Abortion is Wrong

" a foetus has to be human. It is a part of our species, and the mere fact that it is less developed and may only be a small number of cells does not change this. There are single-celled organisms out there that are still part of a species. A human is a human, whether still undeveloped or not. If you wish to argue by way or definitions, I will give you the accepted definition of a species: "two or more organisms that can reproduce together to produce viable offspring." Therefore we have a species, made up those old enough to reproduce, and those who are not- the one who are not old enough to reproduce (typically those humans under the age of eleven or so) are still considered viable offspring. Therefore I can safely conclude that a human foetus/baby is human, as it is part of our species. It is certainly not part of some other species." - No, you can't. First, as I pointed out before, a human being has to be a separate individual, capable of living on its' own. A fetus is not a separate individual, nor can it live independently, so it isn't a human. Yes, a fetus is part of our species, but it isn't a human being. Plus, how can you even compare a fetus to a human? Fetuses are not conscious, they can't think, they can't eat, they can't breath, they can't live on their own, they can't run - they are not human beings. "And that you say it is not alive- I've already explained in my first argument why it is alive. If we are still playing the definition game, I'll define alive for you: "having life; living; existing; not dead or lifeless" (www.dictionary.com/browse/alive). It is quite clear that a foetus is not dead- it is growing and developing more all the time, which only things that are alive can do. I have never seen a dead thing grow. Have you?" - As I pointed out before, fetuses don't respond to stimuli until late in the pregnancy, nor can they reproduce, so they are not alive. And yes, I have seen dead things grow. First, when I die, my nails and hair still grow. Secondly, viruses are not living, but they still grow. [1], [2]. "Now, as for needing its mother for growth, well of course it does! What baby doesn't? What is the purpose of a mother, if not to cherish and nurture her offspring and to raise them up to be independent? Plants rely on the sun for growth. Baby animals rely on their mothers. Human children rely on their parents both. I'm not sure why something needs to reproduce to be alive, that's like implying a three year old isn't alive." - What I mean by it needs its' mother for growth is that it can not survive without the mother. Only the mother can make the fetus grow. It is totally dependent on the mother. Technically, anyone can nurture a baby. You don't have to force nutrients, blood, and other things into a baby to make it grow. The baby can grow on its' own. The fetus can't. As for your point about 3 year olds, how is that relevant? If you want an answer, 3 year olds are human beings, and human beings can reproduce, so they are alive. Fetuses are not human beings, so this trait isn't fulfilled. "Also, your statement, "I believe a foetus is alive later in a pregnancy". On what grounds do you believe this? Because the baby has started to look a bit more like your idea of a human?" - No, because it is close to the development of an infant. It can think, feel pain, is conscious, can live independently if removed from womb [3]. This is why I consider fetuses of this age to be alive. "It is obvious a foetus is not a human...foetuses can't think, stand upright, or live on their own." Indeed. Have you ever seen a newborn creature of any species? They cannot do those things either, but does that classify them as something other than part of that species? Please take a biology class." - Funny enough, I am taking honors biology in 9th grade. But yes, babies can do those things. A baby doesn't need nutrients forced into it. It can stand upright with help. It can think. "The foetus cannot feel pain. It can't think. It isn't conscious. When you abort it, you are not killing a human." By week 6, the baby already has blood pumping through its heart. By week 7, the neural tube is already developing, and in week 8, the brain has already divided into three parts and is growing rapidly. The baby has movement and is even starting to look human, despite being so tiny! Since we have ascertained already that a human brain is not fully developed until 25 years of age, I thought I'd let you know when it starts to develop. You said abortion usually occurs before 28 weeks, but what really happens during that time? In only seven weeks counted towards due date- which is just five weeks since conception!- the brain is already developing. Thumb sucking begins in week 12" - This is unscientific. These traits do not make the fetus alive, or a human being. "A four year old can live on its own." Untrue. Good luck a four year old survive without its parents. It may be able to physically shovel food into its mouth alone, but what four year old can provide its own food, its own home, manage its own health and hygiene, and all the other things a really independent human being can do? A 4 year old is barely less helpless then a fetus." - Except that makes a crucial difference. If given food, shelter, water, and help, etc, a 4 year old can live on its' own. A fetus needs these tasks taken care of by the mother. It needs nutrients forced into it. 4 year olds are conscious, thinking, and breathing human beings. "People don't abort the foetus for fun. They do it to help the foetus." Again, incorrect. They do it because they do not want the responsibility that comes with being a parent, or because they don't think they can handle it financially. The majority of abortions are performed because people think they can't handle it financially, but there is this wonderful thing that has been around longer than abortion- adoption. It happens even in nature, and it is certainly more likely to help a foetus." - Here is the problem. You are now shifting the problem to adoption centers. Let's do some math. In 2008, there were 135,813 adoptions [4]. In 2008, there were 825,564 abortions [5]. Do you see the problem? Let's say that 750,000 of those abortions can be stopped, as the other ones are needed because of rape, to save the mothers life, or the mother is underage. If you do the math, there would be 5.5 times more kids up for adoption! That simply can't be done. Yes, life is precious. But do we really need so many more people per year? "Single parents are not a reason to abort the baby. I know plenty of single parents who have kept the baby and still managed. A partner isn't the only way to keep a baby- many of those women would have family who would be happy to help them out." - But what about the ones can't manage if they keep the baby? "Also, most of the women getting abortions do not know the risks. They have been led to believe that childbirth is more dangerous and that abortion is "okay". If they were shown the statistics of abortion-related deaths compared to child-birth related deaths, they'd most likely be surprised. AbortIon doctors have mandated quotas. They cannot afford to inform every woman looking for an answer." - Citation needed. "Abortion is legal because of all the women who threatened to kill themselves to their psychologists/therapists if they couldn't have an abortion. They would say the right things, get written permission, and go have the abortion. Now it's legal, and more people are doing it who would have been fine without it. Suicide and depression are more common among those who aborted than those who didn't. It's a fact. It has been studied many times." - Citation needed. Oh, and you know how depression rates are higher for those who got abortions? What about those who would be denied abortions. What do you think their health effects would be? If a women who was raped wanted an abortion, and she was denied, what about her mental health? "What if the foetus will die when it's born? It still has a better chance of survival than if it was aborted." - That is horrible. You are saying that because of the few hypothetical fetuses that would survive is worth the amount kf babies that die when they are born? No, it isn't. And if you know the fetus will die, why put it and the mother through so much pain? "What if the mother will die when she gives birth? The chances of that are one in ten thousand, as I've said, but still, there are no certainties except that abortion kills the child and is more likely to kill the mother than childbirth." - But if you know the mother will die in childhood, can't you let her have an abortion. And no. Abortion is safer. Here is a link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov... If you know the mother will die, if we know that for sure, how can you tell me with a straight face that you still believe that she can't he an abortion. Have fun telling her family that their daughter, wife, Mom, or grandma will die. "What if the girl is young? Surprisingly, this does not change anything. Girls as young as twelve have successfully had children. Girls as young as that have also, in the face of having been raped, been amazingly brave and said that they would rather have the child than abort it. Twelve year old girls can change the world." - So? Not all girls will be willing to give birth to a child they can't support. How can you tell me that you would deny a 12 year old girl an abortion? "Rape is not a good enough reason. An abortion won't change the fact that they were raped. They can give the child up for adoption. Abortion will only make things worse. Besides, why punish a child for the crimes of its father? Don't kill the baby, punish the rapist so it doesn't happen again." - As I pointed out before, adoption isn't a solution. And how is rape not a good enough reason? Respond to my cancer argument. Links in comments.