Abortion
The coexistence of opposite and conflicting feelings about abortion is
centuries old. Disagreements between public policy, morality and
individual behavior on this issue existed even at the time of Plato and
Aristotle. In the past few decades abortion issue has been brought into
sharper focus and has been vigorously debated. A number of factors are
responsible for this but perhaps the major one has been that associated
with the sexual revolution which accentuates freedom in all matters sexual
and in spite of or even because of the tremendous and indiscriminate
increase in the distribution of contraceptives. Judges have ruled,
politicians have legislated, but the controversy on this issue is still
shaking our society. Since the late 1960's abortion has been shifting from
a predominantly illegitimate status toward a more legitimate one. Several
cases have been fought for the right to choose. Many of these have been
hard cases with very personal feelings, but the perseverance showed through
and gives us the rights we have today. In 1965 Griswold v. Connecticut
upheld the right the right to privacy and ended the ban on birth control.
Eight years later, the Supreme Court ruled the right to privacy included
abortions. In Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court stated that it is the women's
right to have an abortion if she so chooses. In Jan 1988 the abortion
section of the Criminal Code of Canada was struck down in Morgentaler
decision. (Gentles, 13). Most arguments against granting women the right to
abortion are based on religious and moral prohibitions, defending the
sanctity of human life. Opponents of abortion rely on the premise that the
fetus is a human being, a person from the moment of conception. Anti-
abortionist proclaim that they are pro-life. However, they spend so much
time...
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