Abortion

[Dob Bole]

Poll question: Abortion

I was just curious to gauge how people on the Religion and Theology forum feel about this issue. Choose the description that best fits you.

[yinkaafrica]

1. Good pole

[Raised_In_The_Wild]

2. If you are a man, keep your opinion on this subject in your pants. If you

are a woman, and you don't like abortion, don't have one.

[Az]

3. Ok, but it's gonna be hard typing that way

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Guys are going to have opinions and as we vote its best if we talk about it. Unfortunately there are some that think the government can legislate what women do with their body. And though the idea of a Constitutional Democracy seems nice and all the rights guaranteed by the Constitution have more than once been challenged and shown to not be carved in stone. So women are going to need men on their side and voting with them to keep their rights intact.

[Raised_In_The_Wild]

4. and so men should vote to protect rights, but, they are not entitled to

any opinion about how pregnancies and childbirth should be handled, because, they will never be pregnant and bear children. Any man who thinks he is in control of whether or not women have abortions is kidding only himself. Men can control their own destinies by being very careful whom they choose to impregnate, and by being a loving partner to that woman as she rears his children. Beyond that, and wandering into the realm of childbearing, you guys have no right to any opinion, and any opinion you have is inherently delusional. No means, legislative or otherwise, will stop women from doing as they please with their own bodies. Women always have and always will bear children when and with whom they see fit. If you forbid abortion, some women will still choose to terminate some pregnancies, even at the cost of their own lives, which is always an alternative that cannot be legislated away. We don't care what laws are made, we are not brood mares.

[Dhalgren]

5. I agree with you.

I wouldn't say it in quite the same way, but you are right on most of your points. I will, however, retain the right to have an opinion about anything I choose. Not wanting to argue, but there is a difference between "opinion" and "authority". No man should have the authority to make decisions for any woman regarding her reproduction rights, but any man may have an opinion about anything.

[Az]

6. Reality check

You cannot prohibit an individual from having an opinion. Opinions come with brains, not genetalia. I and any other male will have opinions. No one should be allowed to enforce their opinion on another. This is true no matter the gender. My opinion is not binding on you just as your opinion is not binding on me. No need to play the gender card on that issue.

But the trouble here is not one of having an opinion. It is the nature of freedom and governance. Our Constitutional Democracy depends on an illusion of absolute rights. In truth those rights are not dependent on reason. They are dependent on the ebb and flow of popular opinion. I wish it were otherwise (being a minority in the belief category) but we enjoy our freedom only because enough share an opinion that we should.

I happen to agree that a woman's body is her own. Just as I believe a man's body is his own as well. But reality says that when people come together forms of social guidance and control become necissary. The art is to maintain freedoms will controlling others from abusing other's freedoms. Thus we create laws and rules to live by. These rules are made by the people in a Democracy. A Constitutional Democracy such as ours keeps the mob from overriding the minority. To an extent. The Constitution can be changed. Thus in the end our freedoms are guarded by opinion.

The right of a woman to control her body need not set men against women. At least not from the prochoice side. It is a question of everyone controls their own body. No one has the right to tell anyone what to do with it. When you cast the issue in a male vs female frame you alienate many that would support you. You diminish your own forces.

Women have no special rights. They have the same right as anyone to control their own body. Frame the issue that way. It will garner you far more support and keep you from factionalizing the forces you do have.

[Dob Bole]

7. For anyone interested in a pro-life DU forum....

I have created this proposal:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3079058

[uppityperson]

8. Need one more category as my options here are insulting.

Just because I am pro-choice does not mean I have no moral considerations involved with my choice. I hope to never have to make the choice, but will fight on for my freedom to do so.

I also strongly disagree with what rabid pro-lifers say, but will support their right to express their opinions.

[Dervill Crow]

9. What uppity person said.

I have to add that the older I get the less I believe I have all the answers.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. Have always felt a gut revulsion against it, wouldn't have done it, but

I recognize that that's partly due to my religious upbringing, and I don't believe in imposing the rules of a specific religion on society at large when there is great disagreement about a subject. That's why I'm against legislating any restrictions on sexual behavior that don't involve coercion or adults exploiting minors.