It was around this same time of year back in 2004. I sat at my desk, nervously waiting for my teacher to call my name.
This wasn't like my other boring high school classes; this was debate.
And I was an arrogant 16-year-old sophomore who thought she was the smartest kid around. But in this class, I was surrounded by older upperclassmen, and truth be told, I was scared.
The topic assigned to me was abortion. Before then, I knew very little of the subject. That day I considered myself a genius on it.
Ms. Keefe told me I'd be pro-life. She didn't let her students pick their subject or what side of the issue they would debate; she thought it'd be funner that way. Perhaps it was funner to her, but certainly not to me - especially this time.
She called my name. My shaking hands grabbed the papers on my desk and I walked to the front of the class. My opponent was waiting for me.
I was nervous, but ready. I'd spent days and nights researching why I should be pro-life. Why wouldn't I be? Thinking abortion is okay is thinking murder is okay. Not much else to it. "I'll win this debate in no time," I thought.
I thought wrong.
I was first to say my thoughts, and they were as vague as can be.
Abortion is the taking of a person's life, and that is murder, I said. Murder is a crime, which makes abortion a crime as well. And I was done.
My opponent shot back. I stared at her with a deer-in-headlights stare. I was completely speechless.
Needless to say, I lost my fight. I had failed to say why abortion should be illegal. Mostly, it was because I failed to understand why it should be. I'd been shut up in my argument, so I went home and conducted a true research on abortion. Here's what I learned (and I'll try to put these facts in layman's terms):
Abortion is not murder. By definition, murder is the killing of a person.
A fetus is not a person. It is a fetus. And the word "fetus," as said in Roe v. Wade, "does not include the unborn." Whether it has a heart beat, a brain or all ten fingers, it is not, by law, a person until alive and out of the womb. This definition is the one that matters.
Theologically, philosophically and religiously, you may define a person differently.
Fact is, we cannot impose those views and beliefs on a nation that has diverse views and beliefs. It's unconstitutional. Period.
There is no such thing as pro-abortion. There are two stands on the abortion issue. One is pro-life and the other is pro-choice. Those that are pro-life think abortion is wrong. Those that are pro-choice may also think abortion is wrong, however they respect that not everyone shares their believes.
Pro-choice doesn't suggest women should abort. Pro-choice, as the name hints, suggests that women should have the right to choose. Women can choose to abort, women can choose not to abort, women can choose to not care about the subject at all. More importantly, women can choose to follow whatever beliefs they have, whether they are to think abortion is okay or not. That is what pro-choice is about - a choice.
A woman should never have to be forced to be pregnant. She has rights over her body, and those are called human rights. Human rights protect persons, not fetuses. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
If you're against abortion, don't have one. Done deal. :)
