Motherly Love

A while ago mattghg blogged an article for the Times by Caitlin Moran, on why abortion is the ultimate motherly act. The basis of her argument is simply that "...ending a pregnancy 12 weeks into gestation is incalculably more moral than bringing an unwanted child into this world." and interestingly she draws on religion to reinforce her argument: "The Hindu goddess Kali is both Mother of the Whole Universe, and Devourer of All Things. She is life and death. If women are, by biology, commanded to host, shelter, nurture and protect life, why should they not be empowered to end life, too?" It's interesting she chose that, since she admits in the article: "For one thing, I believe something very elemental and, in the most academic sense, nonChristian." So, I'm unclear, has she converted to Hinduism, or is she a rational believer in consumerism and choice (I'm avoiding using terms such as evolution, nature and atheism because I believe they have nothing to do with it)? She goes on to describe her own abortion as a decision no more difficult than deciding "...what work-tops to have in the kitchen". Let's leave out the obvious sanctity of life argument here, I find it disgustingly selfish when there are good, decent infertile couples out there desperate for a child, which by her words she treats with contempt. But I find it interesting that she stakes her claim on the moral high ground due to not wanting to be "responsible for a further human being". If she truly, truly believes that then surely by that logic she believes a family that doesn't want to take care of old parents should simply have them put to death, similarly for families that are tired of taking care of a disabled child. Let's even follow this through to it's logical conclusion. Moran argues that mothers have the ultimate right to choose whether a human life exists or not. What if other mothers assumed this responsibility? What if one of her children was a bully, and other mothers in the school decided her child was unwanted. Would they then have a right to put the child to death? I imagine Moran would be outraged. Let's take it further... Does the mothers right supersede the governments right to judge? If the child becomes a murderer and the laws of the land dictate capital punishment, does a mother have the right to intervene and demand her child lives? I know many mothers would like to. If you say "no", then why does a mother have the right to put their human-to-be to death in the first instance? If you are coming from a position that the mother does have these rights, then you would say "yes", and it could be argued that you are not fit for parenthood. Yes, but... you say, the resulting human has a responsibility also to society. However, that entails that mothers-to-be, being human, also have a responsibility to society and not just to themselves. Does this not mean that it's not their right to choose over abortion? If we all have a responsibility to society, what choice is it of ours to end a life (even if you believe that life is yet to be)? I guess the one argument is the government deems abortion to be legal. My counter-argument is the government has simply passed on its responsibility to protect us, and effectively put the executioners axe in the hands of women. I thank God my mum didn't choose to abort me, however I'm sure that many times growing up I would have given her much justification for it. Why do we find it easier to deprive life than to give it? Why are there certain conditions in which we have a right to murder (and call it euthanasia, abortion, mercy killing etc...) but we rarely find justification that someone can live? Should there not be a right for someone to live first. Perhaps weigh their contribution to society and then decide if they die? Uh, wait... that upsets us? Why? Of course there is a responsibility on the church as well, which I haven't mentioned. If the church wants to protest against abortion, it must do more to show potential executioners pregnant women that there are alternatives, such as putting the child up for adoption. The church must also provide people ready to take unwanted children. It's no use judging something to be wrong, and yet not doing anything about it. Both myself and my wife would be willing and prepared to adopt a child to spare it abortion. Adoption is something we have both discussed and want to do if and when the timing is right. Deciding to have an abortion can be a difficult period of a woman's life. Before you make any final decisions about the medical procedure you should look into some medical info first to learn of any possible risks. Health information websites can provide you with a wealth of knowledge on topics ranging from HIV and AIDS to sports nutrition.