Shahad Tallab Ms.

Monica Jacobe ENG 101 June 26, 2008 Abortion: a Capital Punishment for Only Being Conceived The Holy Bible states Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward (Psalm 127:3). If this is true then how dare people mistreat the gift of a new life and prevent it the right of living and become a wonderful human being? The Biblical understanding of life isn't the only religious argument that opposes abortion and its practice. Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism and many other world faiths have a similar attitude on the topic at hand. Islam considers abortion as a moral crime and sees Allah Almighty as the controller of life and death. Islamic law states that abortion is illegal except in those situations in which the woman's life is in jeopardy. Hinduism claims that the soul enters the embryo at the time of conception and abortion should hence be outlawed except in the case of rape or incest. Buddhism takes a similar stance and claims abortion is murdering, yet also states that each case should be individually analyzed. The question that arises after examining these numerous perspectives is how can these practices which violate or threaten our fundamental beliefs be tolerated? Before the U.S. Supreme Court's famous Roe v. Wade decision, abortions were permitted in certain states but banned in others. The court ruled in 1973 that, anywhere in the U.S.: a woman and her doctor may freely decide to terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester.

State governments can restrict abortion access after the first trimester with laws intended to protect the woman's health.

Abortions after fetal viability must be available if the woman's health or life are at risk; state governments can prohibit other abortions. The legalization of abortion draw a lot of objections from people and pro-life supporters,

and some states bill to overturn the rules and criminalize abortion. There are many arguments on the rights and wrongs of abortion. The methods to achieve the results are cruel, the statistics do not weigh for the better, and the issue is very serious. I believe that abortion should be banned for the sake and well-being of the mother, and the baby. It is not that an abortion is a well-practiced method to get rid of a accidental or unwanted pregnancy, but the price a women pays for the procedure is not just a couple of hundreds dollar. It is far much more. Physical complications that have been linked with abortion are ranging between minor complications such as minor infections, bleeding, fevers, chronic abdominal pain, and vomiting, to major complications like infection, excessive bleeding, ripping or perforation of the uterus, hemorrhage, and cervical injury (Faundes. 36). These complications could inflict a huge impact on a womans life in the long-term. Normally the cervix is firm and tightly closed. In order to perform an abortion, the cervix must be stretched open with a great deal of force. During this forced dilation there is almost always tearing of the cervix muscles and occasionally severe ripping of the uterine wall as well. Dr. Paul E. Jarrett, an ex-abortionist, points out how it is frighteningly easy tear the uterus with suction tube or other instrument given that the constancy of the uterus in the first trimester is a wet paper bag (Meehan). Cervical damages are known for causing a permanent weakening of the cervix. This weakening may result in an incompetent cervix that will not be unable to carry the

weight of a later planned pregnancy, or opens prematurely resulting in miscarriage, premature birth, complications of labor, or abnormal development of the placenta. Not only that, but sterility is also another possible outcome caused by abortion infections (Faundes. 37). Dr. Arnold Halpern who performed abortions for years states that it is often that some women became infertile after undergoing an abortion, and as he terminated pregnancies of some women, he was helping other women who badly want to get pregnant again (Meehan). Therefore, a woman who contemplates having an abortion must consider these risks and its effect on her future life. It is important to also mention that abortion comes hand in hand with some psychological complications. Mary Meehan, in her article, claims that Many women are psychologically devastated by abortion. And note that the word women should be interpreted broadly here. Some of the negative feelings that the women have after abortion are guilt, shame, self-reproach, depression, withdrawal, obsession with need to become pregnant again, aversion to sex and males in general. Joan Appleton who was a committed feminist, and an activist in the National Organization for Women, started to have doubts when she became a head nurse of an abortion clinic in Virginia. "I counseled these women so well; they were so sure of their decision. Why are they coming back after me now-months and years later-psychological wrecks?" she asked herself. She also wonders why abortion causes emotional torment when it was clearly the right course of action at the time (Meehan). So why not consider adoption? A woman might say, why should I carry a baby for nine months and then go through labor only to hand him over for some other people? I would say what would you prefer? To live with the fact that you killed your baby or the realization that you have done the best you could to give him a life with a mom and dad who are desperate to give their love to him? You can interview potential parents and chose the perfect candidates to raise

