Peter Gabriel believes in abortion. In particular for victims of rape in a country where abortion is illegal, apparently. Watch this video, and learn what it looks like to speak on a topic you know absolutely nothing about. I’m not trying to be mean, but when famous people weigh in on The Issues, they have a special way of sounding like they just descended to earth from another planet.
That said, time to get a little hypocritical. What the pro-life side needs is a famous person, Bono perhaps?–to stand up and defend life consistently. Any takers?








It is unfortunate that the medical procedure we call abortion has a political agenda. We don’t deny treatment for emphysema even if it was brough about by smoking too many cigarrettes so why do we feel we can control any other medical procedure? Not funding an abortion doesn’t mean we save money so money can’t be the issue. Making abortion illegal will not reduce or eliminate the number of unintended and unwanted pregnancies. I know that some people think all life deserves a chance but so it follows that all lives deserve to live a decent life that is not filled with poverty, abuse and neglect. Children that begin as unintended or unwanted pregnacies often end up on this end of the deal. Here’s an idea–if you don’t believe in abortion, don’t have one.
Kathy Ireland? Patricia Heaton? Any of those women count?
Honestly, Andrea, I had quite a different take from that interview than you did. His first comment was that he believed in abortion, but he also that he thought that it should be restricted to a much earlier gestation. He then went on to say that people have very strong feelings about this topic.
And then he said that rape victims should be among the first people that have access to abortion. That’s not that crazy an opinion.
He sounds fairly reasonable, and right in the mushy middle on this topic. It seems like he got a camera stuck in his face, and was asked to respond to a question that he wasn’t prepared for.
Whoa there Betsy. What medical condition exactly does abortion treat? Pregnancy is a sign that a woman has a perfectly healthy reproductive system that is functioning normally. If you want to treat abortion like any other medical procedure, then treat it like any other elective medical procedure–ie: waiting lists that last months.
Don’t like abortion don’t have one? Here’s an idea: if you don’t want a baby, don’t get pregnant in the first place.
And please explain to me why we should make access to abortion a priority in the developing world. Plenty of women in these places don’t have access to the most basic medical care–we’re talking things like doctors, water and soap, sterilized needles, and penicillin. How exactly is a woman going to get a safe abortion in these places, and why should we not focus on providing the doctors, the sterilization equipment, the clean water, and the penicillin?
Heavens to Betsy… well, sorry to say, but you’re wrong. We DO control other ‘medical procedures’. You can kill someone by surgically removing their heart, that’s medical, so why legislate that? Just because it’s done in a hospital/clinic does not make it acceptable. We don’t remove living people’s hearts because it’s illegal. It’s illegal because people believe it’s wrong.
Here’s an idea, I don’t believe in rape or murder, so I fight to ensure those things are illegal, and if you believe that abortion is murder, than it’s your duty to fight to ensure that’s illegal too.
Also, there’s a serious disconnect between sex and pregnancy in the west, a disconnect that leads people to erroneously believe they are ENTITLED to having sex without the risk of pregnancy. As if getting pregnant unplanned was akin to being struck by lightning. A freak incident.
We aren’t entitled, anymore than we’re entitled to “live a decent life that is not filled with poverty”. Sorry Betsy, but that’s the truth. As a human rights supporter I would say yes, it would be nice if there was no poverty, but we’re not entitled. Anymore than we’re entitled to have frivolous sex without those darn babies popping up and spoiling everything.
Emphysema is a DISEASE! Pregnancy is NOT. Perhaps you need to brush up on some science or talk with a medical doctor for the facts.
Man Betsy I wish it was that simple. Why didn’t I see it? If I hate abortion I won’t have one. Of course! Oh wait, but what about the 30 million extra men that will outnumber the women by 2020 in China due to abortion being offered to whack off female fetuses? Each of their mamas apparently did what you said. That’s what happens when people become the problem instead of you know, the actual problems of clean air, water, hunger, poverty.
Dang, I guess it’s more complicated than that, huh? That we have to actually fix pepple’s lives instead of say stop reproducing.
Betsy, if you don’t want to end up with neglected, abused biological children-make a decision to not neglect them. I don’t see why the victim of child abuse (the child) that is enforced to sacrifice, rather than the perpetrators.
Laurie
Emphysema is a disease and is categorized as such so insurance companies can be billed. Guess what? Pregnancy is a disease and is categorized as such so it can be billed to insurance companies. They are both medical issues and have medical diagnoses and are treated by the medical profession this puts them in the category of medical diagnosis.
Betsy –
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you are right! I have been pro-life until now but you convinced me with your arguments here. I still have just a few questions to clear up though now that I’m pro-choice:
1) Since pregnancy is a disease (brilliant!) I’m just curious then, does birth cure pregnancy? So abortion is just another (quicker) cure for pregnancy? This seems to make sense, right?
2) Also, what happens if I get pregnant but actually want the baby? Do I just stick with the disease (like a common cold) because I know it will get better, or does wanting it not make it a disease any more?
Thanks for your help, and maybe we can make these IRRATIONAL anti-choicers see the light.
