37 years ago today

[ph4ever]

Today is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a landmark case decided by the United States Supreme Court on the issue of abortion. McCorvey (who took the pseudonym Jane Roe for the case) has changed her mind and is now pro life and proclaimed that she was a pawn in the case. Because of that case women have the right to get an abortion in a sterile setting instead of a back room by a shady doctor using unsteralized equipment or a DIY with a coathanger.

[blackjack]

Nothing like a sterile room to kill a baby.

[wiscoleeds]

If only there were ways to prevent pregnancy? Can't the evil drug companies direct some R&D funds to contraception research...hell, how about a rubber sleeve of some sort..now that's a head start. That is if we can figure out how a woman gets pregnant in the first place. Once we figure out this riddle perhaps educate people...
Action A + Action B + Result C
Surely there must be a way to prevent people from having to take responsibility for their actions.
Cheers
Wiscoleeds

[ph4ever]

What about in the cases of rape or incest? Does anyone think a woman should be forced to bear a child in those cases?

I'll readily admit I'm pro choice. I'm not going to condemn anyone for getting an abortion nor would I condemn someone for being against abortion as long as they stay out of my face with their views.

When I was in high school a girl gave herself an abortion in the restroom and it is something I will never forget. I also will never forget that back then you thought several times before you would report a rape. There was no such thing as date rape back then - if you did report a rape the police made you feel as if it were your fault.

[pair8head]

OK I'm gonna say it cuz someone needs to.

There are some damn compelling reasons for there to be a legal safe way for a woman to get the procedure done in a professional and sterile environment.
These are the ones that come to mind for me.

Rape
Incest
Safety of the Mother

Anyone who would deny a woman this right is living in the dark ages in my opinion.

[pair8head]

What about in the cases of rape or incest? Does anyone think a woman should be forced to bear a child in those cases?

I'll readily admit I'm pro choice. I'm not going to condemn anyone for getting an abortion nor would I condemn someone for being against abortion as long as they stay out of my face with their views.

When I was in high school a girl gave herself an abortion in the restroom and it is something I will never forget. I also will never forget that back then you thought several times before you would report a rape. There was no such thing as date rape back then - if you did report a rape the police made you feel as if it were your fault.

You must have posted this while I was composing mine.

[big john]

The Roe vs Wade decision was based on alot of false testimony. The so called experts
inflated numbers and exaggerated the number of rape pregnancies just to get it pushed
along. They've recently admitted this. I can't look at my grandchildren and understand
how anyone can just snuff out a young life just because it's inconvenient. The abortion
industry is just that, a money making industry. The "doctors" who perform these procedures
are not heroes, they are lazy individuals who would rather make a fast buck where the
"patient" isn't going to complain. I know I'll be taken to task for this opinion. I had hoped
this subject would be avoided. But the can was opened so I put my two cents in.

[pair8head]

Weather or not the numbers were inflated I still would rather see it legal for my previously stated reasons.

[ph4ever]

The Roe vs Wade decision was based on alot of false testimony. The so called experts
inflated numbers and exaggerated the number of rape pregnancies just to get it pushed
along. They've recently admitted this. I can't look at my grandchildren and understand
how anyone can just snuff out a young life just because it's inconvenient. The abortion
industry is just that, a money making industry. The "doctors" who perform these procedures
are not heroes, they are lazy individuals who would rather make a fast buck where the
"patient" isn't going to complain. I know I'll be taken to task for this opinion. I had hoped
this subject would be avoided. But the can was opened so I put my two cents in.

Those "doctors" were around for centuries before Roe v Wade.

Okay let me get this straight - you feel it's perfectly acceptable for a woman who was impregnated as a result of rape or incest to have to bear the baby? Would you feel the same if one of your daughters had been raped and got pregnant?

For me personally it doesn't matter how inflated the numbers were. I know someone who was raped, scared and so very thankful she didn't get VD or pregnant as a result of her rape and it's from what I saw her go through plus the girl who gave herself an abortion in the restroom that formed my opinion.

[Bicycle Bill]

I do agree that abortion should remain an option in the case of rape, incest, or — what is the phrase? — the imminent safety of the mother. In fact, I believe that was the case *PRIOR* to Roe vs Wade.

However, according to generally accepted data, there were 1.21 million abortions in the US alone for the year 2005 (the most recent year for which there is reliable data). There is no way on God's green earth that each and every one of these pregnancies occurred as the result of rape or incest, or because the mother's life would have been in danger unless the pregnancy was terminated.

I also believe that, as the old phrase goes, "it takes two to tango". Incest — well, we all should know what is meant by incest; and according to the Rape, Incest and Abuse National Netword (RAINN), 73% of rape victims know their assailants. Should a pregnancy be the result of rape or incest, it seems reasonable to me that legal action — whether criminal, civil, or both — should be taken against the male. Up to now, though, this does not appear to have been the case. There are several reasons/theories as to why this is so, but I'm not going to open those cans of worms here; they would be better served in their own thread.

It is my opinion that, in the 37 years since the Roe vs Wade decision became the law of the land, the vast number of the abortions in the United States have been performed more as a means of retroactive birth control rather than for sound medical reasons. And to me, that just ain't right.

-"BB"-

[ph4ever]

I do agree that abortion should remain an option in the case of rape, incest, or — what is the phrase? — the imminent safety of the mother. In fact, I believe that was the case *PRIOR* to Roe vs Wade.

