Abortion Essay, Research Paper

There is no easy answer to the complex question of whether or not abortion is right or wrong. It is more of an opinion based on ones morals. There are many factors one must look upon in deciding if having an abortion is the choice for them. Such factors being: one s religious standpoint, another factor being the laws that one s country has set restricting or allowing abortion; one may look to the amendments for their jurisdiction. Even past court cases may bring opinions upon people. From whichever standpoint, there is always a controversy . . . and always will be.

Religion:

Many people are against abortion due to their religious beliefs. But does the Bible say anything specifically on abortion? The Bible never actually mentions the word abortion . As a result some have concluded that it does not prohibit the practice while others feel it should never be an option. First, it is important to understand that the Bible is uniformly committed to the sanctity of human life. Man is created in the image of God, so to take an innocent life is equivalent to killing God himself. That is the basis for the commandment Thou shalt not kill. Next we must examine the Bible s teaching on when human life begins. There are numerous verses that can be looked at to help further determine this. Consider Genesis 2:7 -

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

First, God forms Adam; he forms of dust, a flesh and bloody body. Second, He breathes into his nostrils the breath of life and Then man became a living soul. Man did not become a living soul when God created his body. It wasn t until God gave man his first breath did he become a living soul.

Many anti-abortionists feel that the commandment, Thou shalt not kill, covers the abortion issue. But in the Mosaic Law, God covers the exceptions to this law. Looking at Exodus 21:22

When we strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that there is a miscarriage, and yet no harm follows, the one who hurt the woman shall be fined.

In this instance, a woman has been so injured that she has aborted her child. The law states that if no harm follows the outsider must pay the husband a fine. An abortion has been induced through violence and this is not considered harmful. Therefore, it is not a violation of the commandment thou shalt not kill .

In conclusion of a religion standpoint, the Bible does not specifically address abortion. It does not say whether or not abortion is okay. The Bible just gives a better understanding of when life begins.

Government:

Government- in or out? Government is what many people look upon in order to solve their arguments on abortion, where others prefer that the government have no say. There have been courts held to debate on whether the woman s choice is superior to the life of the unborn fetus. But is it really for the government to decide? The government neither forbids nor encourages abortion; but is neutral. Though with abortion being legal, the government is forcing taxpayers to support abortion. The law enforcement sector is funded by taxation, therefore, the taxpayer is forced to protect the practice.

The function of the law is to protect rights not moral issues, which is exactly what abortion is. The government cannot take away the freedom of privacy to those who are pro-choice. A woman s right to decide whether or not to terminate her pregnancy is a fundamental right, part of a right to privacy. Abortion cannot be considered murder because it has not been proven and cannot be proven that a fetus is human, and therefore has not yet obtained the rights of a human. Though, some argue that a fetus is human, or at least potentially human and therefore should have the rights of a human. Government may not interfere with a woman s decision to terminate a pregnancy, except to insist that a licensed physician perform it. In the second trimester, government has the power to regulate abortion only in ways designed to preserve and protect the woman s health. At the beginning of the final trimester of a fetus gestation, protection of fetal life becomes a compelling reason sufficient under Roe to justify interference with the exercise of the right to choose abortion. At that point, the government can regulate or prohibit abortion in order to protect fetal life unless the abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the woman. Many regard abortion as a form of legalized murder while an equally significant number regard it as a social right . This is what causes the controversy. It cannot be considered legalized murder because it is not proven that life begins at conception. On the other hand, it cannot be considered a social right because of the exact opposite-it is not proven that life does not begin at conception. Therefore, the best thing government can do is stand neutral and set basic standards. Standards such as it must be performed by a licensed physician and/or perhaps what procedures should be followed.

Roe vs. Wade:

On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court made its decision for the case of Roe vs. Wade. They announced that the United States constitution protects a woman s right to decide whether or not to end a pregnancy. Seven justices voted in favor of this case of the right to an abortion under limited circumstances, and two were not in favor of the case. The immediate effect was to make the current abortion laws invalid in every state but New York. The Roe vs. Wade case was first argued in 1971 and then again in 1972, both failed. The case was a suit brought to determine both Jane Roe s rights, and more importantly, the rights of all women in the same or similar situation. Some people think that a woman s right to decide whether or not to end her pregnancy is a fundamental right, part of a right to privacy.

The abortion decision of Roe vs. Wade gets very little attention at school. Some say if Roe vs. Wade is discussed at all in the classrooms, it is discussed briefly, and it is usually taught in terms of its legislative impact. Others say that rarely is there any discussion of the moral issue, which is, for many, at the heart of the abortion controversy. Even professors are saying that students reach college with a limited understanding of Roe vs. Wade; they understand that the pro-life and pro-choice people use Roe vs. Wade as their guiding star. Local educators say that it is because of two factors: One, the imposing amount of information that must be taught in U.S. government classes, the class where Roe vs. wade seems to get the most attention. Second the reluctance of textbook authors to explore such a divisive subject. On the topic of textbooks, one of the most popular textbooks, made 12 years after the case, makes no mention of Roe vs. Wade or abortion. A later version of the textbook devotes 12 paragraphs to Roe vs. Wade. Textbooks do a poor job of covering abortion. They don t cover it at all because it s too politically sensitive. Nobody really sees any treatment of it as amoral issue or ethical issue, which is a sad thing. Schools need to pay more attention to the case so students at least have that knowledge.

According to some, abortion is an absolute right. The Court decided that the state may regulate abortion throughout pregnancy to protect the woman s health and generally prohibit abortion when the fetus becomes viable. Rights are not absolute and must be balanced against the interests of the state. In the case, the courts concluded that potential life outweighs the woman s right to control her own body. Some say abortion is a right, and all rights are absolute and cannot be balanced away. A pregnant woman has the right to determine her own destiny and the destiny of her body, to choose what constitutes her own best interest and private happiness and to work for it s achievement, so long as she respects the same rights in others.

It cannot be proper to negotiate moral principles. It cannot be proper to allow a man only a portion of the freedom he requires by his nature. What about the fetus? Does it have rights that must be respected? Those questions are brought up every day. Some think fetuses and embryos are not actual human beings. Others fight that they should have rights too. The function of the law is to protect rights, not to dictate moral issues, which involve no violation of rights. No government, no state, no collective has any interest apart from the individuals of which it is composed. Our constitution was designed, not as a charter for government power, but as a protection against government power. If Roe vs. Wade is reconsidered, the Supreme Court should affirm abortion as a right that cannot be invaded or compromised.

Amendments:

In 1973, many people question that, to what extent, if any, can a state limit a woman s right to an abortion?

The fourteenth amendment states that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and have the rights of a citizen and receives equal protection of laws. Many say that since it is an unborn child it does not have the same rights. Though many others disagree and see it as an unfair act. But citizenship is said to be gained by birth. Each state in the U.S. has its own opinion of the matter. But, not everyone agrees with each state being able to have laws against abortion.

In the state of Texas there is a law that prohibits all abortions except those performed to save the life of the mother. The Supreme Court held that law unconstitutional. Many people have different opinions about abortion, but the opinion varies on the situation. Many women have abortions if they are raped. It all varies on the circumstances. Abortion today, is still a highly controversial issue, but it is said that the mother is given the right to an abortion, to a certain extent. Women should be given the right to decide what is best for them because every person has a different viewpoint. The question of abortion will still be around until everyone agrees and that doesn t seem to be any time soon.