I think the entire abortion debate is stupid...a great deal of heat, without any light whatsoever. Both sides make up specious arguments, and throw out examples that are so extreme as to be statistically negligible.

I do not like abortion. I think it is a bad alternative, even though, sometimes, having a child is also a bad alternative.

I have listened to a fair number of young women agonize over this over the years I have been teaching. Some have chose one way, and some the other. I have listened to them, offered counsel, if they wanted it, and supported the decisions they have made.

Some of their stories have been heart wrenching, and the decision has never, as far as I have seen, been lightly reached, no matter whether they continued the pregnancy or terminated it. Life is hard, and I have no right to make it harder by telling people what they can and can not do in such circumstances.

Moralizing is easy, and cheap, and very little help to people.

I notice that many of the "pro-life" people are anxious to prevent women from having abortions, but far less anxious to help them when they actually have the baby. I notice, too, that most "pro-choice" advocates (that I have known) are very vocal about the woman's right to choose, but also rarely step up to help young women who choose to keep their child.

I have helped young women who chose to keep their child, financially and in other ways.

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Grassaf, Eolas