I love America, but I cannot help realizing that she has been defiled by the decision made in Roe v. Wade. I’m not going to try and convince you that life begins at conception, because I can’t. Why not? Because this is a question that people hardly ever change their minds on, and even if they did, I certainly do not have scientific evidence to suggest an answer. However, let me start with this.

The abortion controversy isn’t about privacy, women’s rights, or right-wing politics trying to impose religion on America. The argument is over the simple question of when life begins. If we had an answer to this, it would be obvious when abortion should and should not be legal. Unfortunately, we haven’t pinpointed the beginning of life, and this brings up two major questions.

Should abortion be legal? If so, under what circumstances? The answer to this question is much simpler than is often realized. First, we must look at the consequences of both options.

If abortion is illegal, then mothers will be having unwanted babies that could end up as orphans. They will have to deal with all the trials of going through childbirth. If the child grows up without a father, he or she will be more likely to commit crimes. He or she will also increase our population, making the world a bit more crowded. If I have missed anything crucial, please tell me.

If abortion is legal, then every abortion performed is taking a gamble with life. In essence, the would-be mother is saying, “The child’s life might not have started yet, so maybe I’m not killing it.” Now, you have to weigh each of the consequences against each other.

However, there is an obvious argument that comes after this. If people are going to get abortions anyway, why not make them legal so that they are safer? (The same argument is used by proponents of legalizing drugs.)

First, I will inform you that women have died because of infections and other complications relating directly to abortions facilitated by Planned Parenthood. They might be somewhat safer when done by Planned Parenthood, but they are by no means healthy. Second, Mother Teresa once said, “Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what it wants. That is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.”

Unfortunately, even if you can agree with what Mother Teresa said, there are still many intricacies that remain. What if the mother knows that she will die during childbirth, but that the baby will survive? The mother has a choice to either take a chance that she’s killing the baby by aborting it, or die. Since, by law, homicide is justifiable in self-defense, so should the mother’s abortion be. Perhaps she can’t support both the baby and herself if she has it. If an abortion is allowed in this case, it presents a frightening precedent.

In the most sensitive of issues, I do not have a clear answer. I will only provide the arguments for both sides. If a girl is raped, should she be able to get an abortion? Well, she has already endured immeasurable pain, so maybe that alone is enough to let her make that choice. The child will obviously have to be adopted. Perhaps she is young and her body will go through more damage if she has the baby.

The other side would argue that two wrongs don’t make a right. Killing the baby won’t take away the fact that the girl was raped, even though it might ease her pains.

Above all else, please think about issues before you decide which side is right and which side is wrong. Listen to people on both sides of the argument. Seek the truth, and the truth will set you free.