I have become involved in a few abortion arguments and have found the ultimate stop button.
After I put down what I am drinking (it has ranged from coffee to adult beverages) I ask one simple question:
Has the person arguing about abortion (pro or con) ever had one? If they are male, I ask if any male lawyer or judge ever had an abortion.
Once I get the normal “No”. I then ask how can they talk rationally about something they have no knowledge of? If they are members of the Bar I ask them are they willing to let people who have never been to law school become lawyers and judges since personal knowledge of the subject doesn’t appear to be a prerequisites for heated and sometime irrational discussions.
One time a woman admitted to having an abortion. At that point I said: “Madam, you are, for good or bad, the only person who understands this issue. Would you be so kind as to give me your position and, if possible, explain why?” She responded with her position but said the reason was entirely too personal. To which I thanked her for her bravery and told the rest of the people to STFU since we had only one “expert” among us.
The conversation went quickly elsewhere, which was the objective of the exercise to begin with.
IMHO this should be how all arguments about abortion should be handled - those with personal knowledge of the reasons behind and the physical and emotional impacts should help the rest of us understand this deeply personal issue. All the other talking heads are nothing more than hot air generators and should be viewed as such.
Someone very close to me has had one. I personally think it should be left up to the woman for whatever reason. But when I hear the dems arguement for the whole " it aint a person" I use the heartbeat theory. I still think dems should be aborted.
"Has the person arguing about abortion (pro or con) ever had one? If they are male, I ask if any male lawyer or judge ever had an abortion.
Once I get the normal “No”. I then ask how can they talk rationally about something they have no knowledge of? If they are members of the Bar I ask them are they willing to let people who have never been to law school become lawyers and judges since personal knowledge of the subject doesn’t appear to be a prerequisites for heated and sometime irrational discussions.
One time a woman admitted to having an abortion. At that point I said: “Madam, you are, for good or bad, the only person who understands this issue. Would you be so kind as to give me your position and, if possible, explain why?” She responded with her position but said the reason was entirely too personal. To which I thanked her for her bravery and told the rest of the people to STFU since we had only one “expert” among us.
The conversation went quickly elsewhere, which was the objective of the exercise to begin with.
IMHO this should be how all arguments about abortion should be handled - those with personal knowledge of the reasons behind and the physical and emotional impacts should help the rest of us understand this deeply personal issue. All the other talking heads are nothing more than hot air generators and should be viewed as such."
RIDICULOUS. DOES THAT MEAN NO ONE CAN DISCUSS OR MAKE LAWS IN REGARDS TO SLAVERY, CHILD ABUSE, RAPE AND CRIME UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN PERSNOALLY AFFECTED???????????????? THE ABORTION ARGUMENT CAN BE LOST OR WON SIMPLY ON THE MEDICAL FACTS ABOUT THE UNBORN CHILD AND THE FACT THAT ITS MURDER. YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE AN ABORTION TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
I know of what you speak.. yes, through carelessness, irresponsabiltiy and youth, I got a woman pregnant. I found out that "we" had a child years after she decided to abort it. I should have been a part in that decision.. I was a part of creating it. What would my choices have been at the time.. I don't know (I have an idea and there would be another freeper in this world) but I wasn't given a choice.
The issue is very simple - what is it that is growing inside the the mother? Until you answer that question you can't bother with any other questions.