Spinoff to Abortion Issue

I am going to take a chance and pose a question related to the abortion issue in the "hopes" that we can have an intelligent discussion/debate on this issue! I feel that with the recent Supreme Court ruling we should really have some open discussions on this issue!

I saw in the Supreme Court ruling thread that numerous people, regardless of where they ultimately stood on the abortion issue, had a problem with women who used abortion as a form of birth control.

My question for everyone is how do you think we, as a society, can prevent this from happening or take measures to reduce this from happening?

How do you think we can do this with respect to teenagers? What about older women (not old, just meaning non-teenagers)?

I pose this question because I feel that too often people try to make the abortion issue "black or white" or "all or nothing." I think we sometimes get caught up in the extremes and we forget about the grey areas. We forget that there are some "middle grounds" and possibly some common goals that we can all work for.

So if you can be a respectful adult, I would love to hear everyone's responses! And feel free to pose any other intelligent questions on the issue!!!

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

I am 100 percent pro choice. That said, I do see a problem when women use it as birth control. I think this stems from it being rather easy (not emotionally, but in terms of having one--don't misunderstand) and also totally confidential. There are definitely grey areas. I mean, some people are pro choice, but only if it were a rape situation. To me, that's not fair. I know many people who have terminations, and each girl learned from it and it broke her heart. Now, if I had a friend who had multiple abortions...I would definitely try and see where her head is at. At that point, it's not really that healthy for your body, even.

How do we stop it? I don't know. More education? More open forums? In the end, it's such a personal choice...all I know is that it angers me to see aging white people stand around and protest. That is a whole OTHER issue.....

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Message edited 4/20/2007 12:11:36 PM.

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Posted by CoopersMom01

Posted by Lanabean

all I know is that it angers me to see aging white people stand around and protest. That is a whole OTHER issue.....

That it is

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Besides, the "technical" education, I also think that we need to really teach our children strong morals and values when it comes to sex. I really beleive that sex is everywhere in today's society and there is a lot of pressure in school.

I think it is important to teach our children (both girls AND boys) that they really should value their selves, their body, and sex. I think it is really important to emphasize that there is nothing wrong with waiting to have sex until you are mature enough to handle the consequences and that it really shouldn't be shared with everyone.

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Posted by Lisa

Posted by Shelly

Posted by KrisT

My question for everyone is how do you think we, as a society, can prevent this from happening or take measures to reduce this from happening?

There are two very simple ways:
1. Education and 2. Availability of contraception.

1. Education: Believe it or not, there are still girls out there who think you can't get pregnant the fist time you have sex. We need to teach young people that sex can be dangerous and has consequences, but there are ways to have safe sex.

2. Availability of contraception: Birth control pills/condoms/diaphragm- everything should be readily available. There should also be no parental consent requirement. The reality of the matter is, most kids would have unprotected sex rather than abstain if they have no birth control. Make sure no one has to make this choice.

And the morning after pill should also be readily available to everyone.

Of course there will be people who know everything, have access to everything and will still make mistakes or abuse abortions. But I think this is a small minority of the population. There are these exceptions to everything, but they are not the rule.

perfectly said!!!

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

I think there needs to be a combination of things taught for kids

1. teach respect for yourself - teach girls to love themselves to take care to themselves emotionally and physically - here have sex only when you want to

2. teach more on contraception in sex education - abstinence is not working

3. give better access to contraception - make it easier to get birth control without parent consent - kids are going to have sex make it safe - don't turn a blind eye that it does not happen

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Well coming from the point of view of a pro-lifer but NOT pro abstinence (I find the abstinence philosphy to be completely unrealistic..) I have to say what other posters have said..

EDUCATION!! It really is the only thing in the end that can help this problem. Teaching women to not abuse their bodies...where they can go to get contraception, and ultimately to be made aware as well of the choices other than abortion.

I don't know if increasing the cost of an abortion will really cut back. If someone is desperate to have one, they'll find a way.

The problem will always exist. But i do agree that with education, support and guidance for teens/adults we can see a reduction in the numbers of abortions.

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

My niece recently had a "baby" for her class and she had to keep the computerized child for like a month and take care of it.

She has 2 little brothers so it was a cake walk My sister on the other hand HATED the baby since it cried very often in the middle of the night and needed feedings & changing before it would get quiet.

Message edited 4/20/2007 2:04:38 PM.

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Message edited 4/20/2007 2:06:15 PM.

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

I agree with the education and increased availability of contraception ideas.

I do have a question though: If you are pro-choice, why would you have a problem with anyone who uses abortion as a means of birth control? I think that if you do have a problem with that, then you do think deep down that abortion is wrong. I'm just wondering how that thought process flows...

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Posted by Kate

I agree with the education and increased availability of contraception ideas.

