Abortion is one of the most contentious issues of our time, sparking passionate debate on both sides. At its core, the pro-life stance holds the view that life begins at conception, and every human being, no matter how small or undeveloped, has an inherent right to live. Abortion, according to this view, is not a mere medical procedure but the ending of an innocent life. While many who advocate for abortion present it as a necessary choice for women, those in the pro-life movement argue that abortion should only ever be considered as a last resort—after extensive education on abstinence and contraceptive options has been offered.
Abortion should never be the first solution to an unplanned pregnancy. Instead, the focus should be on educating women and men about personal responsibility and the importance of abstinence, as well as providing thorough information about contraceptives. Comprehensive sex education that stresses the importance of abstaining from sex until individuals are ready for its potential consequences is vital. This would significantly reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies in the first place.
Additionally, for those who choose to engage in sexual activity, proper contraceptive education and access are critical. There is a wide range of effective contraceptive methods available today that can prevent pregnancy, from birth control pills and implants to condoms and intrauterine devices (IUDs). By educating individuals on how to use these methods properly, society can prevent a significant number of unwanted pregnancies, making the need for abortion far less frequent.
One of the most troubling aspects of the abortion debate is how society often dehumanizes the unborn child in order to make abortion more palatable. Pro-abortion rhetoric frequently refers to the unborn child as "just a fetus" or "just a zygote." This terminology is used to detach the developing human from its humanity, leading many women to believe that abortion is simply the removal of a clump of cells, rather than the termination of a life.
The reality, however, is quite different. From the moment of conception, the zygote contains all the genetic information necessary for a unique human being to develop. Within just a few weeks, the unborn child has a heartbeat, and brain waves are detectable. By the time many abortions take place, the child has arms, legs, fingers, and toes. The fact that such a tiny human life is so easily dismissed as a mere "fetus" highlights the power of dehumanization in the abortion debate. Women are often misled, either by ignorance or by deliberate obfuscation, about the true developmental stages of the unborn child.
Many women who have undergone abortions report feelings of guilt, regret, and emotional trauma. Yet, before the procedure, they are often told that their unborn child is not fully developed or that it's simply a medical procedure with no long-term consequences. This is a form of deception that can have devastating effects. Women deserve to know the truth about what abortion entails, both physically and emotionally. This includes understanding the stages of fetal development and the potential consequences of the decision they are about to make.
A growing number of pro-life advocates argue that women considering abortion should be required to watch a video of an actual abortion before making their final decision. While this may seem extreme to some, the logic behind it is simple: women deserve to fully understand what they are about to do. Watching such a video can provide a stark and undeniable reality check. Abortion is not a clean or simple procedure—it involves the physical destruction of a living being. By watching a video, women are forced to confront the gravity of their decision and may reconsider.
At the heart of the abortion debate lies a profound moral question: what is the value of human life? Pro-life advocates argue that life, from conception to natural death, is sacred. Abortion, in this view, undermines the value of human life by reducing the unborn to something less than human—merely a collection of cells that can be discarded at will.
This devaluation of human life is not limited to the unborn; it affects society as a whole. When we begin to view some lives as less valuable than others, we open the door to other forms of dehumanization. If the unborn child is not worthy of life, then who else might we deem unworthy in the future? The elderly, the disabled, and the mentally ill could easily be seen as burdens on society rather than individuals with inherent dignity and worth.
Abortion should always be the last option, only considered when all other alternatives have been thoroughly explored. Women deserve to be fully educated about abstinence, contraception, and the stages of fetal development. They should not be lied to about the humanity of the unborn child or misled about the potential emotional and psychological consequences of abortion. Requiring women to watch a video of an actual abortion would provide them with the information necessary to make an informed decision, one that respects the sanctity of life and the profound moral implications of terminating a pregnancy.
The pro-life movement advocates not only for the unborn but also for a society that values all human life. By educating individuals about the full scope of their choices and the consequences of abortion, we can work toward a world where abortion is not seen as a necessary option but as a tragic last resort.