The Abortion Debate
The Abortion DebateMany have pondered upon the meaning of abortion. The argument
being that every child born should be wanted, and others who believe
that every child conceived should be born (Sass vii). This has been a
controversial topic for years. Many people want to be able to decide
the destiny of others. Everyone in the United States is covered under
the United States constitution, and under the 14th Amendment women
have been given the choice of abortion. In 1973, Harry A. Blackmun
wrote the majority opinion that it's a women's right to have an
abortion. Roe v. Wade legalized abortion. Even though these people
have been given the right, the case is not closed. Pro-life activists
carry a strong argument, and continue to push their beliefs. They
feel so strongly about these beliefs that violence has broken out in
some known instances. Pro-choice activists, on the other hand, also
carry very strong points. They believe that the child inside them is
their property and it's life doesn't be until birth. In 1973, the
United States Supreme Court decided that as long as the baby lived in
the womb, he or she would be the property of the mother. Because of
this decision almost every third baby conceived in America is killed
by abortion, over one and a half million babies a year (Willke vii).
Many countries have followed our decision on the abortion issue and
some of these include Canada, England, and France. Other countries
still believe abortion should be illegal, they include Germany,
Ireland, and New Zealand. Although many believe that abortion is a
women's choice, abortion should be banned because its immoral and life
begins at conception.
Abortion is the choice of a women whether or not she want's to
receive one. Under the 14th Amendment's "personal liberty" women are
given the right to receive an abortion. The 14th Amendment's concept
of "personal liberty" and restrictions on state action is enough to
allow a women's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.
The right to choose to have an abortion is so personal and essential
to women's lives that without this right women cannot exercise other
fundamental rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution
(Paltrow 72). The state can't interfere in the private lives of a
citizen. Without the right to choose an abortion the 14th Amendment's
guarantee of liberty has little meaning for women. With the right to
choose abortion, women are able to enjoy, like men, the rights to
fully use the powers of their minds and bodies (Paltrow 73). A man
can withdraw from a relationship as soon as he finds out about a
pregnancy. There is no question of his involve t after that, he has
made his choice. It is only fair to say that women should be given the
same choice. If one doesn't want to hold the responsibilities of a
child than she should be able to...
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