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Scott Keller on Abortion |
A: This was taken out of context from a long dissertation about what I'd prefer to see in the abortion arena. I don't hold that the baby's body is the woman's body at any stage in the development after conception. So I'm against all life-terminating abortions. What I'm FOR is finding as many options as possible that women can choose from that will allow them to walk away from the pregnancy WITHOUT terminating the life or find peace in finishing the pregnancy to raise the child.
Q: Do you agree with a "focus on alternatives: birth control & adoption"?
A: This leaves out the primary "alternatives" I listed which are to deal with the socioeconomic factors involved and to find non-life-ending options for ending a pregnancy up to and including adoption. Birth control and adoption have been around for a long time, but the abortion industry continues to thrive.
A: Pro-life and "right to choose" are almost polar opposites without taking into account the alternatives I mention. I do NOT believe the woman should get to choose whether a baby lives or dies regardless of the stage of development. Actual stances:
A: I cannot agree or disagree, so it would have to be "no opinion" or "other option". I say: Provide new options to preserve the life while enabling the woman to end the pregnancy and walk away. The baby's body is not the woman's body. None of the questions provide an "other approach". Just a "no opinion" which doesn't apply to me.
A: Personally, I cannot give a heartfelt yes or no answer to this question as worded. And I cannot give a short answer to it either as there are so many factors that have to be considered. The initial premise is relatively short: I believe a woman has the right to do with her body what she chooses. I also believe that once her choices or the choices of someone else's imposition themselves on her result in the creation of a new life, then the ensuing choices are imposing on the rights of someone else, namely the forming baby, who had no choice in the matter of being conceived. And those choices become increasingly dramatic as the baby gets closer to term, climaxing in something I absolutely am against which is the partial birth abortion. I find it hard to believe that anyone could willingly allow this last one much less perform it.
All of these factors can be dealt with if we simply focus on them and get people involved in the solution discovery process, especially women. Birth control is an obvious and known solution and it is not just a woman's responsibility. Vasectomies should be made extremely cheap or even free and should be encouraged especially now that they are reversible.
An alternative to abortion that I support is adoption. While a woman may not want or be able to take care of a child, giving that child an opportunity to live is still a wonderful thing to do. I support enhancing adoption and foster care services as an alternative to abortion.
I personally believe it's a woman's right to choose to end the pregnancy, but I also believe there are options other than terminating the life, especially in late term pregnancies. I am pro life and that applies to ALL life and if there are options for accomplishing the same goal and preserving the life I will favor those options.
Socioeconomic factors like poverty are unfortunate and preventable reasons that motivate women to get abortions. Birth control is a highly effective solution to the issue of abortion, including surgical solutions such as vasectomies which are reversible.
My question for women is when they go to choose, do they want limited options or many options? Many of these options revolve around other topics such as the economy.