However, according to generally accepted data, there were 1.21 million abortions in the US alone for the year 2005 (the most recent year for which there is reliable data). There is no way on God's green earth that each and every one of these pregnancies occurred as the result of rape or incest, or because the mother's life would have been in danger unless the pregnancy was terminated.

I also believe that, as the old phrase goes, "it takes two to tango". Incest — well, we all should know what is meant by incest; and according to the Rape, Incest and Abuse National Netword (RAINN), 73% of rape victims know their assailants. Should a pregnancy be the result of rape or incest, it seems reasonable to me that legal action — whether criminal, civil, or both — should be taken against the male. Up to now, though, this does not appear to have been the case. There are several reasons/theories as to why this is so, but I'm not going to open those cans of worms here; they would be better served in their own thread.

It is my opinion that, in the 37 years since the Roe vs Wade decision became the law of the land, the vast number of the abortions in the United States have been performed more as a means of retroactive birth control rather than for sound medical reasons. And to me, that just ain't right.

-"BB"-

I see your point and on some I do agree somewhat. I do know that in the times of Roe v Wade that many times a woman wouldn't report a rape because of the way the police officers treated them back then. Has it changed now - well I sure as hell hope so, and I beleive it has. That being said I don't think the laws have changed enough in the cases of rape. For example the Tacoma WA cop killer that murdered 4 police officers was out on bail for a charge of child rape. WTF? A guy can rape a child and get bail isn't right (and yes it's just as wrong if a woman rapes a boy) 73% of rape victims knowing their rapist doesn't surprise me at all. The case that I'm very familiar was a case of date rape - the girl saying no no no no no and the boy going ahead and doing it anyway.

I also think that one has to consider the fact that the morning after pill, or plan B have not been readily available to women in the United States as long as it's been available to women in other parts of the world and had it been then perhaps there wouldn't have been as many abortions.

The fact that a lot of the abortions appear to be retroactive birth control is one of the reasons why I don't agree with government funded abortions. There's just to many avenues to getting low cost or free birth control.

[big john]

Those "doctors" were around for centuries before Roe v Wade.

Okay let me get this straight - you feel it's perfectly acceptable for a woman who was impregnated as a result of rape or incest to have to bear the baby? Would you feel the same if one of your daughters had been raped and got pregnant?

For me personally it doesn't matter how inflated the numbers were. I know someone who was raped, scared and so very thankful she didn't get VD or pregnant as a result of her rape and it's from what I saw her go through plus the girl who gave herself an abortion in the restroom that formed my opinion.

Where in my statement did I say that? And yes those "doctors" were around for a while, but
now they're legitimized and protected by the law.

[ph4ever]

Those "doctors" were around for centuries before Roe v Wade.

Okay let me get this straight - you feel it's perfectly acceptable for a woman who was impregnated as a result of rape or incest to have to bear the baby? Would you feel the same if one of your daughters had been raped and got pregnant?

For me personally it doesn't matter how inflated the numbers were. I know someone who was raped, scared and so very thankful she didn't get VD or pregnant as a result of her rape and it's from what I saw her go through plus the girl who gave herself an abortion in the restroom that formed my opinion.

Where in my statement did I say that? And yes those "doctors" were around for a while, but
now they're legitimized and protected by the law.

You didn't answer if you'd feel the same if one of your daughters got raped and pregnant? Do you feel it's acceptable that a woman have to bear a child that is the result of incest or rape? You said that you "can't understand how anyone can just snuff out a young life just because it's inconvenient." Wouldn't a child that is a result of incest or rape be a huge inconvenience to the mother?

[flyboy55]

Abortion isn't the best method of birth control but in some situations it's all there is, for one reason or another. No BC method is fool proof other than abstinence but I don't consider that viable option for committed couples.

Maybe better sex education in schools and clinics and a wide availability of other BC methods including the 'morning after' pill would alleviate the need for the abortion option, but then these initiatives run into a fair amount of resistance themselves.

It would be interesting to know what the abortion rates are in other developed countries, especially those with more advanced public medical systems than the system we are saddled with.

It's imperfect but I have to support a woman's right to choose.

I hope this thread doesn't "go off the rails" but I'm not optimistic.

[ph4ever]

I hope this thread doesn't "go off the rails" but I'm not optimistic.

If we can't discuss differences of opinion without it going "off the rails" let me just say Mods - please delete when it does.

[dnw]

Wow, I can't believe that it has been 37 years!

[flyboy55]

Interesting.

There does seem to be a connection between poverty and lack of support and abortion rates when compared globally. Western Europe sees lower abortion rates than the U.S.

Also, the legality of the procedure doesn't affect the abortion rate. In comparing countries around the world those nations which have stronger prohibitions against abortion see the same abortion rates as similar countries where it is legal.

[SMLCHNG]

I hope this thread doesn't "go off the rails" but I'm not optimistic.

If we can't discuss differences of opinion without it going "off the rails" let me just say Mods - please delete when it does.

Will do.



And frankly, I'm grateful that if I ever HAD to have one, it was legal to do so, and safely.

[chippewa]

I never thought it was any business of mine what somebody else does with their body.

[FunkHouse9]

I'll note my support for Roe V. Wade and move right along.