your child. You can even maintain a relationship with your child if you choose to. Some adoption agency could match you upon your request with a couple who have the same wish. And then you would be able to go on with your life and pursue your goals and dreams knowing that your child is loved and well cared and provided for in every aspect. The Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott advised those who dont have the means to raise up a child to consider adoption "Those sorts of feelings [absence and guilt] are part of adoption, too, but I suspect that it is not the same as the grief of abortion" he said. Therefore, pregnant women who cannot afford a baby must take time and think about adoption as a perfect alternative, and never choose abortion unless they are 150% sure about their decision. The pro-choice movement supporters claim that during the first weeks of gestation a fetus is only a lump of tissues, and that a fetus is not a human until later stage of pregnancy or until the fetus is viable. Therefore, if a woman doesnt want to have a baby for any reason she could have an abortion. Unfortunately, their perspective is not well-founded. To explain this, let us start from the very beginning. Conception: out of millions of sperms that try to penetrate the mothers egg, only one succeeds. Both of the sperm and the egg have 23 chromosomes and as they united a new individual is formed. From that precise moment everything is determined the sex, the color eyes, the color of the hair, and every other detail about how this little person will look like. Between the 18th to 21st day of gestation the heart start beating. As it is known that one of the arguments that surround abortion is the definition of life. Some might wonder if death is defined when the heartbeat stop doesnt that means that the beginning of life should be defined the moment the heart starts beating. If so, then how could anyone say that a fetus during the first trimester is only a mass of tissues? A beating heart is not a characteristic of a collection of tissues. Therefore, aborting the fetus after the heart starts beating should be outlawed.

As science has been improving through time, a more accurate definition of death was found. Doctors now announce the death of someone when his brain wave activity stops. And likewise, if brain activity defines death should it not define life as well? Embryologist detected the electrical activity in the fetuss brain actually starts around the 40-44 days of development. The conclusion proves the obvious that an embryo is little human being. According to Antony Barone Kolenc, in his article, Easing Abortions Pain, an unborn child can feel the pain during the abortion operation. He explains that As early as seven weeks of gestation (and possibly earlier), the child develops nociceptors-pain receptors that allow a signal of pain to be received by the child's body and transmitted to the spinal cord and brain. The part of the brain known as the thalamus registers the signal and identifies it as painful. The thalamus then passes the signal to the child's motor nerves, where various reflex reactions take place. The child feels the pain, leading to increases in blood pressure, heart rate and key hormone levels. After all these medical evidences, it is should be clear that a developing child is little human that should be protected and treated with care and love. Being so fragile and tiny that it cannot defend itself doesnt give us the right to abuse it, tear it limp for limp, and then throw it in the trash with no conscience or feeling of guilt. It is unfortunate that life isn't valued like it once was. Abortion is a cruel and nasty method of easing a persons burden. God created theses babies, how does anyone have the right to make the decision to terminate a life. They talk about the freedom of women, but what about the freedom of those babies. The freedom to choose to live has been taken from them before they even know they have the right to choose. We all know that these unborn children suffer, so why pretending it ok to hurt them. Their tiny little hands and feet are stretched out asking for protection and love.

Works Cited "Fed: Tony Abbott speaks on unwanted pregnancies." AP General News Wire. 21 Feb. 2005 1. International Module. ProQuest. Catholic University Lib., Washogton D.C., D.C. 3 Jul. 2008 <http://www.proquest.com>. Kolenc, Antony Barone. "Easing Abortion's Pain." America. 26 Sep. 2005: 18-21. Research Library Core. ProQuest. Catholic University Lib., Washogton D.C., D.C. 3 Jul. 2008 <http://www.proquest.com>. Meehan, Mary. "The ex-abortionists: Why they quit." Human Life Review. 1 Apr. 2000: 728. Social Science Module. ProQuest. Catholic University Lib., Washogton D.C., D.C. 3 Jul. 2008 <http://www.proquest.com>.