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Abortion
June 26th, 2022
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This is a post about my thoughts on abortion. It is personal and
not intended to persuade. I'm writing it because I am, on
occasion, asked about my opinion, and thought it helpful to write
them down.

Let this brief introduction serve as a content warning.

* * * * *

Let's start with the easy bits:

There are times when an abortion is absolutely, unequivocally, and
unambiguously the moral choice. For instance, if the fetus is
non-viable or if the birth with result in the death of the fetus
and parent. There is no grey area here. By performing a medical
procedure we can help save life and reduce suffering.

With that very basic example I thereby demonstrate that there is
no right and ethical argument against abortion in all situations.
The act itself cannot be considered evil for it can in some
situations be used for good. We must look further at the situation
and recognize that there's more to this than a black & white
narrative. (Duh.)

What situations affect the ethical choice for or against birth?
There's a huge range of circumstances from family planning issues,
to health, safety, abuse, and money. This is where I feel the
opportunity is best to save lives and reduce suffering.

Lets take just a few examples here:

The teenagers who accidentally conceive -- currently face
incredibly difficult life decisions while their own bodies and
brains are still developing. The realities of modern America mean
the potential for difficulties with families, poverty, lack of
support for continued education, and lack of tooling and services
for the child. 

These things are addressable by our society. A world that embraces
and supports these young people, provides the safety nets,
childcare services, and opportunities to continue to improve
themselves and the futures of their children would create an
environment where the accidental pregnancy wouldn't come with such
a sense of shock and fear. That would lead to less people seeing
abortion as their only path.

A family that's struggling to support the kids they have may see
similar benefits if only social services are improved. The
unexpected extra child is now not a fearful burden, but an
opportunity.

But there are other situations that we must face as a reality.
Rape, incest, abusive relationships. Legislating against abortions
further punishes the victims of these crimes and causes great
suffering. It is undeniable. Forced birthing is quite literally
a war crime and crime against humanity, as defined in the 1998
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC Statute). It
is unconscionable to force women into this situation for the sake
of a child's life: a child which after birth is given no further
thought. It is a false display of moralism made at the cost of
another.

And finally, there are people who become pregnant who just don't
want to be. There is no quandary for them. There is no situation
change which would put them in a position to want to have a child.
Here is the hardest of all situations for a third party to wrap
their head around. The life of a child vs what appears to be
nothing. But it's never nothing, is it? We are all complex
creatures with a lifetime of thoughts and feelings that led to who
we are today. These experiences are intricate, complicated, and
carry a vast depth to them. These depths are plumbed in therapy by
millions daily, and though issues may seem mundane to those in
passing they are whirlwinds of vital importance that make or break
people. Our glimpse at someone's situation is not even seeing the
iceberg above the surface, let alone below. We don't even sense
the chill in the air. We cannot understand from our vantage, and
thus, as hard as it may be, we cannot decide for that person.

I want there to be fewer abortions. I want a world that makes it
safe for children to come into being and be cared for no matter
what the situation of the parents. I want mental health services
to be available to everyone who needs to talk because maybe, just
maybe, some more people will say yes to the child.

I am pro-life. I am against abortion. And yet, I believe it is
absolutely wrong to legislate forced-births. We make abortion
diminish through compassion in our society, not through fascism.