People from all aspects of life have opinions on the Abortion issue, pro-life or pro-choice. Pro-Life, is basically the idea that as soon as a women becomes pregnant she is “with child” and has a “human” growing within her body. It is nothing more than a belief, that states that from the very instant that an egg is fertilized a life has began. Pro-Choice is a self-description of people who believe that women should have the legal right to have an abortion or that one should be able to choose on issues relating to the life or well being of themselves or any part of their body. Basically, the idea that a women has the right to choose what happens to herself, because it is her body.

Our government has been struggling to find an acceptable balance of ideals for years, ever since January 22, 1973 when the Supreme Court legalized unrestricted abortions in the United States. The fact is that Abortion is a highly sensitive and highly political subject, everyone seems to have an opinion, caused by their religious beliefs, personal views or political preference.

In the last issue of Zebra Tales there was an article written on abortion, from an Anti-Choice (otherwise known as Pro-Life) view. After reading the article, I felt that the facts were laid out in a way that made Abortion and those of us who have Pro-Choice views appear ridiculous and morally wrong. The article attempted to prove why abortions should be illegal.

Personally, I am Pro-Choice, and I believe that those of us who agree with the Pro-Choice viewpoint should be able to argue our points of why abortions should be legal. Then again, I am only one person, only one supporter, and cannot speak for all of the other Pro-Choice students at our school. Yet, I believe that the facts should be listed and understood, or at least available to those people on our campus that are interested or are looking for someone to give the other side of the topic.

In my opinion, a women should have the right to make her own decisions concerning her own well being and her own body. A women should not be forced to deal with a situation she may not be prepared for or equipped to handle. It seems that many people, especially those who are Pro-Life, want to be able to decide the destiny of others. Everyone in the United States is covered under the United States constitution, and under the 14th Amendment women have been given the choice of abortion.

People with Pro-Life views would argue that a women who decides to terminate a pregnancy, or have an abortion, is in turn “killing” her child, a human being. This is not necessarily true. An abortion is a termination of a pregnancy, not a death of a child.

The pregnancy begins at the time the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell. In the following week the egg grows into a microscopic ball of cells called a blastocyst which will in this time implant itself on the wall of the uterus. This “blastocyst” does not develop any “human” characteristics, such as a head, spine or internal organs until anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks after fertilization, during the end the first trimester.

According to www.liferesource.net , 88% of all abortions occur in the first trimester, more specifically at 6 weeks. At this point in a pregnancy there is nothing more than a small ball of cells, how can that be considered a living, breathing human? Further more, how is an abortion in the first trimester considered “killing” a child?

There are many other reasons listed by Pro-Life supporters and even more rebuttals listed by Pro-Choice advocates. There are too many arguments by both sides to be able to list, but in the end, the main point is the women’s right to choose.

Women decide to receive abortions because of various reasons, all concerning their own lives and bodies. A woman might not have the resources to provide for a child, or be equipped to deal with a small child. Some women might not have the support of their families or the babies father. Even more often, the “woman,” might not be a “woman” at all, but nothing more that a child herself, “babies having babies.”

Then, excluding all other reasons about the mothers life and well being, you have to consider the child that would be born. In some cases, an expecting mother will learn that her child may have mental or physical problems and would want to prevent a child from having to live a life of pain and discomfort.



Every woman who decides to receive an abortion has her own reason, based off her own beliefs and ideals. It seems that many people, especially those who are Pro-Life, want to be able to decide the destiny of others. Everyone in the United States is covered under the United States constitution, and under the 14th Amendment women have been given the choice of abortion.

If your most prized possession, your freedoms and rights, were taken from you, how would you feel? It is a women’s body, a women’s choice.

Displayed on Web by Women, for Women Online, there is the following quote, “Every woman should be accorded the dignity and the ability to make decisions for herself. This is a basic right often subverted through the force of law, through physical restraint or threat, and through ignorance.” Abortions should be legal. Women should have the right to choose, the right to decide.