One of the most controversial and polarizing issues of our modern world is abortion, there is no doubt. I understand the peril of discussing such a topic in a free forum of this particular kind, but if I cannot articulate my view well enough in writing in which I have plenty of time to edit and revise, I’m afraid it will be rather useless to try to express it elsewhere. I have chosen my words carefully to present my argument tactfully and respectfully but without compromising my core beliefs. Persuasion is not my intent. I will lay out my thoughts on abortion as I perceive the practice of it in today’s world.

I am neither a religious zealot seeking conformity from opposing societal secularism, nor a promoter of anti-religious fanaticism and indifference to human life. Being a male, I recognize that I will never know or appreciate what it’s like to become pregnant or rear a child within my own body. I hold a few basic positions on the subject which I default to when at a crossroads of contradictory thought. I believe that abortion is an issue that should be dealt with at the level of the state governments, that it is too often used as a form of contraception to replace responsibility instead of an emergency procedure in order to preserve health, and that late-term abortions should not be conducted unless the mother’s health is in jeopardy.

The last of the aforementioned positions stems from my belief that there is plenty of time to decide within the first few months of pregnancy whether or not one is capable of raising a child. This idea corresponds with that of responsibility and the capacity to make sound judgments when engaging in sexual conduct. Before one makes such a decision to perform these acts, they should comprehend that they are accountable for the results of their actions. If they are incapable of realizing their liability, they should not engage in the activity. Abortion should not be used as an easy fix to an unwanted or unintended result stemming from a conscious adult decision. This is why it is necessary to be properly educated about all of the consequences of sexual activities. Ignorance should never be an excuse.

In many instances, women who become pregnant know whether or not they will be able to support a child either financially or in a physiological sense. Once one comes to the realization that one cannot go through with the pregnancy, I imagine it is not an easy decision to make, but it is one that must be made quickly for obvious reasons. When in this situation, several weeks or a couple of months would seem to be sufficient time to make an assessment. Procrastination is as irresponsible as not initially recognizing the possible consequences of intercourse. After several months of pregnancy, which is plenty of time to make a choice, abortion procedures should only be conducted if the mother’s health or life is at risk. I feel this is more of a common sense issue of morality than it is anything else.

There is an exception that needs consideration. Pregnancy that is a result of rape or incest should undoubtedly be subject to termination at the woman’s insistence. No one should be forced to carry the burden of an ill-conceived child brought about by a felonious sexual assault. However, the decision to end an unwanted pregnancy should still be made within a reasonable time. In these situations I feel that most women would arrive at their decision rather quickly.

Who gets to decide this issue is almost as polarizing as the act itself. Over the years, polls have shown that there is a clear majority who believe abortion should not be legal. Their viewpoint is irrelevant because of the edict conveyed by the Supreme Court at the conclusion of the Roe v. Wade lawsuit. United States citizens – a populace who is supposed to have command over its government – have been denied the ability to express their will through the rule of law. A nation like England is not nearly as divided as Americans on the matter of abortion because their citizens were able to vote on the concern.

Many consider this issue one to be handled within the state governments. In recent decades, state rights have been whittled away and reassigned to the federal bureaucracy. This shift of authority can be attributed to a lack of appropriate state representation in our federal government. Germany has more representation in Washington D.C. than any of our state legislatures. Abortion legality should be determined in the same way as speed limits, marriage rights, and state taxes. This can no longer be articulated in Congress since our senators no longer embody the government of the state in which they were elected. As a consequence, laws continue to be approved to the detriment of the states without the individual state governments having a voice in the affair.

Until the situation can be resolved by the people or the states, abortion will remain a hot-button issue. In a nation where we are taught that everyone has an influence in their governments’ actions, it does not sit well with the population when it becomes palpable that countless citizens do not. No matter what religion you embrace or opinion you utter on the subject of abortion, it is clear that a resolution needs to be attained by a body other than a panel of judges. We the people need such a resolution if for no other reason than to insure domestic tranquility.