OK, I’m coming out of the closet. I’m pro-life.

[iverglas]

89. "rare" is a pandering weasel word

It's not uncommon for people to need heart surgery because of their poor lifestyle choices.

But it isn't something anyone would choose to undergo on a whim.

It's something that (a) should be avoided if possible because of the stress and risks involved, and (b) could be avoided in some cases by altering individuals' circumstances. And so we have a duty to help people avoid it, in their own interests.

Quite the resemblance to abortion.

Does anyone go around saying they want heart surgery to be safe, legal and rare?

No. We want heart disease to be rare, not heart surgery. We want heart surgery to be available to those who need and choose it.

Pregnancy calls for each pregnant woman to make a choice. It's her choice. Made for her reasons. We can offer information, services, products, that would help women to avoid having to make that choice, but no woman can be forced to avail herself of them, and no one can guarantee their effectiveness.

I want abortion to be legal.

I would be happy if unwanted pregnancies were rare -- whether because unintended pregnancies were rare or because women had genuine choices when they happened. Just as I would prefer heart disease to be rare.

But I'll no more say that I think abortion should be rare than I'll say I think heart surgery should be rare. That way lies judgment of other people's choices, and they're none of my business.


There are two options: anti-choice and pro-choice.

You can dislike the idea and practice of abortion for whatever reasons you might have, and still be pro-choice.

And you can not give a damn about fetuses and still be anti-choice; in fact, that accounts for most of the anti-choice brigade, I'd say.


If abortion is legal, and of course if there are no end runs being done around that (mandatory misinformation, obstruction of access, hyper-regulation), then it will be safe.

And that is the only thing that is any of anyone's business, and all any of us needs to concern ourselves with, and say.