Abortion is a very powerful word, e.g. it can make a President or destroy another. Abortion means destroying the offspring by a deliberate premature delivery. It is a powerful action as well, though power for miscarriage. There should be no doubt that it is murder of a living being. Then why do it, sometimes even sensible people want to commit such a murder? Can it be a murder to save another life? Even then should it be accepted and forgiven.
Under normal conditions no normal person would like to abort an innocent life. What can be the abnormal conditions to provoke such an inhuman act? A child conceived as a result of rape, or a child conceived by a mother not capable of looking after the consequent infant, or a child conceived by too young a girl, unable to understand the consequences of her actions, etc. or an undesired conception, in the worst case. Women of all these categories including the child, if not aborted, would suffer for a very long time.
No doubt, life is sacred, and therefore it ought not to be extinguished even before its birth. But what if the new life is going to cause unbearable misery to the mother or father or to the infant her/ his self? Would not that be inhuman? Abortion should be allowed only under such exceptional circumstances, and not to allow it to a couple who does not want a girl child.
There are times in life when one has to choose between two miseries or two equally important ethical rules, although there may be a class of people who may consider 'abortion' as a murder not deserving any mercy, and therefore not permissible under any circumstances. However if one were to think a little more rationally, and think that the birth would cause serious misery either to the child or the mother or the father etc., then would not abortion become a human and compassionate act? Under such conditions, I would think that abortion should be permissible, because the purpose of life is to achieve greatest happiness, and not lead, most likely, a miserable life or cause misery to others. As it is, life has so many challenges, then why not think rationally and then decide.
Abortion, if made permissible, is likely to be misused. Of course there are always people who misuse good laws. There are laws against thefts and murders, but thefts and murders are committed. For such unsocial persons the law agencies are there to take suitable action. Euthanasia is another difficult proposition. And it is not being permitted legally, though it can prevent lot of avoidable pain and misery to old people suffering from deadly diseases like some cancers. This because it can be easily misused, perhaps with impunity.
Rather than be extremely miserable or cause extreme misery, abort and go forth into the world with a determination to lead a humane life, increasing happiness in the society with double determination.
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