Guide to Informed Choices
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writes that the word ‗choice‘ ―evoked commitments to civil liberties and women‘s autonomous decision making
and de-emphasized abortion itself.‖
419 Interesting. But why would anyone want to de-emphasize something that represented a woman‘s choice? I suspect that if pro-choicers actually focused on what they advocate so hard for it would be much less appealing, if at all. You see, abortion is not a very nice thing. In fact, it's very yucky. That‘s why even Bill Clinton promoted abortion as ―safe, legal and rare.‖ Yes, rare. Everyone agrees that abortion is not really a glorious event. Some people just think
it should
be available for W
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‗emergencies‘ and others believe it is wrong from the word ‗go.‘ And of course, there are a few that believe in abortion as a form of regular birth control. So here we are, talking about abortion as a choice, but what kind of choice is it if even the pro-choicers focus on the right to make a personal decision rather than what the decision is that is being made? Pro-choicers don‘t argue on whether or not abortion is killing, because it is a losing battle (see Reason #26 ). So instead they shift the focus to who should be able to make the decision. By doing so they try to tell us that the issue is ‗choice‘ and not what is being chosen. Yet, not all choices are equal. Indeed, not all choices are good.
Your view depends on where you're standing ―When we oppose the right to choose rape or child abuse, we aren‘t opposing a right; we‘re opposing a wrong. And we‘re not narrow-minded and bigoted for doing so. We‘re just decent people concerned for the rights of the innocent. To be pro-choice about someone‘s right to kill is to be antichoice about someone else‘s right to live.‖ 420 (bold in original) —Randy Alcorn, Pro-Life Answers to Pro- Choice
You have free will, but... strongly believe in what is called free will. It‘s the power to choose what you want to do with your life in every way. It‘s your God-given right. I even believe that you have the right to choose abortion. Yes, you read that right. But before pro- lifers accuse me of being disloyal to the cause, let me continue. I don‘t believe that you will ultimately be happy afterwards or that it‘s the right choice, but I believe we have the choice to do right as well as wrong. We are accountable, but we have that choice. If God didn't want us to make choices he would have made us without that capability. So why don‘t I go further and recommend that everyone who wants one get one? The one and only reason is that we are not dealing with one person‘s free will or one person‘s life. We're also dealing with an unborn child who has a will to live, a personality, a life plan and a soul. Now, if abortion was just scraping some cheek cells off of you or cutting out an ugly mole, then I say, yes, it would be your right and yours alone. It‘s your body. It‘s yours to choose, it‘s your health, your life — go for it! But there are two people‘s free wills to balance here. The late Honorable Henry Hyde once put it like this: We are here today talking about the most fundamental issues, life and death, I
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health versus a life. That is a problem. You are trading apples and oranges, or chickens and horses. A life and a health. To me, if you put those on the scale, life weighs heavier.
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Remember… No one is here to judge anyone. What we are here to say is, not all choices are equal.
Reason #36 ―Focusing on ‗choice‘ is too abstract since we avoid talking about what the choice actually involves.‖ Reason #37 It‘s your choice!
Because you don‘t have to No permit, no marriage; no permit, no pregnancy; no permit, no baby. 422
office
hat‘s right. This is a reason not to choose abortion. You don‘t have to. There may have been times in history when you had no way out. Today there are still countries where there is no way out. For example, thank God you weren't born in China where women are still routinely forced into an abortion at 9 months if they violate China's brutal one- child policy. You could have been fined 3-4 times
your annual
wage for
an unauthorized child, but no, here in America you are free. You will not be dragged onto an abortion table against your will. Your house will not be razed when you cannot pay the fine. You will not be spied upon by paid informants if you are pregnant. Your home will not be raided in the middle of the night when authorities suspect you of pregnancy. Your entire reproductive history
will not
be documented and tracked by the local family T
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planning center. You will not be forced to have a pregnancy examination by local officials. You will not be sterilized if suspected of a reproductive misdemeanor. You will not be put in a cell until you submit to an abortion. Sadly, these shocking revelations are all true. 423 Gladly for you, this is not your situation today. You live in a free land and you are free to give birth to a child, no matter what your marital status, permit, age, no matter who the father was or any other detail. You have the choice our suffering Chinese sisters do not have. (For more on population control, see
Reason #79: The population explosion is an urban myth .)
which has many social services, local programs and volunteer groups
Furthermore you live in a country which has many social services, local programs and volunteer groups. You will be helped. You can find support. You can make it work. (See Reason #19: There are practical options to make things work for you ). You are so blessed. Even if you are facing tremendous difficulties or
overwhelming emotions, you are better off than our sisters in China. You are also better off than the mothers in dire poverty in some third world countries. These have no one to help them. The lucky ones are supported by aid agencies, but not everyone. These mothers sometimes have no way to feed their children or meet even their basic needs. I can imagine no greater sorrow as a mother and as a woman than not having the food to feed my starving child. I can imagine no greater desperation than having my child die in my arms from a curable disease or lack of basic nutrition. Thank God you are not one of these. Whoever you are, whatever your situation, there are people who want to help you. You do not have to have your child die before your eyes. You have a choice. You are not alone in this. Today there are also other options available to you. If you are certain that you do not wish to parent at this time and you have explored your other options, there is also adoption. Adoption is another way out. A choice. A possibility. It may not be perfect, but it provides an alternative to abortion. A life-saving alternative. Today you do not have to have an abortion. You will not be forced into one by politics or economics or even by not wanting any children. You don‘t have to choose abortion by default.
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Pregnancy an injustice? No, this
is injustice ―Once I found a woman who was 9 months pregnant, but did not have a birth-allowed certificate. According to the policy, she was forced to undergo an induced abortion.... Afterwards the husband was holding his wife and crying loudly and saying, what kind of man am I? What kind of husband am I? I can't even protect my wife and child. Do you have any sort of humanity?‖ 424
—Testimony of Ms. Gao, former birth control officer in China
Reason #37 ―You don't have to choose abortion by default Reason #38 You are not alone
There are always people to turn to for help ou are not alone. There will always be people to lean on. Whether they are your family or boyfriend or pregnancy services, you can find help. In this section we discuss how to break the news to your family or boyfriend and how to find outside help when you can‘t find it from those close to you.
How to ask your family for support How do you feel about asking your parents
to help
you? Terrified? Embarrassed? Certain they will reject you? You don't know until you ask! Cindy was so afraid of what her parents would say that she had an abortion that she now regrets. Afterwards when she spoke to them, she realized it wouldn't have been all that bad: I ended up telling my parents who showed much compassion. I had already graduated with my engineering degree and had moved out. I had discovered that I could‘ve taken a medical leave of absence and not have lost the scholarship. Since I Y
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didn‘t think I was ready to be a parent, I could‘ve chosen adoption, which now is very open. I could‘ve picked the parents and even kept in touch with my child had I wanted to. Soon, I realized that all my reasons for the abortion probably would have never materialized. In my crisis, I had panicked without even looking into the issues that had concerned me so much.
Tips to make breaking the news a little easier
Find a time when your parents are not distracted. You don‘t want them misunderstanding you because they only half-hear what you've got to say!
help you right now and to put the right words into your mouth.
simple and to the point such as, ―Mom, Dad, can I talk to you about something really important. I love you and I didn‘t do this on purpose to hurt you. I need your support
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