TWO SIDES OF THE ABORTION DEBATE

Abortion is a contentious topic which evokes strong emotions from many. This article will outline why abortion should be outlawed, and how the pro-life movement is prepared for a “post-Roe” society.

The evolution of the human species has paved the way for a deeper understanding of ethics and morality. Nearly two billion human lives have been ended worldwide by elective abortions since 1980. The dehumanization of a group of human beings based on development and dependency has brought forth a dangerous and eugenicist practice. Advances in medicine, technology, and research have shaped a clear understanding that human life begins at fertilization. Over seventy-three million pre-born human lives are intentionally ended each year globally, making abortion the leading cause of death worldwide. Abortion remains the most severe and pervasive violation of human rights and dignity in modern society

Planned Parenthood, the leading provider of abortion in the United States, has a dark history which remains widely unexposed in the public eye. The onset of abortion within the United States begins with Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood. 

Margaret Sanger was a vocal supporter of eugenics who believed that the “unfit” did not deserve to live. Sanger dedicated her life to reducing the African American population by establishing Planned Parenthood facilities in minority communities. Today, over 86% of these facilities are in minority communities. Margaret Sanger’s legacy of discrimination can be seen today, in New York, a study revealed that more black babies were being aborted than born. In a bid to save lives, legislators have enacted laws prohibiting abortions motivated by the race of a preborn child. Race-selective abortions have been the deciding factor for many families, in which they choose to end the life of their child merely because the child is an unwanted race. While the average person would agree race-selective abortions are wrong, many abortion activists continue to champion a “woman’s right to choose” based on race alone.

It is wrong to end the life of an innocent human life outside of the womb, and it is also wrong to end the life of a human being inside of the womb. From a philosophical premise, being a member of the homosapien (human) species provides human beings with intrinsic value and inalienable rights. As evidence of this, consider the difference between ending the life of a human being and that of infectious bacteria.

In many nations including India, the practice of sex-selective abortions is rampant. As described by the Population Research Institute, “Due to a strong, culturally-rooted preference for sons in many parts of the world, millions of girls have been selectively aborted merely because their parents had wanted a boy instead.” Nearly 16 million girls in India have been killed through sex-selective abortion since 1990. Most notably, a small town in India was investigated by local police after no female babies had been born in the past several years. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the small community was selectively aborting girls solely based on sex. While many abortion proponents champion a “woman’s right to choose,” it is evident that sex-based discrimination is ever-present.

With the reversal of Roe v. Wade imminent, the pro-life movement is prepared and equipped to support women and children. Thousands of pregnancy resource centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers across the United States already provide women with free resources during and after pregnancy. Moreover, the pro-life movement has worked tirelessly over the past few decades to influence public policy by working with legislators to sponsor paid maternity/paternity legislation, adoption care reform, foster care reform, and much more. Most notably, Texas allocated over $100 million dollars in state funding to support women by providing life-affirming alternatives to abortion. The pro-abortion movement frequently uses the cracks within the foster care system to argue in support of class-selective abortion; this argument stems from a point of privilege by arguing that only those who are “wanted” deserve to live.

Planned Parenthood receives over $618 million dollars in government funding each year; much of this funding is directly provided by federal programs like Medicaid and individual state funding. According to Dr.Clowes, “Between 1995 and 2019, its [Planned Parenthood] revenues have totaled more than $31 billion in today’s dollars.” While Planned Parenthood claims to perform a wide range of services besides abortion, its Annual Report revealed an unpleasant result. Between 2007 and 2017, patients dropped 21%, pap tests fell 72%, cancer screenings decreased 68%, and adoption referrals plummeted 42% (source). The only service to see a sharp increase was abortion. The organization's litany of poor health standards and disregard for patient well-being illustrates a model that places profit over patients.

As we set our eyes on a post-Roe world, the role of supportive services becomes even more important. Pregnancy Resource Centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) will be the evolution of women’s health services and will replace a sector in healthcare broken by Planned Parenthood. FQHCs are required to meet stringent requirements to ensure the highest levels of care possible, oftentimes more regulated than abortion facilities. The Charlotte Lozier Institute reported that “Federally Qualified Health Centers see 21.1 million patients a year, while Planned Parenthood saw 2.8 million people.” By redirecting women’s health funding to FQHCs, women will have access to more affordable, accessible, and comprehensive services in comparison to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. It is time for society to reclaim the dignity that women deserve and renounce abortion providers for the predatory industry that it has always been.

As a society, we have failed women by creating an environment that values a false sense of stability over human lives. The pro-life movement must work with pro-choice advocates to provide women with life-affirming resources following the reversal of Roe. The two movements must unite to support women to shape a society in which abortion is unthinkable. Most importantly, our generation must become more accepting of teenage pregnancies, by supporting fellow classmates and friends during pregnancy. Women can be and are successful in their personal and professional lives when they choose life; an abortion is not indicative of a person’s ability to succeed.

It is time that our laws reflect the science behind life inside of the womb. The reversal of Roe v. Wade will mark a new chapter in American history, one in which all life is protected and valued. If we wish to progress to an equitable society, we must abolish the barbaric practice of abortion. The reversal of Roe v. Wade will be the beginning of an unprecedented policy battle across states. A fair society is within our reach, but we cannot achieve such a feat alone. Join Students for Life today and become a part of history in the making.

Writer Biography:

Felipe is the Vice-President of ECTA’s Students for Life chapter and President of TeenProLifers, the world’s largest student-led anti-abortion organization. He is a leader in bio-ethical policy and has been featured by local news, The Conversationalist, and Nevada’s Department of Education. He remains an avid guest writer for organizations like Students for Life of America and frequently engages in legislative activities.