Dear Editor:
In response to Mr. Thompson's letter addressing the subject of "When Life Begins," I have some comments.
Thompson's letter contains words that the normal person cannot pronounce and has never heard of.
Frankly, if his intent was to sway someone's stance on this subject by using big scientific and literary terms, it failed miserably. Personal stories/testimonies, documented medical findings and - most importantly, from my point of view - belief in the Bible, can do that; however, for now I will keep my philosophy simple and keep the religious connotations out since that seems to stir everyone up.
If you haven't yet determined my personal stance, I am pro-life.
I do believe that ultimately the woman is responsible and accountable for her decisions but if you think that by my making that statement you can call me a hypocrite and try to scratch out my checked pro-life box and instead check the pro-choice box on my questionnaire, you would be gravely mistaken because I also believe that each person who has morals and convictions and believes life does in fact begin at conception, has a responsibility to take a stand for the innocent who cannot defend themselves.
Frankly, whether one doesn't believe that life begins at conception or whether they do, the simple fact is if that embryo is allowed to develop and grow, it will be born, just like you and I were born.
If it's not allowed that chance, then it won't and who knows the potential that is lost because that embryo/baby's light was snuffed out before it even had a chance to burn bright.
Many pro-choice argue that if abortions became illegal, many women would resort to seeking out unregulated and unsafe abortions and risk their health and even their life.
That could be true and would be very sad but it would be the woman's choice to break the law and seek out those services. That doesn't mean we don't value the life of the woman, however.
Abortion should not be a means of birth control and has seemingly become so. I have different definitions for the terms pro-choice and pro-life.
Pro-choice is the decision to have sexual relations. Pro-life is the decision to value life and take responsibility for the result of the sexual relations by nurturing that living being so that it has a chance to grow up and live life. The same chance our parents gave you and me.