This week, we talk about Emily Letts, an abortion counselor who filmed her own abortion and posted it online.
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZMxnNG_P58′]
You may also download the podcast file here.
FF Podcast 38: Filming an Abortion
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one who forms opinions on the basis of reason, independently of tradition, authority, or established belief; one who doubts or denies religious dogma
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According to the podcast, Emily Letts’ reason for her abortion is her being not prepared to raise a child. Even though her condition of being pregnant doesn’t threaten her life, she chooses to sacrifice her baby (or embryo, depends on how you want to consider it) . That’s her choice. But try to think in other perspective. Speaking of choice, WHAT choice DID the baby have? I know this question sounds ridiculous because even a ten-year-old kid cannot even have a sound choice when it comes to complex decision making.
Her case of abortion is like mercy killing done in advance just BEFORE a predicted undesirable situation MIGHT happen. But unlike her case, euthanasia, on the other hand, is done AFTER or DURING the undesirable situation becomes unbearable, and it is decided by the sufferer himself, which makes such killing justifiable. I don’t think her abortion is NOT pro choice because of the reason that it is she who decided on behalf of the baby (even though we know that it’s not possible for the baby to decide, the baby is still entitled for a choice, (just assume it’s the norm in case you disagree).
I am pro choice, and there are many cases of abortion which are justifiable especially those which involves life and death dilemma of the “mother”. But what about this case of Emily? I think she’s the one who needs counseling…about raising a child. Because reason behind her choice is not enough to justify her abortion.
I know people make mistakes. Emily probably knows a lot about contraceptives but despite her knowledge, being careless results in unwanted pregnancy (assuming that’s what happened to her).
Q: What should you do if you made a mistake?
A: Be responsible? Yes! But not by killing the victim. Killing the what?
The embryo is the victim of her unwanted pregnancy; not her (unless she is raped). I’m talking about the pregnancy itself this time, not abortion.
When faced with difficult situations that involves morality, it is better to choose between the greater evil and lesser evil, than to choose between lesser good and greater good to avoid bias in thinking. In Emily’s case, raising the baby would be the lesser evil than having her baby die in an abortion.