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Originally Posted by MichaelJoeWilliamson

I think your approach differs greatly from most abortions rights activists. Good for you. It is apparent that you have thought about this carefully.

I have often also considered the development of the human nervous system as a significant milestone in becoming human. But I could not come up with an objective reason for thinking that other than to wonder how human consciousness could be present if a human nervous system was not present. Why is human consciousness important to me?

Well, from a strictly theoretical standpoint, I am of the opinion that it is human consciousness that makes us human. But I do not know when that occurs, if it happens all at once. Or perhaps human consciousness grows through all the lesser forms of consciousnesses found in animals as the nervous system grows and develops to finally culminate at the human level.



This is a damn good question. One that few pro-choice advocates think upon very deeply. Let me make my explanation even more personal than your question asks of me.

I have three adults daughters. What would I have done if during their teenage years one of them revealed she was pregnant and wanted an abortion? What would I do now, if that happened? Legally, I cannot and for the most part have never been able to prevent any of my daughters from getting an abortion if that was their choice. My only avenue was and is persuasion and I would avail myself of that.

But what would happen if abortions were illegal after, say 15 weeks? And one of my daughters asked and allowed a doctor, (or someone else) to perform one after that point? Would I then want her to be sent to jail? I would never want any of my children or loved one to spend time in jail. But I also know all my children are responsible for their own actions.

A woman that agrees to an abortion is both asking for and agreeing to allow someone else to kill her unborn child. She is not doing the killing but she is certainly a party to the decision. From an intellectual and emotional honesty standpoint, if one of my daughters had an abortion, illegal or not, I have to assert she not only allowed someone to kill her unborn child and my unborn grandchild, she ASKED them to do it.

All actions have consequences, legal or not.

This is no different a situation than if one of my children robbed a store.

I actually think it's the Pro-Lifers who don't think about this question enough, especially when you consider that this is their position on abortion (that, or their position is desperately inconsistent) and the ramifications it would have for our legal system.

It's also why I think this debate has become more about the survival and political power of the non-profits on both sides than actually finding some resolution to the issue.