FREE ESSAY ON ABORTION

ABORTION

ABORTION
The coexistence of opposite and conflicting feelings about abortion is centuries old.
Most arguments against granting women the right to abortion are based on religious and
moral prohibitions, defending the sanctity of human life. Opponents of abortion rely on
the premise that the fetus is a human being, a person from the moment of conception.
Anti-abortionist proclaim that they are pro-life, however they spend so much time
establishing that the fetus is a person and therefore has a right to live that they
forget about mothers rights or simply ignore her existence.
The word "murder" is often used by pro-lifers to describe abortion. Murder means
deliberate and unjustified killing of another person containing intent. How can anybody
see an evil intent in a woman's decision to interrupt pregnancy if it is a result of rape
or incest? A woman cannot bear the thought of having a child that would be a constant
reminder of what had happened on such a day and such number of years ago. She does not
want to kill a baby; she wants to interrupt the growth of an embryo so that it will not
become a baby. She interrupts potential life, but potential life is just that,
potential.
It is interesting to note that these same people, who place so much emphasis on
protecting the fetus, seem to care so little about what happens to children after they
are born. 
My personal belief is that each woman should have a right to decide whether she wants to
terminate an unwanted pregnancy. For reason's of women's right to self-determination,
protection of their health, adequate care of children which are born and in order to
prevent child abuse and mental disease, easy access to abortion is a must. I recently
heard on TV that most abortions occur because contraception failed, because of a rape or
because of a serious medical condition of the mother, which could lead to her death. In
these situations abortion is often the only way that prevents the birth of an unwanted
child or saves a mothers life. 
Another reason why I believe that availability of choice is vital for women is that if a
woman decides to have an abortion, she will do anything to end her pregnancy. This is the
reality.
The reasons why women have abortions vary. It may be a case of rape, physical or
psychological condition. A choice must needs to be available to prevent the birth of
unwanted children, to avoid damage to the child as well as to safeguard the emotional and
physical health of women. Preservation of life seems to be rather a slogan then a genuine
goal of the anti-abortion forces; what they really want is control. Control over our
behavior and power over women. Abortion is a tough choice and the decision should be a
personal one, without interference of government or special interest groups. 
God gave us freedom of choice and if He, as a God, gives all of us this freedom, what
right do we have to take it away from women!