Rebecca's wise words are refreshing and inspiring.

New anti-choice reports (which are interestingly now focusing on women, not the foetus) are repeatedly filling our daily front pages.

Perhaps a little more attention to sexual education and the increased availability of contraception is what we need before we start mandating what others are allowed to do with their bodies.

Let’s hope that sanity and the real welfare of women (and their families) not fundamentalism takes the lead in public debate before the decision to legalise RU486 is made

Yabby:
An atheist doctor who lives half an hour from me is pro-life. A friend of mine was strongly pro-life and did a class presentation on it before she was a Christian. This is because there are many rational reasons for being pro-life.

Since I last posted, I have become unhappy and worried about hostile people from this forum being able to easily look up my blog and see pictures of my niece and nephews. Due to this, I will probably change my username to Sherrin. I will continue to be open about my religion, and anything online that does not involve my tiny family members.

This is my last post on this thread. Here is my explanation, from my letter to the University of Tasmania magazine, of why I am actively pro-life. I hope it gives you some understanding, if not acceptance, of where I am coming from.

“Many people ask me why I am actively pro-life, rather than “personally”. My central reasons are that abortion harms women and kills human beings. If would be selfish of me to say, “I don’t want abortion to happen to me, but I don’t care if it happens to lots of other people.” Many women do not want to abort, but feel pressured to do so. Abortion is a tragedy I would not wish upon anyone.

Those who work to normalise the oppressive practice of abortion, calling it “freedom”, need to be countered. They think telling women an abortion will “remove the lining of the uterus” (Moonah Fertility Control Clinic brochure) is adequate informed consent, and they commonly dismiss women’s abortion grief.

“Pro-choice” activists have worked to downplay adoption as an alternative to abortion, instead of working to make adoption easier for women through counselling and support during and after pregnancy. This shows that maximising choice is not their main goal.

Advocating other choices is more complex than accepting the status quo of accessible abortion, but it is well worth it. Pro-life people need to work and think hard about how to do so, addressing issues such as housing, childcare and income.”

Sherrin, I am sorry to hear that you are alarmed, but I think its without reason. People might be hostile to your opinion, but not to you. Taking peoples rights away, as the pro life lobby want to do,
is a serious issue with huge ramifications on peoples lives, so I don't blame people who strongly disagree with your views. Your family has nothing to do with that.

You say your arguments are not religion based, but you clearly don't understand the secular argument. Most women can create about 400 human organisms in their lifetime. Everyone could be a cute baby, clearly they can't keep them all. Read Origin of Species to understand natures laws.

Having is child is not just about an organism. Its about a lifetime
of care, huge resources, an education etc. Its a huge commitment.
Women should be free to make that commitment, when they feel ready for it.

The world is full of starving, unwanted babies, that have already
been born. Lets start looking after them, before we get carried
away with potential babies. A few dividing cells, without a functioning brain, unaware, are not a person.

If a woman wants to carry a foetus to term and adopt it out, that should be her choice. She should not be compelled to carry it for 9 months, if she does not want to.

The reason feminist groups are fighting so hard is that the anti abortion lobby will not see reason. They want to take womens rights away, largely for religious dogma reasons.

Sherrin, you can save 3 starving babies in Africa tomorrow, if you sell your computer and send them the money. So what is your choice?
Self interest or pro life?

Sherrin Ward "Since I last posted, I have become unhappy and worried about hostile people from this forum being able to easily look up my blog and see pictures of my niece and nephews."

I would not worry about that Sherrin.

Pro-life are the ones identified with “intolerance”.
Pro-Choice has the market in “tolerance”.

If you were not of the ProLife camp, then I would suggest you might have something to concern yourself.

The ones who harangue women attempting to get legally available abortions, try to kill doctors, bomb clinics and shoot security guards claim to be acting in the name of their "Pro-Life” cause.

If you were "Pro-Choice", I would suggest your family might be at risk from "Pro-Life" but the evidence of historic events suggests, not the other way around.

That displays the one of the differences between the two opposing poles. One pole insists in telling everyone else what they have to do, the other pole is content to let other individuals exercise their own discretion in matters which effect only those individuals.