the abortion debate: not going away

this slate article on new gallup polls on everything from marriage equality to women's rights to abortion shows that as a country we are becoming more "liberal" - more and more americans support the right to marriage of same sex couples, more americans support access to birth control, and more americans believe that women have a place in the workforce. however, this trend does not apply to abortion. in fact, americans might be getting more "conservative" in this respect. i find it very interesting, and somewhat encouraging. my beliefs have evolved my entire adult live: the more i learn the less rigid and more reasonable i've become. one thing that has endured, however, is my discomfort with the left's nonchalant acceptance of abortion as an essential [unrestricted] right for women. i consider myself quite liberal, although some staunch pro choicers might disagree. that, however, isn't the point. i am simply glad to see that as a country, we are beginning to realize that issues like allowing loving and committed people to marry are no brainers. we are also realizing that gay rights and abortion are by no means the same. one is about loving our brothers and sisters no matter who they love, one is about the grey area that defines the beginning of life. when those i respect as thoughtful and articulate folks throw around pro-choice rhetoric regarding WOMAN'S BODY WOMAN'S CHOICE i cringe a little bit. it's not that black and white and anyone who thinks it is has not thought about it much and certainly hasn't learned about the concert of cellular occurrences that converge to form an embryo, then a fetus, then a baby. 


i'm not pushing an agenda. i'm not lobbying for a reversal of roe v wade. i simply want people on all sides of the issue to give it some critical thought. the beginning of life is a tricky tricky distinction, but one that will be vital to consider as we move forward as a civilized society. 


[also, pleaassseeee take your health into your own hands - use oral contraceptives or an iud or an implantable device. if we do this, perhaps the whole debate about termination will become obsolete! wishful thinking? that's probably what they said about female secretaries of state or people who are gay getting hitched 4o years ago]


on a lighter note, i'd like to introduce my new french press, tina. she gives me coffee that tastes fantastic and keeps me awake to study and read slate and chase around an eleanor.