I do have a question though: If you are pro-choice, why would you have a problem with anyone who uses abortion as a means of birth control? I think that if you do have a problem with that, then you do think deep down that abortion is wrong. I'm just wondering how that thought process flows...

Message edited 4/20/2007 2:32:07 PM.

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Posted by MrsT

Posted by Shelly

I used to do clinic defense outside the Brookline clinics after the clinic shootings in the '90s. Let me tell you, those nuns and priests and other protesters suddenly get very quiet when a black woman would walk in.

Why Are they not equal opportunity protestors

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Posted by MrsT

Posted by Shelly

I used to do clinic defense outside the Brookline clinics after the clinic shootings in the '90s. Let me tell you, those nuns and priests and other protesters suddenly get very quiet when a black woman would walk in.

Why Are they not equal opportunity protestors

Message edited 4/20/2007 2:57:46 PM.

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

I think education and parental involvement is the answer.

I saw a mother with her daughter at my GYN. The daughter was about 14. The mother walked in with her daughter and signed her in. Then she sat her daughter down and said "I am waiting in the car, because I know you will lie if I am here. Tell the doctor the truth. By law, she cannot tell me what you have told her. If she gives you a prescription for birth control I will fill it for you. You do not have to talk to me about if you don't feel comfortable BUT if you want to talk to me about it I am here for you and I love you. Then, she spoke in private with the doctor for a few minutes and left.

I hope I remember this for when I have daughters, I thought it was such a great approach.

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Posted by MsMBV

Posted by MrsT

Posted by Shelly

I used to do clinic defense outside the Brookline clinics after the clinic shootings in the '90s. Let me tell you, those nuns and priests and other protesters suddenly get very quiet when a black woman would walk in.

Why Are they not equal opportunity protestors

oh, the perception is definitely not equal. I had to drive my friend to her Dr. to get an abortion. Her pregnancy was not only a result of rape, but she was an addict at the time & the baby was affected by her using. Any way I am very pale, but she is not. They were throwing things at my car, but when she got out they all hushed. It is like they thought that I should know better or something, or that maybe because she is Latina she didn't know better....I don't know, but either way it irritated me on so many levels.

Posted by Shelly

Posted by MrsT

Posted by Shelly

I used to do clinic defense outside the Brookline clinics after the clinic shootings in the '90s. Let me tell you, those nuns and priests and other protesters suddenly get very quiet when a black woman would walk in.

Why Are they not equal opportunity protestors

In theory, yes. In reality, no.

After a nutcase walked into this clinic with a shotgun and killed a bunch of people (including the secretary), the clinic needed people to protect the women coming from the street/car/train into the clinic.

My job was to usher women into the clinic. We would have to be essentially a human shield when the protesters got very loud and noisy. We would be there every Sat. morning with the cops.

I could definitely tell the difference when white women came in. There was a lot of yelling and shouting. When minority women came in, they were a lot more quiet.

Once its a coincidence. Twice, maybe. But over and over throughout the year- not so much.

Message edited 4/20/2007 3:13:58 PM.

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Posted by MrsT

Not that I think you had the time or inclination to speak to the protestors but why would they not yell & shout at the Black women coming in for abortions

Message edited 4/20/2007 3:33:20 PM.

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Posted by Shelly

Posted by MrsT

Not that I think you had the time or inclination to speak to the protestors but why would they not yell & shout at the Black women coming in for abortions

In my honest opinion, I think they were a bunch of hypocritical racists who just didn't care when a minority woman walked through those doors.

ETA: What I woud should to these people is that they should take adopt or become foster parents to all those unwanted children out there without homes. But of course, they don't care about those children either.

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

Posted by MrsT

That is just disgusting. I'm pro-choice in all instances and I thought pro-life advocates were pro-life in every instance. I had no idea that there was an obivous racial divide.

Message edited 4/20/2007 3:43:01 PM.

Re: Spinoff to Abortion Issue

I don't agree with women using it as a form of birth control, which can happen)I have to say, BUT I am pro-choice, because having to go thru an abortion procedure is something that the person involved needs to deal with. Not the 65 year old good old boy Representative in Washington, D.C. who really, at the end of the day, doesn't care about what happens to those who have to make this decision.

When the government starts telling us what to do with our bodies, it just gets one step closer to controlling more and more of us.

Abortion is not an easy decision...during a time in my life when I was not making the best choices and running around without any care or concern for myself, I got pregnant and had an abortion. It was the hardest decision I've ever made in my life, and I have to live with that every day of my life. Whenever I fill out medical forms, I have to list it in my history, I have to think about how old my child would have been. It was MY choice because I knew I would have not have cared for that child properly, because I was into drugs and alcohol and by the time I realized I was pregnant, I had probably already damaged the fetus. You can think whatever you want about me and say I'm evil and going to hell, but I know how hard it was to do what I did...and no one but myself has to deal with it.