On Abortion
The issue of abortion is one that I have, for the most part, ignored; but it appears that it is not an issue that is going to go away easily.
Having given thought on this matter I would like to propose a solution that should address the claims on both sides and come up with something that reflects the concerns of both sides.
On one side, we see people claiming that life begins at conception and that it should be protected at all stages of pregnancy.
On the other side, we see people claiming that it's up to the woman to do what she chooses with what is in her body.
I am going to do reason with the both stances.
Law does not protect life; it protects human life.
And during most of the gestation period, the embryo does not even look human.
In the first trimester it looks like a clump of cells; in the second trimester it looks like a fish; and only in the third trimester does it begin to look human.
My stance based on this is as follows: It's not human life until it looks like human life.
And only at the point in the gestation at which the embryo starts to look human can ethical questions be raised as to the rightfulness of aborting it.
A clump of cells is not human life; a fish is not human life.
It is only during the third trimester that it becomes anything that looks human.
Which means that it is only during the third semester that ethical questions should be asked as to the rightfulness of performing an abortion.
From this I postulate that abortion should be allowed without exception during the first two trimesters of pregnancy, and in the third trimester of pregnancy it should be reserved only for the cases of saving the woman's life or if the embryo is a monster.
Regarding the other side, it is for the most part correct; but not absolutely.
If one aborts a fetus that can breathe and has a heartbeat, then what we see is a human life terminated.
Nothing should be regarded as wrong with getting rid of a second-trimester fish or a first-trimester clump of cells; but a viable human embryo should not be discarded.
If it looks human, it is human life and deserves the protections that are extended upon human life.
Keeping my daughter was the best decision to which I've ever been a party; but I have also seen situations in which abortion was needed.
When a 15-year-old girl gets pregnant by a boyfriend of the same age, then it is for everyone's benefit that she perform an abortion.
When a condom slides off, it should be possible to have an abortion.
I do not need to mention the cases of incest or rape.
So my proposal is as follows: Fully protect abortion in the first two trimesters and limit it in the third trimester to cases of mother's life being in danger or of the embryo being a monster.
And in this matter to address the values of both sides to arrive at a compromise that should be suitable to the reasonable elements in both.
Having given thought on this matter I would like to propose a solution that should address the claims on both sides and come up with something that reflects the concerns of both sides.
On one side, we see people claiming that life begins at conception and that it should be protected at all stages of pregnancy.
On the other side, we see people claiming that it's up to the woman to do what she chooses with what is in her body.
I am going to do reason with the both stances.
Law does not protect life; it protects human life.
And during most of the gestation period, the embryo does not even look human.
In the first trimester it looks like a clump of cells; in the second trimester it looks like a fish; and only in the third trimester does it begin to look human.
My stance based on this is as follows: It's not human life until it looks like human life.
And only at the point in the gestation at which the embryo starts to look human can ethical questions be raised as to the rightfulness of aborting it.
A clump of cells is not human life; a fish is not human life.
It is only during the third trimester that it becomes anything that looks human.
Which means that it is only during the third semester that ethical questions should be asked as to the rightfulness of performing an abortion.
From this I postulate that abortion should be allowed without exception during the first two trimesters of pregnancy, and in the third trimester of pregnancy it should be reserved only for the cases of saving the woman's life or if the embryo is a monster.
Regarding the other side, it is for the most part correct; but not absolutely.
If one aborts a fetus that can breathe and has a heartbeat, then what we see is a human life terminated.
Nothing should be regarded as wrong with getting rid of a second-trimester fish or a first-trimester clump of cells; but a viable human embryo should not be discarded.
If it looks human, it is human life and deserves the protections that are extended upon human life.
Keeping my daughter was the best decision to which I've ever been a party; but I have also seen situations in which abortion was needed.
When a 15-year-old girl gets pregnant by a boyfriend of the same age, then it is for everyone's benefit that she perform an abortion.
When a condom slides off, it should be possible to have an abortion.
I do not need to mention the cases of incest or rape.
So my proposal is as follows: Fully protect abortion in the first two trimesters and limit it in the third trimester to cases of mother's life being in danger or of the embryo being a monster.
And in this matter to address the values of both sides to arrive at a compromise that should be suitable to the reasonable elements in both.
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