Crosshairs on my forehead

I have a general policy of not writing about anything that would be considered political. There are several reasons, primary among which is my desire to not alienate anyone. There is so much that people are divided on that I want my journal/blog/whatever this is to be somewhere that anyone who knows me can visit and not feel unwelcome.

Having said that, I also want people to know who I am and what I'm about, and what's on my mind if it is something significant.

Well something has been on my mind for a while now. This is a very hot-button issue and I feel very awkward just sticking it out here, but I feel as though I owe it to my own heart to write about how I feel about this issue. The issue is abortion.

This issue is such a huge divider in contemporary culture. I want to be cautious and say that I do not desire to judge or condemn anyone because of their opinion on this issue, I simply want to share my opinion and why I hold it.

Abortion seems to constantly get fought over as a womens' rights issue. I can certainly understand why it would appear to be a womens' rights issue, because only a woman could have an abortion -- because only a woman could become pregnant.

I want to come out and say that I strongly oppose abortion. While I understand the feelings of "being told what to do" that having laws limiting or prohibiting abortion could generate among women with unwanted pregnancy, my sense of sympathy for the defenseless is greater.

I see abortion only as killing of a defenseless person -- a baby no less. This absolutely breaks my heart. I just held my 7 week old daughter and all I wanted to do is care for and protect her. I think of the innumberable children killed in the name of womens' rights and I feel physically ill. This also stirs up incredible anger that at times borders on rage.

The thought of a society so blinded by its lust for convenience that is has legitimized and legalized the wholesale slaughter of its' sons and daughters sends chills through me. I cringe on thinking of what a more rational, compassionate society will someday say of our generation and our legalized practice of killing our unborn if they interfere with our plans for our life.

I have heard all the arguments -- what about rape, incest, a child whose life would amount to only suffering, overpopulation, and the list goes on... and I understand the thoughts behind each of these. I cannot allow any of those thoughts or fears to supercede the sense of injustice of placing the responsibility for those things on the heads of those who can only be a victim of them. A child's life should never be sacrificed for the sake of any of these things.

I understand that I have never had to endure rape, or being pregnant as an unmarried teen. I understand that these things are unfair, terrifying things. But when did we as a society become capable of removing value completely from the life of an innocent human.

This is what we have done. We have not made society safer for women in bad situations, we have decided that the life of a person who cannot speak or defend themself is not worth allowing to exist. "Benefits" of this decision are only consequential and to me can never justify the cost.

All this is why abortion is such a big deal to me -- and many others like me. It is the single most important issue to me in any election. People have told me "Get over abortion, there are bigger issues" -- and I can honestly reply "Not to me, no there isn't"

I read an article about abortions failing in the UK -- babies born alive after failed abortion attempts -- which prompted me to finally write this entry. The author clearly attempts to steer away from making any moral judgements on the practice of abortion, but it again simply broke my heart. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1892696,00.html

The closing lines of the article are a quote from a survivor of an attempted abortion:

“If abortion is about women’s rights, then what were my rights?” she asked.

“If people are going to talk about abortion, then it’s important for them to know that these are babies that can be born alive and survive.”

Thanks for hearing me out. I know that there are people that I love that are pro-choice. I hope that if you stand on the pro-choice side of the fence on this issue that you do not feel as though I reject you or value you less. I also hope that you see my heart regarding this issue.

I have had comments moderated on this blog because of some unprovoked vile comments that have made their way onto the page. Once I publish this post I will not moderate comments until I post again, so leave your thoughts.