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Within the context of unschooling, which encompasses granting children equal
rights with adults, non coercive parenting, and allowing children the
"freedom to chose", abortion is a reasonable issue open for discussion.
But, the abortion issue can never be "settled", nor a standard "unschooling"
stance in abortion offered. The reason being, aside from the arguement of
when life actually starts, which will vary from conception to full term live
birth, is that abortion affects the rights of more than one "person" .
Whether folks believe that person comes into existance at conception or at
some magical moment during pregnancy, there are two (or three, including the
father) peoples rights to consider. The conflict will always be which of
those peoples rights are more important. Some will feel that ultimately,
the rights and choices belong to the person who is carrying the baby, the
woman whose body will be provide the vehicle for gestation and delivery of
the baby. Some will feel that the rights belong to the unborn child, the one
who had no choice at all in the matter of being conceived. Some will argue
that the father has rights as well, that the baby belongs to him as much as
the mother. These arguements can go round and round and never be resolved.
We can all offer our opinions, our convictions, our beliefs on this issue,
and ultimately, the conflict will still exist. Discussion or debate will
never solve the issue, but it can offer insight into how others view
abortion and open up an exchange of ideas and opinions. I don't see why
there needs to be restriction placed on the discussion of abortion, as long
as everyone understands that there will never be any united agreement on the
issue.

Teresa


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