American Public Policy on Abortion
The American policy on abortion is a complex one and elicits a lot of debate. However, the majority of the public supports abortion being legal. Of concern is that most people are unhappy by the policy as it stands and many are pushing for changes on the Roe, V Wade policy.
Moreover, a majority of those that support and those that oppose have taken hardline stands against it. Most States support abortion remaining legal, but many would like to revise the Roe, V Wade abortion policy. Abortion is a life-altering decision, and it not only affects the parents but states and the country at large. The question to consider is if abortion is harmful or helpful, should it be supported or not? It should be legal, but restrictions need to be included to ensure that it does not do more harm than good. Policy on abortion should be adjustable; the issue should always remain open for debate because a country’s needs keep changing.
The American constitution does not address abortion; it neither supports nor opposes it. According to Justice Scalia, “the constitution says absolutely nothing about it”(Craddock). Moreover, when being drafted the constitution did not consider life pre-birth. It relied heavily on states making democratic decisions on the matter. Subsequently, the law does not support either pro-life or pro-choice to push their agendas. The constitution addresses the rights of human beings after birth, leaving a dilemma on the rights of the unborn. A well-renowned justice, Justice Scalia stated that the courts have their hands tied in abortion matters in line with the constitution. Furthermore, in as much as the court might find a loophole to ban abortion, it can also do so in support of it. Considering that the courts cannot be strong-armed to support one group over the other, open dialogue remains the solution.
People who are against abortion argue that it goes against the principle of life being a precious gift. According to Ladock, “A baby is considered as a God’s gift, and it’s believed that every human being has a purpose”. It possesses a morality issue, especially to religious people in the US. Subsequently, choosing to abort is refusing a gift that can add blessings to one’s own life. Secondly, abortion is risky; one might miss the chance to conceive again.
Moreover, it might cause physical harm and in worst scenario death. Lastly, is the psychological turmoil it causes the woman, with cases of anxiety and stress in one’s life being of concern. Religious teachings are against abortion, but not all Christians are against it. According to Masci, there are “cases where the views of the church’s members don’t align with their teachings on abortion. Subsequently, it is safe to say that not all who practise religion are against abortion.
Among the advantages of abortion is the choice of bettering one’s circumstances before bringing forth life to the world. Life can get complicated, forcing one to terminate a pregnancy. Furthermore, according to Ladock, “a mother has to go through the labour pain and other issues involved with parenting and juggling responsibilities”. It is essential that a woman decide what is best for her life and is respected for the decision she makes. Moreover, a child’s wellbeing is dependent on the mother’s ability to raise it as well as family support. The mother has to be financially and psychologically ready to carry out this life-altering challenge. It is also essential to consider the pregnancies conceived from rape and the trauma of such pregnancies.
Policy on abortion is one that should be open for debate owing to it being a very delicate issue. It is vital to address the issues raised by different factions of American society. Moreover, it is only in remaining open to revising the policy that Americans will practice their freedoms. Notably, the needs of the community keep changing; what might seem fit in today’s society might not be the case in future societies. All stakeholders, therefore, need to be open to revising the policy every time need arises. It would, however, be advised that they use a democratic approach.