Why do people have abortions?
Well, let’s ask. But first, let’s ask why people perform abortions. (Actually, the Los Angeles Times asked for us.)
[Dr. William F.] Harrison opened an obstetrics and gynecology practice, but after the Supreme Court established abortion as a constitutional right in 1973, he decided to take on an additional specialty. Now 70, Harrison estimates he’s terminated at least 20,000 pregnancies.
He calls himself an “abortionist” and says, “I am destroying life.”
…
In the years since, Harrison has become more outspoken.But he also feels he’s giving life: He calls his patients “born again.”
“When you end what the woman considers a disastrous pregnancy, she has literally been given her life back,” he says.
Note the religious imagery here — “born again.” Now I’ve heard some right-wing commentators describe abortion as a “sacrament” of the left-wingers, but hearing it in such terms from an abortionist is a new one to me. Maybe it really is a sacrament of leftism.
But I digress. Let’s see from one of Dr. Harrison’s patients what it means to “literally” be given her life back:
His first patient of the day, Sarah, 23, says it never occurred to her to use birth control, though she has been sexually active for six years. When she became pregnant this fall, Sarah, who works in real estate, was in the midst of planning her wedding. “I don’t think my dress would have fit with a baby in there,” she says.
Well now, at least we know what the stakes are now.
ADDENDUM (12/5/05):
I should have pointed out that the article is a “puff piece” — it seems obviously intended to portray Dr. Harrison and his career, if not his patients as well, in a positive light. If you read the entire story, the context of the paragraph above makes it clear that “Sarah” is meant to be portrayed in a sympathetic light, without any irony. It is as if to say anyone who would oppose Sarah’s right to an abortion is just a killjoy out to ruin her dream wedding.
April 2nd, 2006 at 11:46 am
I personaly am aginst abortion but for a class debate I had to research reason people have
abortions and why it should be legal. It made me relize that why its still areally horrible
thing to do people usaly have a good reason for doing it. Its not that their unresponsible
like I used to think there jusally scared or it sometimes in the best intrest of the child.
December 7th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
i think this is sick
December 9th, 2007 at 7:31 am
i fyl sick,i mean when a baby is born just luk what great fings u av done, u av given life
December 10th, 2007 at 10:11 am
I think Abortion is BAD!
December 14th, 2007 at 11:04 am
i am a junior in high school and doing a research on abortions and with every
thing i have seen and read it is just plain really sad what is going in this
days. . . i hope some one opens their eyes before its to late!
January 7th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
My opinion is that I disagree with abortion. Even though it is against my religion and God, myself thinks it is wrong. It’s a sin. A child should be able to have a chance in life and see what life is. God created babies so they can have a life; he has plans for that child. Abortion is not an option, adopt is an option. Many people wait years and are on the waiting list to get a chance to adopt a child to love and care for. People should experience life. Getting pregnant at a young age is irresponsible, but unless you are ready and are at the right age and you get pregnant and you are ready and planned it, it is ok. Because you were ready; children are precocious and should get a chance in life. Everyone should have a chance in life and feel how life is.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I think that having a abortion should not be legal. Abortion is a way of killing a human life.
I know the human isn’t born yet but still. Lets play roles here if you were in your mothers stomach righ tnow and she didnt want you would you want her to give you up. I dont think so. So in conlusion abortion should
not be legal.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
ABORTION IS WRONG!!!!! I dont understand why anyone would want to kill a baby its just way to sad and if they decide for abortion i think they should get in trouble because its like killing a human!!!!! ITS JUST ISNT RIGHT TO KILL A BABY!!!!!!
March 10th, 2008 at 11:10 am
i think it is so rong
April 9th, 2008 at 6:30 am
I work on a ward that have 4 people in a day having abortions. I am against abortion when people have one night stand or dont want to stand up to the responabilites. But wen a mum comes in with an probelm with the baby that could lead to both of them dying, then am not against it at all. I seems unfair to judge ppl b4 u know the really reason. Women have come into are ward because they have been raped and couldnt face up being a racism baby, Could you??? I really think ppl should look at the wider picture before judging people. I know the pictures are bad that you see and its not nice to see it in real life either and theres plenty of women out there that cannot have children and would love to have them. But PLEASE b4 all jumping, look futher into it.
May 24th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
i am a freshman in high school,
and i am doing a research paper on abortions.
with all the pictures and stories i have read,
i am sick to my stomach. it hurts me to see
people can accually commite doing this horrible thing.
i think people who do it need to recognise what they are doing
and ask themselves, what am I doing.
if you want to have sex, you need to take the reponsibilities
that come on the side, example having a baby.
and if you can’t handle that responsibility, then just flat out
DONT HAVE SEX!, it is as easy as that.
August 23rd, 2008 at 7:28 am
If abortion is so wrong, then what about rape victims which result in pregnancy? you can’t really argue that that is taking responsibility for having sex