Sunday, November 21, 2010

Abortion

Another of the big ones, right out of the gate.
Usually people argue about the point of personhood: is abortion murdering a person, or is it ridding one's own body of a few cells.
Really, it doesn't matter if it is a person at the moment of conception or not. Here, I'll make it easier for you.
If a person needs a kidney transplant and will die without it, is someone who is a match required to give them one? Should they be required to by law, or is it their own choice? It is a relatively simple procedure, and the donor will most likely survive with few lingering health issues, but it has its risks.
Pregnancy is like all-organ donor. Sure it's temporary, with its inconveniences and its health risks and its own recovery time.
So the real kicker: if a person in need of that kidney will die without it, does the law require you to give one? No.
So why should it be any different with pregnancy? The baby will die if you don't let it borrow ALL of your organs, so does that mean you have to?
No.
The law does not require you to share your body, your organs, any part of you, even if someone else will die without the use of it. End of story.
Or is it? Some would argue that pregnancy is usually (rape obviously not included) self inflicted-- you should take responsibility, having put yourself into that situation in the first place. While I would like people to take responsibility for their actions, morality should not be legislated. Also, think of the baby past the pregnancy. What good does it do the child to be born into that kind of situation? Unwanted, maybe to parents incapable or unfit to take care of them. What kind of life is that? Again, not something that can be legislated.
The legal issue organ-donation, whether for 9 months or forever. The law cannot require it, and so abortion cannot be illegal, point of personhood notwithstanding.

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