The internet is a powerful thing. It's one of the most powerful communication and advocacy tools Mankind has ever developed. With a click of a mouse, one can send out a million emails (provided your server allows) with a simple message, which can be instantly seen.

And activists around the world are harnessing the power of the internet. From personal blogs, to dedicated activist sites, from RSS feeds which deliver Human Rights alerts, the internet has become a watchdog, an advocate, a monitoring body and a poster wall.

As with every dialogue space, you get the ones who are for a cause, and the ones who are against a cause. And this is what triggered this post.

I got an email from a friend today. A simple poem with an anti choice theme in it. I've quoted it at the end of the post.

I've come to a point where I'm fed up with responding to email forwards condemning abortions and making the people look evil. But knowing the fact that 19,000,000 pregnancies out of 80,000,000 unplanned pregnancies end in abortions that are performed outside the legal system. This is mainly due to the fact that abortion is still seen as a crime in many countries.

Arguments against access to safe and legal abortions are almost always emotion driven, and are not logical. Most of the time it's reasons like "God said so", or "If they are stupid enough to have sex, they should be responsible enough to bring up the child". And these "arguments" shatter into a million pieces when one logically dissects and answers them.

It's simple questions that I ask from all pro lifers out there, and a simple request that I make.

Question: Contextualize. If you are raped, if you didn't have access to emergency contraception, and if you get pregnant, would you continue the pregnancy? If you are 17, went on a date, had a couple of drinks, start to make out, and then you get caught up in the moment, become pregnant, would you continue the pregnancy? If you are 28, and the condom tore, and if you didn't know about emergency contraception, would you continue the pregnancy? If you found out that you are having a serious health condition, and if you would certainly die if you went ahead with a pregnancy, would you continue the pregnancy?

Request: If you don't want to have an abortion, good for you. But don't deny a woman the right to have a safe legal abortion just because you think you wouldn't. And before you tell me that there are no unwanted children, let me tell you something.

There are no unwanted children, only unwanted pregnancies.



"Month One

Mommy
I am only 8 inches long
but I have all my organs.
I love the sound of your voice.
Every time I hear it
I wave my arms and legs.
The sound of your heart beat
is my favourite lullaby.

Month Two

Mommy
today I learned how to suck my thumb.
If you could see me
you could definitely tell that I am a baby.
I'm not big enough to survive outside my home though.
It is so nice and warm in here.

Month Three

You know what Mommy
I'm a boy!!
I hope that makes you happy.
I always want you to be happy.
I don't like it when you cry.
You sound so sad.
It makes me sad too
and I cry with you even though
you can't hear me.

Month Four

Mommy
my hair is starting to grow.
It is very short and fine
but I will have a lot of it.
I spend a lot of my time exercising.
I can turn my head and curl my fingers and toes
and stretch my arms and legs.
I am becoming quite good at it too.

Month Five

You went to the doctor today.
Mommy, he lied to you.
He said that I'm not a baby.
I am a baby Mommy, your baby.
I think and feel.
Mommy, what's abortion?

Month Six

I can hear that doctor again.
I don't like him.
He seems cold and heartless.
Something is intruding my home.
The doctor called it a needle.
Mommy what is it? It burns!
Please make him stop!
I can't get away from it!
Mommy! HELP me!

Month Seven

Mommy
I am okay.
I am in Jesus' arms.
He is holding me.
He told me about abortion.
Why didn't you want me Mommy?

Every Abortion Is Just . .
One more heart that was stopped.
Two more eyes that will never see.
Two more hands that will never touch.
Two more legs that will never run.
One more mouth that will never speak.

If you're against abortion, forward this ...

I don't care if I lose friends over this."