General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I am pro-abortion, not just pro-choice: 10 reasons why we must support the procedure and the choice [View all]karynnj
(59,501 posts)at almost any level. Like the diametric opposite position, that abortion should never or only very very rarely be allowed, it is a position that the majority of people would be unable to accept.
Roe vs Wade has existed for as long as it has because it - in its very definition - attempts to balance the rights of the woman and the (fetus, unborn child, baby - as various people would call it). At the beginning, the rights are 100% to the woman. She can abort the child. At the end, it takes extraordinary circumstance involving the mother's health or the baby's health to make it legal.
As is, neither extreme is happy with what in essence a compromise. Yet, preserving it and MAKING IT EXIST IN REALITY - by insuring real availability (not having to travel 100s of miles or even to another state) and making an abortion affordable when it is allowed are more important than inflaming the situation by asking that others state that they are pro abortion. Part of the problem is that it is obvious how those words "I am pro abortion" would be immediately spun. In addition, many people - otherwise your ally in keeping things legal - do not agree with you on this, but are willing to stand up for the woman as the person who is entitled to make the decision - often knowing that they will pay a price with their own church.
I question what would be gained if many took your challenge and spoke of themselves as pro abortion. The first question is whether people doing that will respect that there are people 100% pro choice backing Roe vs Wade, but unwilling to go that next step to consider abortion just another medical procedure. Is enough gained by defining a movement as pro abortion that losing almost everyone in the middle is worth it? A simple look at any polling on abortion, shows that extreme positions - on either end - lose to more moderate positions.
Why not fight for making Roe vs Wade legal abortions available and affordable?