We have a Formspring.
And I sort of forgot we had an e-mail account for the past year and just checked it for the first time in forever…SO this is a Formspring I received in July.
My bad.
Tumblr name?: none
Ask Me Anything!: So I’ve noticed that you hold the view that anyone who believes that abortion is justifiable under even some circumstances — the usual rape exception, if the fetus is nonviable, if the mother wouldn’t survive its birth — even if they don’t think so for most cases, is pro-choice. But you also do use the phrase “pro-choice with exceptions” to describe people who believe abortion is justifiable under most circumstances, but not so in some. Why is that? Do you really think it’s not possible for someone to believe that abortion should be illegal, but still personally feel that it’s justified in some cases?
(I don’t think there’s really a right answer here, but I do think it’s important to differentiate between personal feelings and opinions relating to law. It’s like someone who feels they would never get an abortion themselves but still thinks it should be legal for everyone; they’re pro-choice. Someone who wants abortion to be illegal but thinks rape victims would be justified in seeking one… I would personally still call them anti-choice.)
Can I Post This On Tumblr?: Sure.
People who think abortion should be illegal but available for only some people in certain circumstances are pro-choice. Saying they are anti-choice is a misnomer because anti-choicers do not support abortion in any cases which means no exceptions. You cannot be anti-choice and think abortion should illegal and legal (for some people) at the same time.
If abortions are illegal except for rape victims, how exactly would you be able to determine whether someone was raped? It’s a crime that goes seriously under-reported and isn’t taken seriously when it is. Would a police report need to be filed? Even though in the majority of instances no one sees jail time? What kind of evidence could one provide to get an abortion if they were raped? Saying that abortion should be illegal except for rape victims is unenforceable and so, by default, all abortions, even for rape victims, would be illegal.
Also, fetuses conceived from rape are no less valuable than those conceived from consensual sex. There should not be a distinction between how a fetus was created because in the end they all have the same value. They still have the potential to become a human being.
Love,
Rabble
