I used to consider myself pro-life, because I was considering the nature of the words. I'm generally for the preservation of life. I'm also for the preservation of the right to choose, but logically, choosing to end life seems terrible. So I've considered myself pro-life.
That is, if a woman asked my opinion about her pregnancy, and she was healthy and in a good position to raise a child, or else the child had good prospects at being raised well by some other group, then I'd advise her toward keeping the child. I doubt I'll ever be solicited for this opinion. There are also a wide array of circumstances where I'd advice abortion, though, instead. Rape, poor health of the child, poor health of the mother, severe poverty--these are all valid reasons to abort a pregnancy. Having a baby could still be a good idea for someone who wants one enough to consider going through with it in these situations anyway, but it's not a good idea at that particular moment in the woman's life. There's that "L" word again.
At the same time, I think every city needs a clinic where cheap, clean, professional abortions are performed without question. It's a medical procedure; it's really sad when a baby dies, but also really sad when a baby is born severely disabled, stillborn, or when the mother is killed or injured because of birth. Abortions need to be accessible anonymously, and they need to be covered by insurances. The same is true of contraceptives, because sex is a healthy adult activity and above all, a private one that no one should be able to legislate, and that no outside force should have control over.
So I guess despite liking the words "pro-life" way better, and despite the advice that I would give a woman if she asked me, I'm actually pro-choice in the end, because I don't think women should have to live in a patriarchal and theocratic dystopia.
Looking at you here, Michigan.
