Abortion: A Secular Debate

1. Rebuttal"Ladies and gentlemen reading this debate, this is not a pro choice versus pro life argument. This is a pro choice versus anti-choice argument."This is absolutely not a pro choice versus anti-choice argument. As I mentioned in my previous argument, I am not contesting whether it is a woman's right to have an abortion. The focus of this debate is whether or not it is morally right for her to have an abortion. "My opponent is confusing the term, stages of human life. Con must stop recognizing a fetus in the stages of human life. The stages of human life go from infant to elderly. Now if you say that the fetus is a part of the stages in human life, you must also say that death is a stage in human life because, a fetus is not yet a human being and death is the end of a persons life."My opponent continues to offer his circular argument: a fetus is not a human being. He still has not addressed my question, which was why he thinks that this is the case. He also has not addressed my most recent arguments for the opposing position.Also, death is absolutely not a stage of human life. It is the termination of human life. It is understood that we do not continue to live after we die. Unless my opponent is arguing that life continues after we die. "Now, my opponent claims a fetus has the same right to live as a newborn baby. This is getting ridiculous. I'm not sure why con said anything about a newborn baby, because a newborn baby and a fetus are not one in the same. A fetus is at a completely different stage in life (Not human life)."I will ask again, because Pro still has not provided a direct answer to the question: Why do you believe that a newborn baby is a live human, and that a fetus is not? What is the difference that you see which convinces you that this is the case? If you cannot back up your claim with your reasoning for believing it, how are we to discern the claim's accuracy? On your word? I'm afraid that just isn't enough.When Pro states that "a fetus is at a completely different stage in life (not human life)", he seems to be agreeing that a fetus is in fact alive, but not human. If a fetus is alive but not human, what do you propose it to be?As I have asserted and explained, I believe that a fetus is a live human being."Con also would like to disrespect all of the rape victims by saying if you are raped, he doesn't care if you're ready or not, have a baby. Even if you aren't financially stable to give the baby a good home. Even if the baby will end up dying on the streets because the mother cannot afford a home. Even if the baby's mother is 12 and she gets raped. KEEP THE BABY, con says. A completely illogical argument that requires little rebuttal."Pro is putting words in my mouth here. I have not once claimed that a mother should be forced to keep her baby. I have not even claimed that a mother should be forced to carry the baby to term. I am simply arguing that it is morally wrong for her to have an abortion.Also, there are many options for parents who are unfit to raise a child. Giving the child up for adoption being one of them. No woman should be forced to keep and raise a child whom she is unable to properly care for.In response to the scenario Pro provided, "the baby's mother is 12", in most cases carrying a baby to term at that age would pose a serious risk to the mother's life. As I have already explained, my position is that a mother's right to life is equal to that of the fetus. At this point, the morality of the issue is a grey area and I don't believe that having an abortion in this case is either moral or immoral. "I'm making a educated guess that pro would like to banish abortion no matter what. Con does not have empathy for any of the people who are put in the horrible situation of having an abortion or not. Does the con honestly believe that a woman decides to have an abortion just for fun? Perhaps he does. Does the con honestly believe that it is a woman's HARDEST DECISION in their life to have an abortion? Perhaps."It is unfortunate that Pro is making these far-reaching assumptions. As I already mentioned, my position in this debate is not that abortion should be banned, but that having an abortion is morally wrong.I absolutely empathise with the people who are put into the situation of deciding whether to make that choice. I know for a fact that it is one of the hardest decision you may have to make in your lifetime. However, the difficulty in making the choice to take an action is irrelevant to the moral validity of the action itself."Lets talk a little bit about the rape cases. Every single day a girl is raped. Let's say an 11 year old girl gets raped and is carrying a fetus in her. Do you think it is immoral for her to abort to fetus? If anything, my friend, It is immoral to let a CHILD go through child bearing and child caring a such a young age. It is IMMORAL for our society not to give a rape victim, a chance to undo what was not her fault. "As I mentioned before, I do not find it immoral for a child to have an abortion, as in most cases carrying a baby to term would pose a serious risk to her life.2. ArgumentsI will stand on the arguments I have proposed thus far for this round. I look forward to Pro's response. Cheers!