Abortion, choice and morality (article)

[purpleeee]

Toronto Star: http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/201 ... ht_me.html

The writer describes her three abortions – the first scared, illegal and in the context of sexual abuse. The second because she could, in the suddenly freer atmosphere of the 70s. The third was a natural miscarriage, but she says “Did this take the decision out of my hands? No. I had already made the decision.â€

And that’s her main point, that free choice is unbelievably important:

Taking it out of the realm of choice, making it a criminal offence, destroys moral agency. What you choose to do with a choice like that makes you what you are...

...I became responsible for myself and for the choices I make. I was more thoughtful, and much less judgmental of the choices others make. I learned so much more from this abortion, than I could ever have learned from the first one. And that all came from choice.

I agree with her that there is far more understanding and learning available in a choice made freely than in an act done in a context of no choice. Having faith in someone’s ability to go through this process is where fundy thought breaks down – beyond the whole issue in thinking they know how the process should end, it seems there is absolutely no trust in others. Or perhaps, in themselves.

[daisyfern]

Thank you for sharing the article. I appreciate the author's candor. You can tell that each of the three experiences helped her grow as a person and confirmed her need for choice.