Abortion

I said that I don't think it can be justified; I didn't say that I would judge someone for having one. Obviously rape is a traumatic experience and I can understand why somebody would want to abort the child under those circumstances, but I still remain adamant that it's wrong nonetheless. Are you suggesting that a child conceived through rape is somehow inferior to those conceived in a relationship? Is it less worthy of life? No, it's not. I don't see why an innocent child should have to pay the ultimate price for the sick actions of his or her father.

I know that I haven't experienced such a situation myself, but I'd like to think that I'd have the courage to go through with the pregnancy, no matter what the circumstances were.

No I don't.

People in comas already exist as people. A fetus does not exist as a person.

Unless you have been through rape you really wouldn't understand. And I say that in the kindest way possible.

So, thread starter, are you male and catholic?

I asked you and you said no, don't go changing your story now.

So, thread starter, are you male and catholic?

I said that I don't think it can be justified; I didn't say that I would judge someone for having one. Obviously rape is a traumatic experience and I can understand why somebody would want to abort the child under those circumstances, but I still remain adamant that it's wrong nonetheless. Are you suggesting that a child conceived through rape is somehow inferior to those conceived in a relationship? Is it less worthy of life? No, it's not. I don't see why an innocent child should have to pay the ultimate price for the sick actions of his or her father.

I know that I haven't experienced such a situation myself, but I'd like to think that I'd have the courage to go through with the pregnancy, no matter what the circumstances were.

Fathers don't have a say in abortion matters if their partners don't want that to, that is not a change in my story.

What characteristics do people in comas exhibit that people in wombs don't?

Don't patronise me. These are my views and they're very unlikely to change.

You miss the point entirely.

They don't have to exhibit a difference, because they already have done. If they were to remain in that state, they would be withdrawn from life support. A fetus is not, and has never been a person, and therefore we owe it no obligation whatsoever.

No, sperm has the capacity to become human, the unborn is a human.

Can you prove they are not people?

I didn't say anything about that. You said you weren't ever in a situation where you had to decided, then you said Who is to say that I have not been in a position where I have had to make a decision about an unwanted pregnancy. That is a change in your story, stop twisting everyones words to suit you.

By saying it's never justified, you are in effect judging (in my opinion, anyway).

The child is not inferior, no. But it wouldn't have a good life.

And I really don't think you can make up your mind until you're in that situation. Great for you if you could put all the rape stuff out of your mind and have the child and not think of how it was conceived. You would be a very strong person. But many women can't do that.

I wasn't I was stating my opinion. It is true for many people, I know people with very strong views only to change them later when in said situation.

How can I decide if the choice isn't up to me?

Do you know what sperm are? They are packets of DNA. Half the necessary amount, to be exact. A sperm cell can never become human. It is physically and biologically impossible, because it doesn't have enough genes (and lots of other stuff, probably).

Proving a negative? Interesting one. Still, define "people" to begin with.

No, it's very wrong. Plant an acorn in the correct place (soil), and it grows into a tree. Put a foetus into the correct place (a womb), and it develops into a human. The acorn is completely self contained. It has everything it needs, genetically speaking. A sperm cell can never develop into a foetus unless it fertilises an egg and gains the necessary amount of genes. This is simple stuff. Though you show flawed reasoning, I see why you are doing it because then it makes the difference between a foetus and a human simply one of size.

Exactly, hence my use of the phrase, "I'd LIKE to think." Who knows, if I was in that situation I may end up having an abortion and taking the coward's way out. But I hope I wouldn't.