Daily Egyptian Editorial 05
Sponsored by 710 BookStore - - - http://www.seventen.com/No right to choose?
Kate Galbreath
Loud as I want to be
This week, National "Right to Life" week prompts an interesting question: What is a "right to life"?
Simple enough, right? Because of falsely loaded words, the rule is that people who are pro-life are anti-abortion. Pro-choice equals pro-abortion.
But what about me? I'm pro-life, too! In fact, I'm pro-babies, pro-healthy homes, pro-two-parent households and pro-willing and -readiness to parent. But I'm also anti-child neglect, anti-unwanted pregnancy, anti-unsupportive households, anti-lackadaisical stance on parenting and anti-lawmakers controlling a woman's uterus.
So that leaves those who are pro-choice characterized, as the week's title suggests, against life?
Why can't I be labeled as believing in a "right to a health-care system that consistently affords women control over their sexual health"? Or a system that gives a "right to assure child support payments are rigorously enforced," or "right to free daycare for every working parent?"
The truth is it's possible to be pro-choice but not in favor of abortion. We are not "anti-life." Unfortunately, women who are sexually active (which are most, let's be truthful) are saddled with an unequal burden.
First, she must take birth control pills daily, or pay for the more expensive shot or patch, in addition to condoms and anti-spermicide. Should anything happen, such as an unwanted and unplanned pregnancy, the man is free to leave. If he chooses, his contribution can begin and end with a sperm donation. But the woman is left with a decision where every outcome seems wrong.
One parent is rarely financially secure enough to raise a child, and even when a woman opts to keep a child, there is no guarantee she will receive child support because of the difficulty of enforcement and high volume of claims made in the judicial circuit.
Placing a child up for adoption is also flawed. The sperm donor has 30 days after the birth of a child to come forward and terminate the adoption process. Oddly, the mother will still be responsible for the child. The man is free to leave - again.
A woman who is sexually active, then, must cede her own "right to life" while the man has no such responsibility?
Abortion is an unattractive option and a last resort. But sometimes, regardless of religious condemnation, it is the only choice.
During this week, "pro-lifers" often refer to a process known as intact dilation and extraction, in which the fetus's brain is removed to collapse the skull for extraction. This operation is performed after 26 weeks of pregnancy, or more than six months, and accounts only for one-fifth of 1 percent of abortions. Only six clinics in the country even perform the technique.
It is unfortunate that abortion must occur at all. But as a nation, we should be striving to eliminate the causes of unplanned pregnancy instead of condemning a choice made in effect.
Instead of denying the sexual nature of humans, we should be spending time developing a national health-care system where birth control is provided free to everyone and realistic family planning is taught from a young age.
Ending the practice of abortion will also require all men to be equally responsible - not just financially, and not just in conception. Until that time, a choice should remain a choice.
The Daily Egyptian, the student-run newspaper of SIUC, is committed to being a trusted source of information, commentary and public discourse while helping readers understand the issues affecting their lives.
The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester. The Pulse, Carbondale Entertainment Guide, is published once a week on Thursday.Last update: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 at 5:43:57 PM
Copyright 2009 Daily Egyptian Editorial 05