In a discussion with John McCain on Larry King Live on Feb. 15, George W. Bush stated that he was opposed to abortion except in cases of rape, incest or threat to the mother’s life. I have never understood anti-abortion Republicans that spout this contradictory line. It would seem that Bush wants abortion to be made illegal because he believes the unborn should have civil rights and be protected by the law. Why then, are those civil rights removed if the unborn’s father is a rapist? Another problem with creating an exemption for rape is that it may encourage some desperate women to accuse innocent men of rape in order to get a legal abortion. This does not seem far-fetched considering the unspeakable things women did to themselves in order to abort unwanted pregnancies before Roe v. Wade.In June of 1999, Bush was quoted by reporters as saying that he would support a constitutional amendment making the abortion procedure illegal. Another concern liberals have is that during his term he would appoint two new Supreme Court justices, which would increase the chance of Roe v. Wade being overturned.Being consistent with his usually vague campaign rhetoric, Bush added that he would not require his Supreme Court nominees to pass an anti-abortion “litmus test.” Essentially, the American people do not know what they are getting. Bush is attempting to oppose abortion just enough to appease those who are anti-abortion, but passive enough on the issue to avoid loud opposition from pro-choice activists. The reality is that no one really knows what Bush would do about abortion once in office, and that is what is frightening.There is no reason to overturn Roe v. Wade. In that decision, the Supreme Court took the middle ground. The decision allowed states to regulate the abortion procedure after the first trimester in ways necessary to promote women’s health and to prohibit abortions after fetal viability at 24 to 28 weeks, unless the woman’s life or health were in danger. Most states have done this.The Supreme Court made its decision partially based on scientific knowledge of human development. All the organs and separate body systems start as a single cell and develop from there. But just because they are present does not mean that the zygote is experiencing five clearly defined senses or even thinking. The fetus begins to react to sounds in the 16th week. However, it does not respond distinctly to the sound of its mother’s voice until 28 weeks. It also does not react to taste until the beginning of the second trimester. Many believe that because there is a reflex reaction to amniocentesis needles at 20 to 26 weeks, the fetus can feel pain. However, others believe this could be a reflex withdrawal rather than positive aversion to certain stimulus. As for thinking, the first nerves are connected to the brain at 13 to 16 weeks. However, large-scale linking up of neurons does not begin until the sixth month and brain waves with patterns similar to adult human brains do not appear until the 30th week of pregnancy. In fact, regular brain waves are not often found in fetuses at all. They do not begin until after birth. Also, keep in mind that, with the exception of the way the face and body looks, none of the traits an unborn child develops are distinctly human yet.Less than one percent of all abortions in the United States occur in the last three months of pregnancy. Also, many that are in the last three months are done because the mother’s health was in danger or the child did not develop properly and was predicted by doctors to not survive.The final important part of the abortion debate is the issue of women’s reproductive rights. The reason we do not debate the civil rights of the child already born, or the severely retarded for that matter, is that there is no conflict with another individual’s civil rights. Even if the mother does not want to care for the child, someone else will adopt it or social services will accept the responsibility. This is not possible when the child is unborn. It is attached to the mother’s body and can not safely be removed at least until the third trimester. The fact that an embryo or zygote, or even third trimester fetus has no uniquely human traits beyond superficial appearances, accompanied with a woman’s right to govern what happens to her own body, is what makes the rights of the unborn human being an issue.As a final note, women who still find abortion repulsive, or who feel associations with a previous abortion may emotionally taint future experiences with wanted pregnancies, should never have an abortion. However, there is no biological basis for feeling guilty over a first trimester abortion. Of course, human emotions are guided by more than biological facts.
Martha Knox is a senior fine arts painting and drawing major and an anthropology minor from Medina, Ohio. She invites anyone interested to visit her newly updated website at www.geocities.com/SoHo/Study/7432.