Letter: The human right to choose
Ryan McBride
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: Opinion
Student Body Vice President Mike Crenshaw recently wrote an article in the Dakota Student voicing his stance on abortion. Although the article may have implied certain stances on God, that was not the focus and is therefore not touched on in this rebuttal. Mike's support for his viewpoint was backed up by quite a few questions and an illogical argument. I'd like to clear up a few points for Mike and the readers of the Dakota Student. Mike, your intentions are no doubt honorable. I agree with you that life is a great thing but I disagree with two points.
First, "protecting" a fertilized egg leaves me to question what else we should protect. On the fifth day of human gestation, a blastocyst is formed. This blastocyst consists of between 70 and 100 cells. To put this into perspective, the brain of an average housefly contains over 100,000 cells. We all know the depressing fate of most houseflies.
I am, of course, not equating humans to houseflies, but I am arguing that an embryo is not worthy the protection you state it should have. It has the potential (i.e. genetic information) to become a human being. But is it? No. It is a bundle of cells the fraction of the size of a fly's brain.
If we are to pass legislation protecting embryos, we surely must pass legislation protecting houseflies.
If the idea of saving houseflies sounds ridiculous, simply look at the facts surrounding early abortion. According to Planned Parenthood, "Of the 1.6 million abortions performed in the U.S. each year, 91 percent are performed during the first trimester (12 or fewer weeks' gestation); 9 percent are performed in the second trimester (24 or fewer weeks' gestation); and only about 100 are performed in the third trimester (more than 24 weeks' gestation), approximately .01 percent of all abortions performed." The argument changes in the later stages of fetal development. As of yet, there is no conclusive scientific evidence proving or disproving that a late-term fetus feels pain during the abortion process. Because of this lack of information, I am currently against late-term abortions.
First, "protecting" a fertilized egg leaves me to question what else we should protect. On the fifth day of human gestation, a blastocyst is formed. This blastocyst consists of between 70 and 100 cells. To put this into perspective, the brain of an average housefly contains over 100,000 cells. We all know the depressing fate of most houseflies.
I am, of course, not equating humans to houseflies, but I am arguing that an embryo is not worthy the protection you state it should have. It has the potential (i.e. genetic information) to become a human being. But is it? No. It is a bundle of cells the fraction of the size of a fly's brain.
If we are to pass legislation protecting embryos, we surely must pass legislation protecting houseflies.
If the idea of saving houseflies sounds ridiculous, simply look at the facts surrounding early abortion. According to Planned Parenthood, "Of the 1.6 million abortions performed in the U.S. each year, 91 percent are performed during the first trimester (12 or fewer weeks' gestation); 9 percent are performed in the second trimester (24 or fewer weeks' gestation); and only about 100 are performed in the third trimester (more than 24 weeks' gestation), approximately .01 percent of all abortions performed." The argument changes in the later stages of fetal development. As of yet, there is no conclusive scientific evidence proving or disproving that a late-term fetus feels pain during the abortion process. Because of this lack of information, I am currently against late-term abortions.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Greg C
posted 5/01/08 @ 3:21 PM CST
While I will admit that some the arguments in the issue you are referring to lacked much research or any solid logical arguments, your article is in the same boat as the rest of theirs. (Continued…)
Ryan McBride
posted 5/01/08 @ 4:19 PM CST
Greg,
Thanks for your comment. It probably doesn't matter much, but I'd like to point out that I actually submitted this to the DS with a different title. (Continued…)
Brian Peppers
posted 5/04/08 @ 2:00 PM CST
Mike is a liberal. He only said he is pro life because he is at an ND campus. Who cares!
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