We say, that abortion should be legalised.

Firstly, if abortion was illegal, irresponsible parents may neglect their children. In India, many unfortunate newborn girls are poisoned with seeds, or scalded to death by soup. Their parents do not even feel any grief or remorse over their own devious acts. Murdering their flesh and blood was like lifting their fingers. These girls are sold into prostitution when they become toddlers. Such miserable fates are the lives of children as a result of not being aborted. Put yourselves in their shoes, how will you feel?

Think of the families with financial difficulties, who struggle to make ends meet. It would surely be easier for them to abort the unborn child. Otherwise, both the mother and child would have to struggle through harsh situations. The child may not get enough food,so much to speak about the chance to go to school. The child and its family may live in dilapidated houses, filthy conditions. In this case, if the child’s immunity system is weak, he or she might easily fall sick. Where do they get the money to visit the doctor? When the sickness deteriorate, will he or she perish away into nothing?

Even if the child survives, he will be forced to enter the working world at a very early age. No parents would wish to see their child in such pain and suffering. Any loving parent would want their child to be happy, and contented. If they knew that their child would suffer so much when it is born into this corrupted world, they would definitely want to end its suffering before it is even started.

Alas, you have been outwardly treating abortion with great loathing. Why can't you, you might ask. There are many reasons. Have it ever crossed your mind; the foetus might be deformed. Do you still think that the innocent child should be born and let to suffer on this earth by some crooked stereotypes to let them be look down upon? Think of emotional damage this might have on the parents as well as the child. Imagine the reluctance of these mothers at the thought of murdering their flesh and blood.

What if the mother was raped?Ladies and gentlemen,think about it, who would want to have the child of someone she doesn't love, someone who left her a living memory of the incident. What if the victim was teenager at the tender age of 13 or 14? If she kept the child, her bright, prosperous future will be lost forever. What would people see of her? The image of the poor girl would have undesirable marks that separates her from the rest of the people. The girl would have to endure stares by strangers who discriminate her. But put aside image and egotism, imagine the heavy burden she has for herself, will she be able to look after the baby with her own abilities in the future or can she get over her past and not be haunted by the horrible memories?

Yes, there can be solutions to these things. Babies can be put up for adoption. But is it the best choice? Even after giving away the baby, can the girls just forget everything that happened by just sleeping on it? It would be impossible! The guilt will forever be in their hearts, never letting it down.

What about older women? If they give birth, they may be too old to provide for the child and giving birth to them post a big risk. For example, a woman who is 50, was pregnant. If the child is born, the mother can only be with the child for about 15 to 20 years. The parents will not be able to work and provide for the child. Beside that, it is very hard on the mother to give birth to the child. The mother may not survive the ordeal. Think about how much pain a young mother have to go through to give birth. Older mothers go through twice the pain.

By Lydia, Elizabeth
Sophie, Felicia and Emily
*to be continued*