Working towards common ground in the abortion debate
Via RHReality Check
We know from our work in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, that the more we engage in substantive discussion about the issues that affect the health and safety of women, the more people understand and honor the complexity of the abortion issue and recognize the need to leave these personal decisions to women and families.
The truth is that many people have some level of moral ambivalence about abortion. Most South Dakotans, for example, self-identify as “pro-life” and are opposed to abortion, but they have defeated statewide measures to ban abortion in two elections. Even the most conservative Americans want to keep abortion safe, legal and rare. Why? Because abortion is a morally complicated issue, which is precisely why woman are entitled to think it through and come to their own conclusions.
It’s high time that the rest of the country follow South Dakota’s lead and stop using the divisive language of the past and start acknowledging and respecting the internal conflict felt by many voters on this issue. Acknowledging moral conflict is not something to fear, but rather, a measure of respect for an individual’s capacity to make the best decision for themselves and their families, rather than being left at the whim of government decision makers.
Read the rest of the article here.
