Today, I woke up, surrounded by warmth and darkness. The mushy red lining formed the world I floated through. Mommy does not know about me yet, but I already have my own genetic code that is different from any that has ever existed or will ever exist.

Three weeks later, I have a beating heart and a closed circulatory system separate from Mommy’s. One month later, all of my developed systems are completely separate from Mommy’s. Quickly, I grow up. Now six months old, I can breathe air, hear, and see. If Mommy gave birth to me now, I would have a 90% chance of living.

Now, I feel my leg pulled on. My body is dragged out into the air and my head is left still inside Mommy. Confused and cold, I flap my legs and arms wildly in the air. A sharp pain shatters through my skull, as scissors are jammed in it. I can not scream or cry as the wound in my head is pried open. Mommy, what is happening? A strong vacuum sucks out my brain. Mommy, why? Suddenly, everything is black.

The event previously described is an example of a Partial Birth Abortion. Abortion started in the 1800’s, but was outlawed unless the mother or child’s life was in danger. However, by 1900, in America, one in six fetuses were killed through abortion. Ultimately, abortion was legalized with the Roe v. Wade verdict in 1972.

What exactly does the word abortion mean? The dictionary calls it "induced termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or fetus that is incapable of survival."

The word "baby" means a small human being, so fetuses must be babies. The word "kill" means "to deprive of life." Since the baby has a metabolism, grows, and can react to stimuli, it has life. Therefore, abortion is killing babies.

The word "murder" may seem extreme, but by definition, it means "to kill another human being." Thus, it is appropriate to say that abortion is legal murder.

The dictionary says abortion is for babies "incapable of survival." Since 5 month-year-old babies have a good chance of living without their mother, it is not even abortion to kill them, simply murder. This mass murder has caused about 1.6 million human beings to die every year in the United States alone. Abortion has killed more than any other event known to history, ever.

Abortion is a general term; there are a variety of different methods. "[Suction Aspiration is] the most common (98%) form of first trimester abortion. The cervix is dilated, and a powerful vacuum tube with a sharp cutting edge is inserted. The suction rips apart the body of the baby, and sucks out blood, amniotic fluid, tissue, and body parts."

Another form of abortion is Methotrexate Injection, where the fetus is deprived of food and oxygen through the injection of Methotrexate.

Prostaglandins Injection prematurely induces labor and the baby is often born alive.

Saline Amniocentesis was first used in Nazi concentration camps. Concentrated salt is injected into the abdomen and the baby’s skin is burned away. Then, the mother delivers the dead baby.

Hyseterotomy is preformed in the third trimester. The baby is removed through incisions in the abdomen, often times alive.

Along with Partial Birth Abortion, other methods similar to those previously described include: Dilation and Curettage, Dilation and Evacuation, and Urea Injection.

For abortion to be murder, the fetus would have to be a human being. The NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League) says that it is not. This is similar to the common belief that a baby is part of the mother. How can this be true is the fetus has an individual genetic code, therefore clearly separate from the mother? Also, a baby is viable or able to live on its own now as young as nineteen weeks old. The mother is merely a host for an individual human life to grow in, not a property right.

Lawrence Lader, a pro-choice activist, wrote, "the law only accepted the child as a human person after the infant had emerged from the womb." If the law says one thing, it does not make it right. One month after conception, a baby’s developed systems are completely separate from its mother’s. How can the law contradict medical proof? The baby’s definite distinctness from the mother is clear at the moment of conception. Thus, the mother should not have the right to choose to murder another human being.

An argument used by members of pro-choice is that the fetus is not hurt in abortion. However, when the baby is only about 2 months old, it can feel pain. "The changes in heart rate and increase in movement suggest that these stimuli are painful for the fetus." To avoid any pain in the fetus, it would have to be heavily sedated. Despite this evidence, abortions do not sedate the fetus.

Pro-choice activists ask, "what if there is a health risk involved or the baby is a result of rape?" In an American survey of 1900 women who had abortions, 3% did so for the Mother’s health, 3% because the baby had a possible health problem and only 1% because of rape or incest.

Much more common excuses included: couldn’t afford the baby (21%), not ready for the responsibility (21%), concerned how child would change their life (16%), a relationship problem (12%) not mature enough (11%), not wanting more children (8%) and other (4%).

For all of the common reasons given, birth control could have been a better method of prevention. Even if the women still became pregnant, why should an innocent baby have to pay the consequences of its mother’s actions? Also, adoption is always an option if the baby is not wanted.

The truth is most women who have abortions know very little about them. Although clinics offer counselors, little information is given to the women considering abortion. 93% of those women were not told about the biological nature of their baby. 89% said that the information in the clinic was biased for abortion.

According to Carol Everet, a former abortion clinic owner, "Professional marketing experts are used to train clinic employees on how to sell abortions." The women are not even allowed to see the sonogram of their baby, as it might alter their decision. The manipulation used in Abortion Clinics is barbaric and deceptive. An upset pregnant woman could not make a rational decision based on the information given to them.

Of women prior to their abortion, 26% thought the baby was human, 30% thought it was non-human, 40% said other and 4% did not answer. After the abortion, 97% of the women thought the baby was human, 0% thought it was non-human and 3% did not answer. Once women have more time to think about what they have done the realization kicks in. It is obvious the baby was human.

Instead of being content about not having the child, many women who had abortions end up in depression. Not only is the baby hurt, but the mother as well. "Recent evidence indicates many women harbor strong guilt feelings long after their abortions."

Likewise, abortion effects women physically. Possible side effects of the procedure include: bleeding, infection, cancer, anemia, lung disease, punctured cervix, seizure, coma, and even death. The mother may not be able to have a child later either.

An anonymous obstetrician stated, "I surveyed 486 colleagues: 87% had hospitalized women with complications with legal abortion, 91% had treated patients with complications from legal abortion, and 24 doctors reported patients dying from legally induced abortions."

Abortion does not simply impact the baby and the mother, but the whole society in which it is practiced. "Since Roe v. Wade, the number of teen pregnancies has more than doubled…" With the alternative of abortion, less women are worried about birth control. Due to this, more teenagers are becoming pregnant.

In addition, the NARAL said that through legalizing abortion, child abuse, illegal abortion, and teen pregnancy would decrease. Nevertheless, all of these rates have significantly increased.

Abortion hurts babies. A fetus is its own being. It feels pain. There is proof, if people are willing to see it. The problem is many do not want to believe it because they do not want to deliver an unwanted child. However, this does not justify murder.

Abortion hurts women. There are many misconceptions about abortion. Also, a woman can not make a wise decision concerning her baby when she is not presented with all the information. When women have abortion, it has a serious impact emotionally and physically.

Abortion hurts everyone. The overall morals of society have steadily decreased since abortion was legalized. When people say abortion is a woman’s personal business, it is simply untrue.

The sad thing is millions of babies will never have a chance of life. No one should be able to decide on a child’s existence but the child. The same law is in effect for humans out of the womb, why should it be different for inside?

Bibliography

Books:

Ginsburg, Contested Lives, The Regents of the University of California, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California, 1989

Lader, A Private Matter, Prometheus Books, Amherst, New York, 1995

Risen, Thomas, Wrath of Angels, BasicBooks, New York, New York, 1998

Websites:

Eric Clopper, Abortion Information, www.tjhsst.edu/~eclopper/abortion

Jeff Gilbert, Abortion Perspectives, www.pottersschool.com/abortion/main.html