Re: A compromise for the abortion debate

On 1 Dec 2003 21:16:36 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (davidjones) wrote,
in part:

>Since all of you are elite and enlightened enough to engage in
>meaningful debate please now consider the most logical compromising
>solution to the pro/anti abortion dilemma that should make everyone
>feel like a winner.

Actually, your solution would make everyone feel like a loser.

The pro-choice side loses: the principle that women have the right to
decide is lost, because if the fetus is female, the woman can't have
an abortion.

The pro-life side loses: the principle that fetuses are people with
rights is lost, because if the fetus is male, the woman can have an
abortion.

A compromise that _might_ come closer to making everyone feel like a
winner would be to set a time limit for abortion, for reasons other
than dealing with unforeseen complications of pregnancy, at some point
in the development of the embryo.

Then, the pro-choice side "wins", because every woman who finds
herself pregnant can opt for abortion during *part* of her pregnancy;

and the pro-life side "wins", because when the embryo reaches the
stage of development where it is clear one is dealing with something
that resembles a human baby, its life is fully protected.

It's because this kind of compromise makes sense, letting each side
keep what it most values, that it is the kind of compromise commonly
considered and proposed. The trouble is, though, that a limit that has
a hope of satisfying those who are pro-life would be too early to
satisfy those who are pro-choice.

John Savard
http://home.ecn.ab.ca/~jsavard/index.html