Opposing abortions: Not deception, just common sense

I recently read an article in another publication about Iowa’s recent anti-abortion legislation. The writer posed good questions while demonstrating clever use of pro-abortion logic. There were claims of inconsistency and deception by abortion opponents. A set of arguments was presented, and I want to respond in the hope that pro-abortion devotees understand, if not agree with, what’s in my heart and that of many others. Abortion policy opponents must understand each other’s opinion, or the battle will never end.
One argument suggested that Republican Iowa legislators are being inconsistent when arguing for government involvement in limiting abortions, while at the same time promoting smaller government. This progressive claim leans on the argument that the abortion decision is the exclusive right of the mother—it’s a personal decision. The more conservative opinion holds that a decision isn’t personal when another individual is involved—i.e. the living fetus.
The author wondered, if abortion is murder (i.e. taking a life), how can pro-lifers permit it in cases such as rape, incest, or saving the mother’s life? Most conservatives understand and accept these exceptions, fully recognizing the lack of clarity in these extreme and difficult life and death decisions. Interestingly, this question exposes potential common ground. More research is needed, with the right questions asked, but it appears self-described “pro-choicers” and self-described “pro-lifers,” have similar opinions. Both could support permitting abortions, but restricting them to incidents of rape, incest, or saving the mother’s life.
Regarding this abortion/murder equivalency, progressives argue that merely stating that a fetus is a human life “doesn’t make it so.” I agree, but in many jurisdictions the law already points us in that direction. A fetus is often legally defined as representing a life. Consider the case of killing of a pregnant woman. If the fetus doesn’t survive, there will often be charges of causing multiple fatalities. We shouldn’t pick and choose using situational ethics.
It’s argued that “pro-life” is a religious belief and shouldn’t be imposed on others. I understand that argument intellectually, but pro-abortionists should recognize that for someone who’s devoted to the idea that a fetus is an actual human life, this life and death situation doesn’t reconcile with progressives’ casual dismissal as being “merely religious.”
Some consider outlawing abortions as unjustified “punishment” for the woman. But, if you were once an abortion agnostic, and then came to believe in fetal life, could you ignore the punishment inflicted on that living child when it’s brutally aborted? That describes my situation.
Understandably, pro-abortion activists are “uncomfortable” with late term abortions. Their acquiescence on that issue grants them “reasonableness” credentials, I guess. However, merely stating that one is “uncomfortable” with late term abortions is a cop-out if no line-in-the-sand is drawn as to the stage in the unborn child’s development when abortion should no longer be permitted.
Pro-abortion activists are concerned when they see increasingly successful challenges. I ask them to reflect on my personal angst when it seems abortions, i.e. terminating lives, are available virtually on demand. For me the decision to abort isn’t personal. Neither our society, nor our laws, have ever considered life and death decisions as being merely personal.
Pro-lifers have different opinions than do pro-abortionists. These differences are not examples of conservative inconsistency, nor deception. They reflect the process of both sides making really tough choices.
I ask pro-abortionists not to mock me and others like me who sincerely believe in the sanctity of fetal life. If you believed as we do, you’d be there right beside us. It’s all about defining human life, and there’ll be no relief from this conflict until that question begins to be resolved.

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204 N. Mill Street
Lake Mills, IA 50450

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