My wife and I were talking earlier today, and the conversation turned to politics (as it so often does for those of us currently residing in Pennsylvania these days). Specifically, we talked about the politics of abortion. And it struck me that most abortion fights these days (and certainly the whole "partial-birth abortion" ban of not too long ago), centered on exclusions for the health of the women.

So I'm just curious, if a bill was proposed in Congress that would ban abortion in the United States, but included a prominent exception for any case in which the pregnancy presented dangers to the life or the physical health of the mother not commonly associated with normal pregnancies, would you support it or not?

I realize that such a measure might not not be anyone's ideal, with some feeling that even that exception is insufficient and others feeling that it is so broad that it would hardly stop any abortions at all. But putting aside ideals for the moment, and assuming that future legislation could be proposed (or not) to work out the details of enforcement, would you support this measure if it happened to be the one on the table at the moment? And if not, why not?

In this thread I'm really more interested in hearing opinions than in trying to change them, and I hope that participants will respect that distinction and refraining from criticizing other posters, or accusing them of wanting-babies-to-die/wanting-to-institute-a-theocracy.

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To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. -Theodore Roosevelt

Yup, i'd support it.

I can easily say I would support it - however I have a 17 yo daughter.
If, God forbid, she was raped - I would not stop her to cease the pregnancy as early as possible.
If she became pregnant by her own doing - that is a different story - completely different.

No, I would not support it. Athough, I am in favor of RvW reform - a difficult task, indeed; women are not second-class citizens and equal in the eyes of the law.

Dictiating what women can or cannot do with their own bodies and lives is borderline fascism and sexism.

And, for those with anger management issues about abortion, try to keep your emotions and anger under control. Simply because milllions of women don't do what you want them to do...well, just think about that attitude.

[edit] So, there is my view and one of my my reasons for that view. [/edit]

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

I should mention - the last abortion thread turned into a free-for-all with over 20 deleted post and resulted in I believe 3 warnings.
I understand this is a touchy subject - however please stay on the TOPIC - and not each other...

I was gonna create a thread about the Yale student who saw abortion as an art seeing as CT didn't....but like with the other one it would turn into a fish market.

Then do. Or, stick to the OP so that you won't see a "fish market".

__________________
I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

Hmm that's the first time i've thought of that, my daughter is only like 10 months but yeah years down the line if that happened to her i dunno what i'd do...

oh lord...you have some good times coming...wait till she has her first date!

That'll be when she's 25!

Its tough for the father, but some strange reason i wanted a girl more than anything, as did my wife. And if and when we have another i'd like another girl again.

I have both - glad I did.
The relationship with each one of them is completely different.
Father-Daughter is hard to explain, there is no relationship like it.
A son is a little you.

Exactly, and sometimes the prospect of a smaller version of me terrifies me.

But yeah it is difficult to explain, a father and the protection he feels over his daughter is generally un-matched or unrivaled by anything else in the world.

I'd oppose any ban on abortion. It's the woman's body and her choice, whether or not you approve of her reasons. The "health/life" exception for the mother is silly, as are the "rape/incest" exceptions. They punish a woman for consenting to sex, or having a healthy pregnancy. Either abortion is murder, in which case you should oppose it under all circumstances, or it isn't, in which case it should be freely available.

I understand you're trying to do your best for your daughter, but would you really punish her for consenting to sex?

I would agree with this if it was actually thier own body. The way I see it, an unborn fetus is NOT part of a womans body, it is a seporate life force, a whole nother person. I would support apportion ONLY if the womans life was in danger, we can't force one person to risk thier life for another, so I don't see why it would be any difforent with abortion.