Topic: Abortion
Come Together... Right Now... Over Abortion? the one aspect of abortion that neither side is talking about is the vast number of otherwise talented, bright and possibly brilliant American men and women that are being thrown in the dumpster in favor of their irresponsible parentsby A.H. Dowden
(Libertarian)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
That's right... abortion. I absolutely love to dismantle the mindless liberal drones and bushbots that haunt my favorite message boards. As a Christian man, and a traditionalist, I am decidedly pro-life. What I have come up against with one nemesis in particular on occasion when debating abortion on demand is the notion that the vast majority of pro-lifers are completely disinterested in "the living". As much as it pains me to admit it, my nemesis has a valid and poignant take on it all. Due to the fact that he actually had an original thought, it probably won't surprise you to know that he, in fact, isn't a liberal, but a right-leaning moderate atheist with a tendency toward instigation rather than sharing ideas. The idea that most pro-life supporters also support the death penalty and cutting welfare benefits strikes me as a little odd. I'm not in favor of the welfare state, but some people do need help. I see it as an investment in our nations greatest resource. The people. The problem is of course the involvement of the federal government. For every one person or couple that needs and deserves help, there are countless others working the system. The death penalty is a different animal so I'll just leave that alone for now. From my perspective, the one aspect of abortion that neither side is talking about is the vast number of otherwise talented, bright and possibly brilliant American men and women that are being thrown in the dumpster in favor of their irresponsible parents.
Why do both sides of this issue continue to ignore the causal relationship of poor life decisions and abortion? It's pretty obvious is it not? People make bad decisions and end up not being (in their minds) financially able or responsible enough to care for a child. Whether they dropped out of school or they're ridiculously selfish or just scared to death because their parent(s) was a moron who never learned how to be a parent either. If you can't ban abortion, which the pro-life movement has yet to do, why ignore other avenues of prevention? I know about Crisis Pregnancy Centers and adoption advocates and these efforts produce lot of good outcomes. But sadly, they don't even make a dent in the problem. They are reactionary in nature. Someone in trouble gets pregnant and then we act. What we need is prevention. We need a national volunteer mentoring program in this country. If just one of every thousand well-to-do people were willing to take a little time to mentor a fatherless or otherwise troubled young man or women on the choices they will and do face, and how those choices will affect their lives, I believe we could forever change the trap of poverty in this nation and subsequently cut the number of abortions. You might say, "what about Big Brothers and Big Sisters?" To that I say, how does taking a kid to shoot hoops or watch baseball change his outcome? If he doesn't want to hear what you're saying he won't. At the risk of sounding callous, why not take him to the bank and teach him how to open an account? Why not show him how you balance your checkbook? Why not teach him about interest and loan? If you happen to be a business owner, why not take him to a meeting? Why not teach him how to type a resume? Why not teach him how to dress and speak properly when being interviewed for a job? Why not help him fill out his FASFA paperwork or prep for the SAT? Why not help him get a better job? Why not schedule some time for him to tour the places he might be interested in working? It can't be abstinence and preaching all the time. It can't be all billboards and picket lines. The pro-life movement needs centralized leadership to address real-time, viable and fresh approaches to abortion prevention. I think most liberals would be on board with this idea. However, they would be drooling over it if the federal government would mandate that those making $85,000 and up mentor one youngster a year because they're all obsessed with "income disparity."
I think we can come together when it comes to an idea like this one. It doesn't require government bureaucracies throwing our money at the problem. It requires people willing to help other people. People with life experiences, knowledge and sound advice, willing to take a time-out from the rat race and do something to make a difference in this crazy selfish world we live in. It's pretty obvious to me that if something substantial is to be done we're going to have to do it ourselves without government interference.
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2008 A.H. Dowden, all rights reserved.
Published: Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Last modified: Tuesday, January 22, 2008
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Since you are a man and not a woman, I don't see how you can want to outlaw abortion.
You must get that comment alot.
So would you be willing to open up more orfanages so that these unwanted children could all end up there? Is it not amazing that before Roe vs. Wade we had a huge need for orfanages. Why are so many Christians who are against abortion reproducing instead of adopting? And why do we need to restrict abortion.
There are mentoring programs they are called churches. Other than that, isn't it partially the fault of evangelical christians for promoting abstinance classes by the feds that don't teach kids about condoms? Also, isn't this a little silly that when they do teach about condoms that it is only the negative 1 in a million aspect of the damn thing failing?
Are you against all abortion, I didn't see that in your article. Please elaborate.
With Fred Thomson out, the National Right to Life Committee’s endorsement may be up for grabs, please call or email to request they endorse RP. The pro-life movement is powerful, large, well-organized and very committed to the right candidate. RP has a better pro-life record than Thomson anyway, according to the NRLC website. It’s high time to capitalize on Dr. Paul’s tremendous strength in this area. I believe this voting bloc is still looking for their candidate.
Email them at NRLC@nrlc.org or call (202) 626-8800.
Posted By: No Name Supplied
Date: 2008-01-23 09:13:08
The article is just that... an article. It is not some kind of personal manifesto nor is it an all encompassing attestation on abortion. It is not my intention to discuss in depth every article I publish here with every dissenter or advocate.
And yes, I am a man. And no, I do not get that inane question "alot."
I don't think these people are being "irresponsible" at all. Believe it or not, a great deal of thought goes into this and most end up emotionally exhausted. In fact, I think the most irresponsible thing for anyone to do is to have a child, because there are so many children who are here and alive and alone and need someone now.
Brilliant American men and women aren't being thrown into dumpsters. What's being thrown into the dumpsters are clumps of cells. A clump of cells is NOT a human being.
You might argue that these clumps of cells have the *potential* to become brilliant American men and women, but by the same mentality, every time a man masturbates or a woman goes through her menstrual cycle, they're committing genocide. Every second that you're not having sex to produce life is destroying the potential for life.
The entire "abortion is bad because it destroys the potential for human life" argument is absolutely ridiculous.
My mom had an abortion before she had me years afterward when she was in a stable relationship. This doesn't make her a bad, immoral person. She was just a scared teenager who made a mistake and didn't deserve to spend the rest of her life and the child's life paying for it, and dealt with the situation in the best way she thought possible.
Abortion isn't the best thing in the world, that's for sure, but it certainly isn't evil and it certainly isn't cold-blooded murder.
Please allow us to have control over our own bodies, our own decisions, whether you regard them as mistakes or not.
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2008 A.H. Dowden, all rights reserved.