Abortion is one of the most emotive topics not only in the United States but all over the world. The mere mention of the word brings about underlying sentiments, ideologies and facts that have become part and parcel of the arguments and counter arguments surrounding this issue. In 2000 alone there were about 1 313 000 abortions carried out across the United States and the number keeps on rising.
This year alone there have been numerous arrests on both pro choice and pro life supporters who have gone out of their way to express their opinions. For instance, the arrest of pro lifers outside the home of John Boehner, the House Speaker in February this year is a good example of how the subject elicits sharp reactions from the opposing ends.
So what is all the fuss about it? If the Supreme Court legalized it back in 1973 then all should be well and dandy right? This seems to be the opinion carried by Debopriya Bose in her article, ‘Arguments for pro choice abortions’
Debopriya posits that a woman deserves complete control over her body and more so, control over her reproductive health. This, to Debopriya is a woman’s inalienable right. This position holds some merit but is untenable in wider society. As a community of persons we are indeed independent but only as far as this independence does not interfere with the fundamental rights of others. The most fundamental of these rights being the right to live. Interference of this right negates all other rights unless they infringe upon a woman’s right to life as well. Freedom from a moral standpoint is not an unlimited or unchecked right. According to the ChristiaNet article, with freedom comes responsibility, a woman’s actions if of her own volition should be accompanied by an unfettered will to carry the consequences that emanate from such actions.
The argument for or against abortion is based on the definition of life and when life begins. There are differing viewpoints on the same that elicit mixed reactions from clergy, politicians, feminists and the general public making abortion the divisive issue it is. The argument by Debopriya is that abortions take place in the first trimester when the foetus is dependent on the lady bearing it. Debopriya further argues that due to this fact the foetus should not be considered as a separate entity. This in effect means that the foetus is not alive on its own but as part of the mother and as a part of her she has rights over and above anything connected to her physiology and anatomy.
This argument is flawed since in human society independence on each other is a pre-requisite to survival and life. We cannot do with each other. The article on ChristiaNet argues that the mere fact that the foetus is attached to the mother does not mean she has express rights over it anymore than the fact that a father provides for his family gives him express rights to handle his family in any way he sees fit.
In conclusion, it is quite clear that a resolve to the conflicting perspectives is far from sight. The question then becomes more of a personal rather than national issue. Which criteria would you use to pick between being pro choice or pro life? Would you be informed by religion, civil liberty ideals, judicial actions or political correctness? Abortion is a woman’s prerogative, whether it is right or wrong is a matter of personal judgement.
Analysis of rhetoric
I at first began with a background of the topic that would give the reader an idea as to the matters that invoke the intensity of arguments surrounding the topic. I then delved into pertinent issues brought out by the article that forms the basis of my rebuttal i.e. the Debopriya Bose article. I was able to bring out her viewpoints on the subject matter then provide substantive basis for my rebuttal using the ChristiaNet as another information source for this article.
The values brought out in this essay range from moral leanings, civil rights values to legal interpretations of the issues contained herein. I have used analogies where necessary to present logical evidence of my rebuttal and I have not taken a radicals standpoint thus appealing to both sides of the argument yet providing a rebuttal for one side.
Works Cited
Debopriya Bose, Arguments for Pro Choice Abortions. Buzzle.com, 2011.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/arguments-for-pro-choice-abortions.html. 19th December
2011
Abortion Pro-Life. ChristiaNet, 2011.
http://www.christianet.com/abortionfacts/abortionprolife.htm 19th December 2011
