out to be the case, imagine all the abortions done by Christians who considered having sex and then chose not to.

The opposite extreme would be to think that one does not become "a person" until the "age of maturity," which is usually considered to be some age between seven and twenty-one years. I can see here, the possibility of a non-person begetting a non-person.

Personally, I think there is a good possibility that one becomes a person when they start consciously remembering. That point in time varies for each of us, but is usually around the age of two.

My reasoning here, is that memory is essential to self-awareness; without it, we couldn't remember who we are or what we did, and therefore are non-accountable for our actions. This is the reason we change diapers.

BUT THE FACT REMAINS that no one can know and prove at what point a non-person becomes a person, so to argue for or against abortion on the basis of a personal belief, faith or some religious conviction, has no merit what-so-ever, except to the person who holds that belief, and, it is applicable to ONLY that person.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

To my knowledge, there is no religion that subscribes to a belief that one person must account to the gods for the actions of another person. Be there a god or not, we are responsible for ONLY ourselves. For if we must answer for actions and choices that are not under our control, then that higher-power, is NEITHER Loving NOR Just!

I could never see myself having an abortion. Even if I knew I would die giving birth, I suspect I would choose to give a new life in exchange for my old one. I cannot see myself having to answer to a higher power, all because I "didn't believe" an egg and sperm become a person upon conception.... which I don't.

But what I would choose to do or not do, has nothing to do with someone else who is in a position to consider an abortion. THEY are the one who will have to live with their decision in the real world, in their mind's world, in the heavenly world.

They are THE ONLY ONE who will have to answer for their choices. Not me. Not you. Not the church. And certainly not the politicians.

Additionally, I don't especially like the idea of taxpayer-me paying for a few minutes of bliss for someone else who rejects the responsibility for their own actions.

I don't like the idea of taxpayer-me making it easy for some irresponsible person to keep their kid. They should have to get out in the world and hustle to keep their child. The price of responsibility should be sacrifice, not lassitude.

They should have to meet the standards prescribed by the state intended to prevent child-abuse. If anyone cannot adequately take care of, and pay for, their child's needs without my tax money, then the state should remove the child and put him or her up for adoption by someone who can.

If the mother's family, church or other private organization want to contribute to her needs so she can keep the child, that's fine with me. But stay out of my pocketbook. And when the kid turns eighteen, the state should give her the name and address of her child, so they can resume their relationship. In the meantime there should be none of this back-and-forth juggling you see in court today ... once she looses the child, that's it until eighteen!

If the gods chose to let the human decide for oneself, who am I to try to make decisions for others, just because I don't agree with their choices.

Due to time constraints, I can't answer all mail, but do answer those who offer something special - Email: oabort@janyce.com

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