My thoughts on the abortion issue...

[hamsterjill]

5. I think this is a well reasoned post.

I have much the same upbringing that you described, without the clergy being a family member, and having been raised in southern Texas.

My only real comment is that I believe that abortion should be private. I believe the Republicans have cleverly brought this issue back into the spotlight, used its emotional impact and succeeded in getting those who can be manipulated easily to vote to end a woman's right to choose. I don't believe that, even for them (i.e., the Republican leaders) that this is as much an ethical issue, as it is a political ploy. I seriously doubt were it one of their wives, sisters, daughters who desired and needed an abortion that they would be so emphatic that an abortion not occur.

The "nine months of hard labor" is incumbent on the woman because she cannot put the pregnancy away. Physical appearance chances, etc. The father can, and many times does, simply disappear from the picture.

All that said, I am vehemently pro choice because I remember women dying from botched abortions before Roe v. Wade, and I vehemently believe that making abortion illegal or inaccessible will NOT keep it from happening.

The decision to have an abortion should be between a woman and her health care advisor and anyone else who she chooses to involve. Beyond that, it is no one else's business.