This is my last post, no need to reply, I won't be checking followups.

I'd urge you all to read Margaret Atwoods "The Handmaiden's Tale". Here is the link to amazon so you can read about it, if you are not familiar with this book. It's not about abortion, per se, it's more about women rights.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/038549081X/102-0271494-7300978?v=glance&n=28...

I do believe that the abortion issue is based on two premises - Pro-Life - desire to save the life of a soon to be developed human / Pro-choice - the rights of women and their bodies. As you can see, it is a debate of parallel paths. One side might as well be screaming oranges, and the other apples! Believe it or not, I think both sides are worthy, however, as hard as I might, I just cannot let go of the women's rights issue, so I can only call myself "pro-choice", as there doesn't seem to be any middle name. My daughter says I should call myself "pro-whatever".

Having been a Mom myself (5 kids), I certainly would feel odd having an abortion now. However, despite that, I still think that, had an abortion been available to me, I would have had one. You see, I'm 72 years old, and I was not able to have any choice, except something very scary. I happen to know many woman that went that route, and it did not turn out well for them. I know what it would be like if abortion was outlawed. I'm sure I don't need to tell you what it was like back in the first part of the 1900's. We've come so far.

I kept my illegitimate child. She is actually allowing me to use her user name on this forum, so if you see her name elsewhere, she is not I. I was branded all sorts of horrible names, and was basically run out of my family, my church and my town. The fellow that impregnated me was given a pat on the arm for being so virile and bedding the town old maid (I was 22). They sniggered at me as I walked through town, even before I was officially pregnant.

Women did not have many opportunities back then. I was kindly adopted by a wonderful woman (she had marched for our right to vote!), who supported me while I received an education and raised my daughter. I became an educator, and a philosophy professor. Without the wonderful support of another woman, who did not judge me, I don't know what would have become of me.

Well to make a very long story of my life short, I've just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. That diagnosis gives me even more desire to say what I feel that I must. On my off days, I sit at my daughters computer. This is the first forum I've ever been on, and I'm just amazed at the wealth of information out there. I have unfortunately allowed myself to get a bit stressed about this, so my daughter has asked that I stop. She's an upstart, but she loves me. Gosh, I love a good debate, and my daughter tells me there are tons of these sites out there, but again, I'm being Highly Monitored (wink wink).

I will leave you with this from an old woman's perspective. Treat each other kindly and with respect. If you are going to debate, try to do so with the idea that you might bring insight to each other's point of view. Being mean on-line is no better than being mean face to face, it's just more cowardly. And please try to walk in others shoes. As in all philosophical arguments, the only way to win any ground is to completely understand your opponent. That's what I used to tell my students. I actually had them debate one side, and then debate the other! It's really the only way.

If you try to come to some agreements, then the debate can be productive and lively. I feel that this issue is justifiable for the reasons I gave above. Molly says I just don't understand how the internet works, but I do understand how a good debate works. I truly, in some weird way, hope both sides win.

Cheers to all of you. Beautiful Molly's Mom