The history of abortion is long, indeed, having been found in documents dating back over 3000 years. Today, there is still much contention whether abortion is an 'immoral' act. What I’d like to explore is not whether it is immoral or not but should abortion be permitted in a nation that maintains freedom and liberty to be its highest ideals.

I remember when I went from pro-life/anti-abortion to pro-choice/pro-abortion rights. It occurred when I was in undergrad, taking a course in philosophy. The question was posed whether it was a right act to force somebody to remain physically connected to another person against their will in order to save the first persons life. Add to this that they’d be connected for nine months and that there was a very real chance of death and 26% chance of complications and my opinions toward the legality of abortion quickly changed.

This debate nullifies the argument of a fetus as a human. Of course, a fetus possesses human DNA, but then so do those millions [about 42 million] of skin cells that we shed every day. Using modern science, we can convert any one of those skin cells into an embryo. After all, every cell in our body contains the same genetic material, the only thing that differentiates cells is what parts of the genetic material is active.

Whether or not you consider a fetus a human being or a person is moot in this argument for one simple reason…

No one can command another person’s body. If I am dying of liver failure, I cannot demand that you give me a piece of liver. Nor can I demand a kidney or even a pint of blood. The reason is that our bodies are our own and no one can use our body to serve their purposes without our express permission.

In conclusion, the ability of a woman, or man for that matter, to control her reproduction and her body is a basic fundamental liberty.