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It’s easy to get caught up in the passionate arguments of either side on the abortion debate, which may be why it sits like a giant wedge between so many people on Main Street, in the media and in government. As I began to write this posting even I felt the need to pick sides with an (attempted) witty remark about how the anti-abortionists have framed pro-choice as meaning “pro-death”–but such remarks add nothing to the debate and only drive the discussion off course over issues of semantics.

So instead, I spent some quiet time pondering possible ways that people could move past the semantics and even past their own passionate positions, to find some common ground from which a majority could agree to stand.

It’s hard, and that’s an obvious understatement, because ultimately the debate boils down to the question of ‘when does human life begin’ for most people. And since science has yet to be able to provide a definitive answer to that question, we’re all left on our own to pick a point we believe life begins at.

So science–or the lack of it–seems to be the real problem in this issue. If scientists and doctors could overwhelmingly agree upon a point where human life has begun, then perhaps the discussion over abortion could be more constructive and rationally debated on both sides, rather than full of passionate shouting of positions based on personal points of view.

I’m not suggesting that sceince could solve the debate, but it could help frame and shape it into a productive conversation over the unproductive wedge issue it currently is.

abortion headlines from Yahoo! News

Health care the hot topic in abortion debate (USA Today)
Players in the abortion debate gathering in Washington, D.C., and around the country Friday are focused on the prospect of a health care overhaul.  read full story...

Opening statements set in abortion slaying trial (USA Today)
Dr. George Tiller gathered with supporters in a tent outside his clinic on the morning of Jan. 22 eight years ago to tell them abortion rights remained "fragile" in America, even as they celebrated the anniversary of the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized the procedure.  read full story...

Opening statements set in abortion slaying trial (AP via Yahoo! News)
Dr. George Tiller gathered with supporters in a tent outside his clinic on the morning of Jan. 22 eight years ago to tell them abortion rights remained "fragile," even as they celebrated the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade court decision that legalized the procedure.  read full story...

abortion headlines from Google News

newsgone (blog)

Health care the hot topic in abortion debate USA Today Players in the abortion debate gathering in Washington, DC., and around the country Friday are focused on the prospect of a health ... Abortion is Health CareHuffington Post (blog) March for Life Draws Groups of Youth, Anti-abortion OrganizationsKansas City infoZine Abortion Debate Comes To Capitol On AnniversaryWCCO Central Michigan Life -LifeNews.com -Common Dreams (press release) all 227 news articles »

abortion videos from YouTube
Home Abortion 101		Masturbation is not an Abortion		A Jaylor story; I love you, I hate you; Ep.5
Is Morality subjective?		Legal Abortion: In Memoriam		Obama Interrupted By Abortion Protesters For 4 Over 2 1/2 M

abortion discussions on FriendFeed

Carole Joffe: Health Reform, Violence and Blanket Warmers: The Status of Abortion on Roe V Wade Day: Today's post ... http://bit.ly/7lujmG
Posted by fraise via Twitter  

Big Ole List Of New York Dems Say Junior Unacceptable On Abortion
Posted by kleinheider via Post Politics: Political News and Views in Tennessee  

Abortion survivor reflects on her mother's near-fatal choice http://bit.ly/5mPM84 #byeaclub #BYEAClub
Posted by mirandaodonoghue via Twitter  

Opening statements begin in abortion slaying trial http://bit.ly/7m8Uq8
Posted by legallawyer via Twitter  

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Related articles around the Web

• The Pro-Life Movement Is Not Pro-Woman: An Open Letter To Sarah Palin [Roe Vs. World] (jezebel.com)
• Abortion Rallies Planned For Olympia, Yakima (kirotv.com)
• The Campaign Against The Phrase ‘Pro Life’ [Rant] (gawker.com)
• Anti-Abortion Groups To Launch Attack On Health Care Reform (huffingtonpost.com)

Technorati Tags: abortion, pro-choice, pro-life, roe v. wade