Underground Knowledge — A discussion group discussion

Lia, I happen to be one of those mad individuals who don't think abortion should be made legal. It would be too easy for people to live a carefree life and then just get rid of the consequence. Abortion clinics would be overflowing.

My answer is that abortion should be allowed only for those under enormous stress because of their pregnancy and who have no family support. My first baby was not planned for and happened at a very difficult time in my life but I valued the life within me and refused to even think abortion was an option. I have never regretted that decision.

How many women have an abortion and never get over the loss they feel.

Laureen wrote: "Lia, I happen to be one of those mad individuals who don't think abortion should be made legal. It would be too easy for people to live a carefree life and then just get rid of the consequence. Abo..."

I totally agree on how you said that many women have an abortion and never ever get over the loss they feel. Yet, I also think that the exact same truth holds for men equally as much.

I personally think abortion is never okay and should always be illegal. Then I do contemplate the extreme cases like rape, incest, health issues that could kill the mother in pregnancy, etc. and wonder if there should be exceptions but I just don't know how to answer. All children deserve a chance to live, and so someone has to speak up for them.

I agree Fay, but I do think there are occasions for exception. Some people who get pregnant should never be parents. In a case like that they should be encouraged to put the baby up for adoption rather than have an abortion or if they insist on keeping the baby, they would need constant supervision to make sure the child was well looked after.

One of the negatives of abortion is that there a many infertile couples or couples that can't conceive for medical reasons that go through hell and great expense in IVF clinics. Before abortion clinics end IVF clinics, there were babies that needed parents of good caliber to give them real love and a home. This was a good system but the child should have had the right to know who their birth parents were.

Laureen wrote: "I agree Fay, but I do think there are occasions for exception. Some people who get pregnant should never be parents. In a case like that they should be encouraged to put the baby up for adoption ra..."

Adoption is always an option.

This topic is now a group poll that's currently running:

Do you believe abortion should be legal or illegal? -- https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

Have your say!

Fay wrote: "Laureen wrote: "I agree Fay, but I do think there are occasions for exception. Some people who get pregnant should never be parents. In a case like that they should be encouraged to put the baby up..."

Fay, I don't think adoption is easy these days. Because abortion has become more common and birth control so sophiscated, there just isn't many babies or young children available for adoption. There are many needy children from poor countries who are without family but the authorities make adopting these children almost impossible.

The aforementioned poll on this subject is now complete. It asked: Do you believe abortion should be legal or illegal?

Here is how members voted:

73.3% voted LEGAL
19.9% voted ILLEGAL
6.8% voted UNDECIDED

Check out the lively debate that occurred during the poll: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

Every Third Woman in America: How Legal Abortion Transformed Our Nation

Alabama passes restrictive abortion law banning terminations https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/rea...
Celebrities are among thousands of women taking to social media to share abortion experiences amid Alabama’s restrictive law.

Alabama state Senate passes near total abortion ban with no exception for rape victims https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-1...

In Alabama and Georgia, Republicans Move to Bar Abortion, and Women Look for Options While They Can https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-d...

In light of recent developments in various US states, this topic is now running round 2 of a group poll:

Do you believe abortion should be legal or illegal? -- https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

Have your say!

I commented in another forum, but I will add a different thought based on the title, "When abortion is illegal." Most pro-lifers (and I know because I was one) have never considered what the legal penalty for abortion should be. In America, prior to Roe v. Wade, it was considered a felony.
A felony. Consider what that means. Think of anyone who gets an abortion, from the teenage girl with the manipulative boyfriend, to the woman facing a serious, but unknown, threat of medical complications ("medical necessity" abortions are more rare than you think because the necessity usually does not become clear until it is too late). Now imagine all these women and girls are scarred with a permanent record, which means difficulty ever getting a job, to say nothing of fines and jail time. Already in El Salvador, women can be imprisoned up to 40 years for having an abortion, and little distinction is made for miscarriages. In Northern Ireland, a woman seeking abortion could be imprisoned longer than the rapist who impregnated her. The question is not, do you think abortion should be legal. The question is, are you prepared to wreck the lives of grown women to defend what you call the right to life? What would you really choose to do to women, maybe your own friends or sisters, who are choosing abortion?

Round 2 of the group poll which asked Undergrounders "Do you believe abortion should be legal or illegal?" is now complete -- Here are the voting results:

77.2% voted LEGAL
17.2% voted ILLEGAL
5.7% voted UNDECIDED

Check out the lively comments section that occurred during the voting period:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...