By Guthrie “Guff” Worth
I am sick and tired of all the hassle concerning the various aspects of something that is absolutely necessary to the world”s wellbeing: population control.
People moan and groan about the starving masses across the world, the cost of raising unwanted children and the high costs of the extra care required for people born with serious physical or developmental problems.
And yet another vast group decries abortion, contraception, but condones “safe timing,” fertility clinics and Viagra.
Interestingly enough there is a large crossover between the groups. If people believe in a right to procreate, by inference there must also be a right not to procreate.
The enjoyment of sex as a pleasurable act has been recognized for eons and is not going to end regardless of what some people seem to think. I feel that managing the result is the only sane outcome.
I think people need to do a lot of reflecting on the nature and sanctity of life. True enough, religious beliefs are a heavy influence on some. Fine. But have the decency not to force your beliefs on others.
In early days, people were encouraged to have children to increase the fold, even Hitler gave rewards for new little “Aryans.”
The world simply does not need that philosophy today.
To me the idea that terminating a pregnancy is anything but the right of the mother is absurd and the ideas that a human being begins with and egg-sperm fusion and termination is murder is even more absurd and indefensible. As anyone who has studied fetal development knows, the thing that forms from the sperm-egg fusion is a single-celled animalcule, certainly not human. As it develops, it goes through stages that resemble many lesser “animals,” the termination of which is more like stepping on a toad that murder.
I think the old insurance ruling is appropriate; until an infant has proven itself to be viable outside the womb for two weeks, it cannot be considered a person. Except, of course, for the two hours or so it must be kept alive for tax purposes.
I suspect that no one likes the idea of abortion after the first trimester. By that time the parents have had a chance to have feelings for the child-to-be and have had a chance to consider the many problems, financial and social, of being parents.
But in all cases the paramount concern is for the health and safety of the mother. If term completion endangers the mother, termination is in order.
Modern medical procedures allow the condition of the fetus to be appraised. If there is evidence that the fetus presents extra-normal problems for the potential parents, I think they should have the right and responsibility for the yes-or-no decision.
I cannot think of a worse existence for a child who already has physical/mental problems to have to live with parents who regret their decision. From what I gather, there are already too many such cases.
For those who feel strongly about preventing abortion, that seems to be their right, given it is non-violent, but for every unwanted infant they force to be born, I think they should be forced to fund the $250,000 it now costs to raise a child to the age of 18.
Guthrie “Guff” Worth
Lakeport
