Issue From Many Perspectives

Abortion 

The pregnant woman: Many people view this situation through the lens that since it is the woman’s body, it’s the woman’s choice what she does with the child growing inside her body. Others feel that this is a faulty premise to begin with, because theoretically, it could justify rape. It is a rapist’s body, so does he have the right to do whatever he wants with his body? Most, if not all people (other than rapists, presumably) would say no. In each case, rape and abortion, there is a victim (the man or woman being raped in the first instance, and the unborn child in the second instance). So if someone said that the two are very different issues, it might be pointed out to them that they are not as different as one might first suppose. Of course, there is also a difference between a woman who is emotionally confused at a very traumatic time in her life (perhaps she was raped or is a victim of incest), and it is understandable if she wants to have an abortion under these circumstances, and someone who brags and jokes about having an abortion, and is actually proud of it. An increasing number of women are choosing this latter path, unfortunately, as though they are proving a point (an extremist point). Some argue that abortion is murder, but like with murder, there can be extenuating circumstances which make it morally permissible, like the situations of rape and incest described above. If a pregnant woman is acting in self-defence, then just like with traditional murder, she has the right to not sacrifice her own life for another life. If she will die if she brings the baby to term, then she has every right to protect herself. 238 The father of the unborn child: Since men are usually found financially responsible in courts of law for any baby who has been born to them, it seems like he should have the right to protest an abortion if he becomes aware that is what the pregnant woman is planning. Increasingly, there seems to be a new societal idea, where women’s preferences are paramount, but men’s preferences are downplayed in importance. That is largely due to feminism and feminists’ marginalizing of men overall. However, women who have been through rape know that perhaps the scariest part of being raped is never knowing where the assault will end. This is especially frightening if a weapon is involved. Will she end up dead? Will she be maimed for life? Not only that, but there is the emotional trauma to be considered of feeling so out of control. For the six months after she discovers she’s been pregnant for a few months (roughly), the growing presence inside her is a reminder of the horrendous ordeal she went through. It’s obviously a very complicated issue, and so all perspectives need to be considered. Each situation is different, and no one should be judged for having an abortion. It’s an incredibly sensitive situation for anyone. I will add here that men also have to deal with the emotional fallout of the abortion, should that eventuality occur. And, of course, any man who especially violently rapes, deserves to have the full consequences of the law visited upon him. The baby himself or herself: Do we not all have the right to be born? I think that if most of us had the choice, we would not wish to be born if it meant sacrificing our mother’s life or if it was going to result in her experiencing substantial trauma. However, we would probably not think it reasonable for our mother to have irresponsible sex and for her then to decide that a pregnancy carried to full term was not convenient for her or her lifestyle.

Situation with Non-Amphiist:

Matt was bored, so he checked his Facebook. He wanted to talk with one of his friends about some comments he’d made on FB just 247 so his friend wouldn’t be offended, since Matt had probably been a bit short-tempered at the time as a result of his friend not showing up to help him move from his apartment back to his mother’s house. Matt’s mother was in her mid-70s and had a bad hip as a result of her falling on the ice when she had gone out to feed the dog many years before. Anyway, since Matt’s friend indeed had not shown up to help, Matt’s mother had had to go up and down 4 flights of many steps, carrying sometimes heavy items, although Matt had tried to help relieve her as much as possible. Matt had been talking publicly with a friend about how his friend Eugene had let him down. According to Matt, moving is a high-stake activity. If someone has agreed to help someone move, and they know the person is counting upon them to do just that, then it’s highly immoral to not follow through on it. Although Eugene had no way of knowing the situation about Matt’s mother (the only other person helping was Matt’s brother-in-law), Eugene should have known that Matt was definitely counting on him. But Eugene had had a late night before, and decided to sleep in. Matt had felt no guilt about publicly discussing this. Maybe he’d shame Eugene, after all, into realizing the seriousness of his ‘crime’. Hearing nothing from Eugene, which surprised him, Matt checked to see if Eugene had been on FB after Matt and his other friend had had their conversation about Eugene. He had, and so Matt privately messaged Eugene and told him exactly how he felt. He wasn’t overly rude; he just made his feelings clear. The worst thing about the whole situation, Matt felt, was that even though Eugene was being confronted about what had happened, and Matt even mentioned his mother, Eugene admitted to absolutely no wrongdoing, and started insulting Matt as being corrupt instead. Matt was in the middle of replying to Eugene, when Eugene suddenly blocked Matt, even though they’d been friends for years. Matt figured it was because Eugene felt guilty and didn’t like that feeling, but it was hard to know for sure. Needless to say, Eugene was not a natural aristocrat. Matt’s main reaction was that when we block 248 someone, we cut off the possibility of all communication. How can problems ever be resolved with this approach? The answer is they can never be. Matt hoped that Eugene would see reason, acknowledge his guilt, and both of them could move on. Regardless of who’s wrong in a given situation, that person will be far less likely to improve in understanding if they run away like a coward from disagreement. Additionally, be aware of non-amphiists who pretend to agree with you but secretly are just afraid of confrontation. I know someone whom I notice has sometimes been mocked for constantly agreeing with others and offering no specific insight as to why he agrees. Someone who agrees with you just for the sake of agreeing is exceedingly dangerous. You never know where you are with them. It’s a very real illustration of being lied to, which is due to their own cowardice. If they pull this with you, then they don’t respect you. The more compliments they give you, the more dangerous they are, unless their actions are sincere and back up their words. They also have absolutely no respect for themselves. Pity them, because they are on the road to destruction.