Our bodies, Our selves...Maybe

This article from Slate.com's XX Factor blog is truly disturbing on several levels, not the least of which is that it brings up an often forgotten factor in all the hype over fetuses and their "rights" (or lack thereof) - the rights of the women who just happen to be incubating those fetuses. Somehow, the abortion war has become so vehement that the life and rights of the women actually carrying these children are slowly being eroded, forgotten and negated. Not only is abortion being criminalized, but the rights of women who actually wish to carry their children to term are being compromised, all because of the supposed tantamount right of the fetus.

I myself have gone to considerable trouble to try and get pregnant. If I found out today that I was pregnant, I would be thrilled. I would in no way wish to have an abortion. But until any baby I am able to conceive is able to survive on its own - well after the 20th week - that baby would be, in my estimation, nothing more than a very wanted, very loved parasite. It is not a human being. And in no way would its rights trump mine. Any argument that they should is not only outrageous; it is also a blatant and obvious attempt to further rob women of their reproductive freedom - perhaps even more so than the issues at work in the abortion debate.

I encourage you to not only read the article, but also to spend the six minutes it takes to watch the video linked through the post. Things like that should never be allowed to happen.