My opinion is sometime around 18 weeks or so. I believe that Muslim theology explicitly puts it at 19 weeks. My wife and I have argued about this a lot; we're both democrats but we would like some restrictions on abortion... and, to correspond with that, enhancements in screening several weeks before that 18 week point to test for anencephaly, etc. In some cases these days a first ultrasound isn't until 19 or 20 weeks which IMO is too late to feel comfortable terminating a pregnancy.
I know there's a lot of ground between 18 weeks an 0 weeks, but it seems to be that an 18 or 19 week standard, with restrictions afterwards (unforeseen terminal complications for mother or child, etc.) is at least the beginnings of a compromise.
I believe that the life just becomes more evident to our eyes around 18-20 weeks. Women start to have a more prominent belly, making it obvious to those who can only see with their eyes. The mother begins to feel definite movement, clear indications of a life created inside.
It is easier for us to justify our actions when we don't have to truly see the consequences. Conception is the process of becoming pregnant, and most pregnancies, if allowed to proceed result in a baby.
Having seen my own daughters tiny heart beating perfectly at ten weeks of pregancy it is heartwrenching for me to know that so many lives are cut off as people try to justify themselves.
Interestingly in the Merriam Webster dictionary the first definition second definition of abortion is "monstrosity." I think that about sums it up.
By the way, I love the video. And yes, that is an error in my first comment. It should only read "the second definition..."
In case anyone is interested, the first definition reads, in part: 1: the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus:
The only problem with your 18 weeks proposal is in your first two words: "My opinion". Pro-lifers find the so-called hunting analogy persuasive: If you went bear hunting and saw something move and didn't know if it was human or not, it would be immoral to shoot at it.
A 17 week fetus (and younger) is alive and it is human (check the DNA!). So it would be arbitrary to declare that it has no rights.
4 comments:
My opinion is sometime around 18 weeks or so. I believe that Muslim theology explicitly puts it at 19 weeks. My wife and I have argued about this a lot; we're both democrats but we would like some restrictions on abortion... and, to correspond with that, enhancements in screening several weeks before that 18 week point to test for anencephaly, etc. In some cases these days a first ultrasound isn't until 19 or 20 weeks which IMO is too late to feel comfortable terminating a pregnancy.
I know there's a lot of ground between 18 weeks an 0 weeks, but it seems to be that an 18 or 19 week standard, with restrictions afterwards (unforeseen terminal complications for mother or child, etc.) is at least the beginnings of a compromise.
I believe that the life just becomes more evident to our eyes around 18-20 weeks. Women start to have a more prominent belly, making it obvious to those who can only see with their eyes. The mother begins to feel definite movement, clear indications of a life created inside.
It is easier for us to justify our actions when we don't have to truly see the consequences. Conception is the process of becoming pregnant, and most pregnancies, if allowed to proceed result in a baby.
Having seen my own daughters tiny heart beating perfectly at ten weeks of pregancy it is heartwrenching for me to know that so many lives are cut off as people try to justify themselves.
Interestingly in the Merriam Webster dictionary the first definition second definition of abortion is "monstrosity." I think that about sums it up.
-Barbara
By the way, I love the video.
And yes, that is an error in my first comment. It should only read "the second definition..."
In case anyone is interested, the first definition reads, in part: 1: the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus:
Matthew:
The only problem with your 18 weeks proposal is in your first two words: "My opinion". Pro-lifers find the so-called hunting analogy persuasive: If you went bear hunting and saw something move and didn't know if it was human or not, it would be immoral to shoot at it.
A 17 week fetus (and younger) is alive and it is human (check the DNA!). So it would be arbitrary to declare that it has no rights.
But sure, 18 weeks would be an improvement.
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