The ABORTION Clinic

[*Leo the Lioness*]

a male perspective, how refreshing *G

[Sniffer]

a little clarification on my part... yes i do think the choice should be there. but up to a certain point only. as for technology advancing to the point where a womb might become unnecessary... that is a difinite possibility. what i was speaking of though, is a pregnancy that has already progressed to a point where a child can potentially be born alive and then helped to survive with modern technology. not a child who will develop almost from conception without being inside the mother. i firmly believe that one a pregnancy has been allowed to progress to that point the fetus should be awarded the same rights as a baby already born. this, however is strictly MY opinion. i can also see where everyone is coming from when they talk about the woman's right to choose what happens to her own body. my only question is this... why shouldn't that choice be made BEFORE there is potential for that child to have a life? also when i placed the word "need" in quotes i did so because as everyone agrees, abortion is a choice. not a necessity in most cases. the cases where abortion becomes a necessity are rare. my cousin discovered she was pregnant right after she discovered she had cancer. had she continued with the pregnancy, the cancer treatment could not have been administered and she would not have survived to the end of the pregnancy. therefore both she and the baby would have died. in that case it could be considered a necessity. also, there are times when a pregnancy can so interfere with a mother's mental state that it may at those times also be a necessity. what if she was raped and the thought of that man's child inside her was tearing her apart mentally? i don't pretend to know what it feels like to be in those situtations. and i don't deny that at times abortion can be a necessity. but most times it is a choice. my husband was born to a 12 year old rape victim. he was given up for adoption. as heidi said, there are many many loving couples who would take these children and give them good homes. i just wish that more pregnant women would consider that option. it does not mean that i condemn anyone who chooses abortion. nor does my opinion mean that i condemn anyone who chooses late term abortion. it simply means that it hurts my heart to think of the babies that could have been.

HEIDI!! mind if i join you on the fence??

[This message has been edited by Sniffer (edited November 03, 2000).]

[*Leo the Lioness*]

i'm just blown away by this topic.......it's not something i sit around with my r/l friends and discuss......it's always been more or less a private issue for me.......i am really enjoying seeing what everyone else thinks and feels about it and it's sure been making me think about it more.....this is by far the most interesting topic to hit this board and i hope there will be more....

[R@@@nt In E~Minor]

I question why this topic is still taboo.....as a male I can sit in a bar and debate this over a beer with my MALE friends....is this still rare?????

[*Leo the Lioness*]

i dont see it so much as taboo as i do it being just one of those highly touchy, deep topics that isnt too pleasant...........it sort of took me by surprise when i saw this posted, because so far, if this board hasnt been used as warfare *G, it's primarily been just a source of entertainment and silliness........for once there was something poignant being said by all

we just dont get the luxury of hearing from a man's point of view because since the nature of the topic is about a woman's BODY, it has been viewed as strictly a woman's issue.........and i think i speak for the rest of us when i say hearing from you was a pleasant change......

[heidi!]

Blanca it takes courage to be the kind of friend you were...Im not sure how supportive I could be in that situation...also bringing this to the board gave us somewhat of a common ground and a reality check.
I dont ever talk about my work in chat..or what I have seen...there isnt a place for it there...but here you let us get points across otherwise none of us would of known we had...does that make sense?..*L*
and of course mel's board..*G*..which has been a venting ground and an informative forum..how cool is that mel?..*G*

anyway..I have to agree with leo on something..*picks everyone up*...*L*...I was a foster parent for physically and mentally challenged children for 4 years...I have volunteered with special olympics a couple of years...they are without a doubt in my mind ..angels put on earth...I have never seen such determination and innocence as I have seen in those children.

*slides over and makes room on the fence*

[*Leo the Lioness*]

*fighting REALLY REALLY hard not to smile*

but failing!!!! *LMAO*

[past7]

'Pro-Life', 'Pro-Choice'..I see both perspectives on this thread, some more loosely veiled than others. I respect all views. To me, Pro-choice IS Pro-"life". No one can debate the acute pain that a woman who goes through the abortion process must bear, in first making the decision and then following through. Potential for life? Yes, absolutely. However...choice IS a necessity.

What an absorbing and thought-provoking thread, thanks to all of your personal stories and initially Blanca's heart- wrenching post. Hmmmm.. *wonders if the males can pull off such a dazzling feat*
*buys a round of Bailey's

[*Leo the Lioness*]

well i'll be the first to admit that for once i see the rest of you as the humans you are and not faceless foes bickering to no end over bullshit..........granted, i brought the majority of it here, but i have to be totally honest that im really relieved that we also have the capability to put the pettiness aside and converse as real women.........you might not become my best friends after this, but you have definitely earned my respect with your selfless sharing......and yes, Blanca's post was most heartfelt........*hugs her*

and if you're offering me some Baileys, i'll throw in the whiskey *G

[snail]

no matter how you feel about the subject, if bush wins say goodbye to even having the choice.....vote gore!