Betsy, I don’t think insurance companies are the ruler by which we mark our social and political policy. If they are, we’re in bigger trouble than just the abortion issue. Insurance companies are capitalist enterprises. They make money, period. If you want to adhere to an ideal that makes money, be my guest, but realize then that you’re not a humanitarian and you’re not a feminist. So please, don’t voice your opinions on the behalf of women or for women’s rights because that’s not where your ideals come from.
Betsy – As a PhD in Biology I would side with Laurie and reiterate that pregnancy is not a disease.
It is, however, a medical condition, hence the reason that insurance companies will cover it (irrespective of under what category they classify it –often for the sake of ease).
Let’s face it – Breast augmentation can be covered if you are a swimsuit model and it is “needed” for career purposes, but that doesn’t make being flat-chested a disease!
A disease is a condition in which an organ, system or part does not function properly. Pregnancy is a perfect example of the uterus functioning properly and *exactly* the way it is supposed to.
I would even argue that pregnancy is the result of something else (sex) that is also working exactly the way it is supposed to. You need only look at every other creature on the face of the planet to admit that the purpose of sex is to reproduce. Humans are the only creature who have disconnected the idea that *every* sexual act must lead to a pregnancy. I think we can all agree that that notion is fair enough. We can have sex for the mere pleasure, without intending for it to result in pregnancy. But that does not mean that anything has gone gone wrong with the system when a pregnancy does result, whether it was intended to or not. It is merely the system acting perfectly and properly the way it is supposed to.
Cynthia- I have my PhD in human reproduction, I am a board certified reproductive biologist. I work with couples who have trouble getting pregnant. My life is spent getting people to this end. For people like Jennifer Derwey to say that I don’t speak for women or their rights is unfounded. Having said that I need to point out that you can call pregnancy a “medical condition” or you can call it a disease. It is simply semantics. Also, when a sex act results in pregnancy it is not guaranteed that the body system is working as it should. Many things can and do go wrong in pregnancy. We have ectopics, we have still borns, we have early miscarriage. We have women dying from pregnancy so it is not a perfect system, BUT it doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t happen. I am simply pointing out that it is not always perfect. I do not care that people are pro life, I am not trying to change anyone’s mind, I am simply asking for the same consideration if I am pro choice. I choose not to make that decision for anyone else including you. Being pro choice does not tell you how I feel about abortion so please don’t make any assumptions. Being pro choice means that I respect people’s right to privacy and to respect their decision making process because I know I could not even begin to know what is going on in their situation.
“Being pro choice does not tell you how I feel about abortion so please don’t make any assumptions.”
Technically, it does mean you are okay with killing the unborn. This either means you do not believe that human life exists prior to birth (which is scientifically and biologically untenable) or that you believe it is okay to kill such life.
It doesn’t mean you like it, or would do it yourself, but it does mean you think people should be able to kill their unborn children at their discretion.
As an aside, your use of the term “disease” in relation to pregnancy makes complete sense; a critical aspect of killing without guilt, especially on such a large scale, is the ability to effectively dehumanize the victim. Being able to vilify the victim is even more effective.
Betsy – You unequivocally wrote to Laurie, “Pregnancy is a disease”. Full stop.
Now however, in your words, “you can call pregnancy a “medical condition” or you can call it a disease. It is simply semantics.”
So does being pro-choice mean you can “choose” to call it whatever suits your purpose?
Also, you continued, “when a sex act results in pregnancy it is not guaranteed that the body system is working as it should. Many things can and do go wrong in pregnancy.” You digress. The discussion was not about successful versus ill-fated pregnancies. It was about whether or not pregnancy, by itself, is a disease; an abnormal function of the body. And whether the system is functioning “properly and naturally” when the result of sex is pregnancy. Regardless of the fate of the subsequent pregnancy, I stand by the assertion that if pregnancy results from sex, then the system is “acting perfectly and properly the way it is supposed to.”
disease. n 1. a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specifc part. The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 10th Edition.
Disease
Noun 1. An impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning.
Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
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Quote from Betsy: “Being pro choice does not tell you how I feel about abortion so please don’t make any assumptions. Being pro choice means that I respect people’s right to privacy and to respect their decision making process because I know I could not even begin to know what is going on in their situation.”
You say you respect people’s right to privacy and respect their decision making process (even if it is flawed??) – does this apply to such things as drunk driving, beating your partner?
“Pro-choice”is ALL about telling people abortion is okay because the alternative is abortion is killing a preborn human – unless that’s okay with you.
P.S. “condition” means the state of something
“I work with couples who have trouble getting pregnant.”
So in other words….you help treat the disease of NOT being able to get pregnant. You know, when sex takes place but the body does NOT do what it is supposed to do naturally…..
Semantics, huh? Wouldn’t you think a Board Certified Reproductive Biologist whose “life is spent getting people to this end” (i.e. pregnancy) would be a little less apt to unequivocally state that pregnancy is a disease? I wonder if the couples who come to her for help know that she feels she is successful – if she can cause the women to be afflicted with a disease. (?!?!?)
nice