By Sean Evans (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: April 11, 2012
The issue of abortion brings out the fiercest rhetoric in people. Whenever the issue surfaces, people on both sides of the issue become obstinate. As the modern debate has now raged for decades, both sides have lost sight of the humanity of this issue. Both sides cite science, morality and human-rights, and both sides decry the other as morally corrupt and horribly out of touch with reality. If we are to make any ground on this issue, we must take a step back and realize that this is ultimately a human issue.
Those who find themselves in the pro-choice camp ought to take a moment to consider the views of their opponents. If you were aware that the secret murder of millions of innocent individuals was occurring —and legally—each year, would you not earnestly work against it? Would you not take to the streets to make sure that everyone knew this was happening?
Perhaps some patience and understanding is in order, or at least an acknowledgment of the character it takes to hold so strongly to a belief widely considered out of touch and misogynistic. Consider the frustration that they must endure when told that they are squelching the human rights of women, still firmly believing that they are fighting for the human rights of millions of unborn women.
Perhaps some empathy is in order.
I know that I speak in the context of many pro-lifers who have used distasteful and aggressive methods in their attempts to curb abortion – including the condemnation of women (who are often single moms, impoverished and abused), violence and the use of unsympathetic rhetoric. They have taken the stance of a cold-hearted legalist, unwilling to allow for any sort of compromise. I know these people exist, but I simply ask that those in the pro-choice camp make the effort to see that there are pro-lifers with good intentions, genuine beliefs and, above all, a love of people.
I reserve a strong critique for those who are pro-life, but let me put my cards on the table: I am pro-life. I believe that life begins at conception, and that abortion is the killing of an innocent human being. I believe that the value of law can be judged by how well it protects the weakest in our society. I believe our laws fail in this regard.
Some situations complicate this issue: rape, incest, the health of the mother, etc. It is not my aim to argue that this issue is cut and dried; in fact, this is my critique of many pro-lifers. This is my plea to the pro-life movement: stop with the rhetoric. Stop with the polished, unforgiving, non-compromising, well-researched, ice-cold arguments. Take a step back and let the truth of the situation grip you; you are not going to win anyone over with your theory.
In reality, rape and incest account for less than a single per cent of abortions – perhaps you could be willing to compromise, for the time being, on this issue. Perhaps allowing some breathing room for that single per cent, compared to the vast number of abortions that are made for convenience, would be a good start. Perhaps instead of polishing your philosophical argument, you could work on generating awareness of and promoting other options – adoption topping that list.
Abortions made as a result of a health risk to the mother are around three per cent of total abortions, based on American Statistics. It is not the place of pro-lifers to question decisions made by people in situations where a woman is forced to make a heart-wrenching decision between her health and the life of her baby.
Many in the pro-life movement are Christians. For those that are, perhaps you would do well to heed the example of Jesus who, when questioned by Pilate before his crucifixion, “opened not his mouth.” Being right is not paramount. Winning arguments, while losing the hearts of people listening, will accomplish nothing.
Ultimately, the issue comes down to one question: is a fetus a human being? If so, one must face the fact that our society is allowing the widespread murder of millions. If not, then the issue is irrelevant and should be tabled for good. In either case, let us take this issue seriously; according to Statistics Canada, for every 100 live births in British Columbia, there are 35.4 abortions (2006). No matter what side we stand on, we need to see this as a human question; let us all argue with genuine concern and let us all have compassion towards our enemies.
