Choice

I like to think that I'm a pretty laid-back person, at least in general.

There are, however, certain topics that just get me all fired up. These include but are not limited to: visiting teaching in single's wards, PETA, Creationism, and abortion.

I know I don't usually post stuff like this, but it's been something that's been on my mind lately. But first, a little background as to why.

A couple weekends ago, I was at Planned Parenthood to get my birth control prescription. After having watched Juno and being at least slightly informed as to this kind of thing and what Planned Parenthood is, I wondered how many people come to the Planned Parenthood clinic in Provo/Orem, UT for an abortion (just FYI, the Provo/Orem clinic doesn't actually perform abortions, but can give abortion referrals), simply because of the area we're in and the...general discouragement of abortions (based at least somewhat on the majority of Mormonism here).

About me: I am EXTREMELY pro-life. Women do have a choice--use protection, or don't have sex. You know the risks that come with it. Take responsibility for your choices (I know there are certain exceptions, like rape. I'm talking generally. Don't bog me down with the exceptions--that's not the point).

Please don't get me started. This post is supposed to be rational, and not me getting angry. Anyway.

So when I was there, there were probably 2 other girls who were there, one about my age and another who was probably either just out of high school or just starting college. They didn't seem too stressed, so I guessed that they were probably there for the same reason as I was. During the last 5 minutes of my sit in the lobby, a young couple came in. When I say young, I mean that they were under 17, and definitely not out of high school. The boy walked determinedly, and the girl seemed rather lost, scared, and unsure about what was going to happen in that building. He led her to the desk and said, rather loudly (or at least loud enough that I could hear), "We're thinking about getting an abortion." And that was that. I watched them as they sat down together and he helped/made her fill out the information sheet.

I never found out what happened with this couple. I left as they were filling out the form. As I walked past them to the door to leave, the girl was staring at the wall, with a look that I could only determine as fear, mingled with confusion and trepidation. I got into my car, but I couldn't drive away. All I could think about was that boy. That young, hormone-driven boy (I know it sounds like I'm making a vast generalization; I'm not). I could tell by the small amount of observations that I had made that they were dating, or at least had been at some point. He'd gotten her pregnant. She didn't know how to tell him, but eventually she did. She was terrified, because she probably knew just what he was going to say. There was no way he was going to pay for the consequences of his actions and become a father at the age of 17. He was making her have an abortion. As far as he was concerned, she had no choice. And as far as she was concerned, there was no way she was going to stand up to him.

I don't know that there's really a point to this post. I'm sure some people will read this and disagree with my feelings toward abortion. That's fine. I understand that there are differences in opinion, and I respect the right of other people to have different opinions than I do.*

However, I will never be able to understand how people can justify killing another human being because they made a mistake. I've studied a lot about abortions because I feel so strongly about it. I will never understand how a doctor could possibly do that to someone. Fetuses may not look like full-grown babies (is there such a thing?), but they still look like a person (I guess not right at the beginning, but in most operative abortions, the fetus will be developed that much), and watching a tiny, helpless person suffocate to death and feeling no remorse in being the reason for that happening...I will never understand.

Again, I don't know that there's a purpose in this post other than to share my experience, how I felt about it, and hope that maybe it makes you think about how exactly *you* feel about it. I can tell you that there are some pretty informative YouTube videos about abortion (for both sides), if you're interested in learning more.

*If you read this and completely disagree with what I say, you can comment on the post and inform me of your opinion, but just know that I probably won't reply back. I'm not writing this to start a debate, but rather to share an experience and my feelings towards it.