Clarification

I'm not sure if my views fully got through in this post, so allow me to elucidate.

1. I HATE that it is an option. I think this is the main thing that I didn't get across clearly.

2. Until this world is free from brokenness, it must remain an option--so fix the adoption system (500,000 kids in this country's foster system at any given time--with around 20,000 "aging out" of the system or running away instead of finding a home every year--is too many) solve rape, incest, and pregnancy complications first, then abolish abortion.

3. The way to end abortion is not through protesting at abortion clinics--and calling people "baby-killers" or condemning them--it is prevention of the situations that warrant abortion--rape, incest, etc. Some of these situations won't be stopped until the world is remade. Also, it is my opinion that what is said during these protests may be part of the reason for the post-abortion depression that "pro-lifers" (some of whom are also for the death penalty, go figure) always cite.

4. We need better sex ed programs--sorry people, abstinence-only education doesn't always work; we need to stress protection methods as well, even though they aren't perfect.

5. Abortion should not be a cure-all resort. It is vastly overused. Like I said in the previous post on this topic, if you're not ready to have a kid, don't have sex--or at least, use some form of protection, and take the risk that it fails; and if it does fail, be responsible. Also, RU-486 ("the morning-after pill") and abortion should not be used as an excuse to get blind drunk--or intoxicated on any other substance--and open yourself up for the possibility that you'll be taken advantage of, or think "it doesn't matter, I can always 'undo' it, so I'll do whatever I want with whoever I want".

I'm sorry if any of you got the idea that I like abortion, or that it doesn't make me feel sick when I hear about the staggering frequency it is used--over 1/4 of pregnancies worldwide. My science background sometimes gets in the way of saying it's okay to force the moral decision on people--which is what criminalizing abortion would do, if it would actually stop it from happening (nearly half of all abortions occur where it isn't legal). I hope this post has cleared things up, and I welcome any rational discussion on the topic.