This topic came up in tonight's Presidential debate. It is a pressing issue on which the two candidates have very different opinions. Different types of abortion were mentioned, letting people know it's a truly complicated issue. McCain believes that Roe v. Wade should be overturned; while, Obama believes that banning abortion would be unconstitutional. This New York Times page highlights the stance that each candidate takes on this important issue. The issue is complicated...when, if ever, is the right time to decide to take away a baby's chance at life? What scenarios come into consideration? Rape, the health conditions of the mother, or just a high school student are all considered. Also, what are the consequences of the Roe v. Wade decision and how would overturning this decision change things? All of these are important questions.
Abortion is a method of intervention. Rather than arguing over how to fix the "problem" once it occurs, government shuold take a preventative role. Obama mentioned during the debate that proper sex education programs shuold be put in place. Both candidates realize that preventing unwanted pregnancies is an important step, but neither think that it's the first step. More prevention programs need to be incorporated into education and earlier on. Today, more and more children are exposed to information on TV and the internet that raises a lot questions that go unanswered. Prevention is the key to dealing with the issue of abortion in the future.
2 comments:
I completely agree that we as a nation should be dealing first with prevention of unwanted pregnancies before we deal with the issue of ending unwanted pregnancies. The first step is to have thorough education in school, and to be more open about sex education. It has been proven over and over again that abstinence as an education program is ineffective, which means we need to move toward teaching safe sex practices. In countries such as Sweden, sex is not such a taboo and their health education covers the topic in depth, and their teen pregnancy rate is far lower than that of the U.S.
I too agree that prevention should be the priority. Only the issue of sex education I am confused as to how Bush's policies have brought up pregnancy rates. All of my schooling has always included information about contraceptives so I don't understand how absinence only has changed things. Maybe it is because I am from NJ and we have a very open sex ed. program, but I never felt that I had missed important information as a result of the last 8 yrs of policy. Sex Education is definitely a key step in prevention of unwanted pregnancies and if it not taught all over the country it should be.
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