Abortion Clinic - PBS Frontline documentary

**Safekeeper** · December 23, 2007, 07:56 PM

I was browsing PBS Frontline's documentary archive, and came across this 1983 documentary about abortion and abortion clinics, as well as the fundamentalists who picket against them. It goes into great detail about how abortions are carried out, the questions that need to be considered, and the methods of the picketers.

Personally, I found it a well-made doc, including the part about the fundamentalists' appeal to emotion. I think more arguments for and against should be traded, though, even though it was mostly about what abortion would be like.

**Legionem Insanis** · December 23, 2007, 08:13 PM

The abortion debate seems to always be framed in black/white. Pro and anti. But many people fall somewhere in between. I support a womans right to choose but it is a lot more gray for late term abortions. Partial birth abortions are barbaric.

**Lawrence of Arabia** · December 23, 2007, 09:59 PM

I think abortions for rape victims and incest conceptions are justified, but it shouldn't be used as a form of birth control.

I would prefer it happens sooner in the pregnancy rather than later.

**Safekeeper** · December 24, 2007, 11:56 AM

Er, the thread's supposed to be about the documentary, not abortion.

**Mansa musa** · December 25, 2007, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Lawrence of Arabia

I think abortions for rape victims and incest conceptions are justified, but it shouldn't be used as a form of birth control.

I would prefer it happens sooner in the pregnancy rather than later.

the baby should not be punished for the man's poor decision.

**LoZz** · December 25, 2007, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by Mansa musa

the baby should not be punished for the man's poor decision.

its actually better in the long run, alot of mothers who keep it fail to form any form of attatchment to the child or bond. alot even go as far as to blame the child for the actions of the man as they see the rapist in the child (even more common if its a boy) this can lead to neglect or even abuse, you dont want to hear some of the stories i have, needless to say this messes up the child because they are totally unaware, and they usually go the way of alot of abused children, drugs/abusers etc.

**Medicus** · December 25, 2007, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by Lawrence of Arabia

I think abortions for rape victims and incest conceptions are justified, but it shouldn't be used as a form of birth control.

QFT.

Originally Posted by Mansa musa

the baby should not be punished for the man's poor decision.

It's not a baby. It's a cluster of cells.

**Dunecat** · December 26, 2007, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by ~The Doctor~

It's not a baby. It's a cluster of cells.

In the very, very early stages.

But be careful of reducing things too far- there is something significant of the process of life that we are a part of.

**LoZz** · December 24, 2007, 06:36 PM

i dont think (morally speaking) you can be 100% pro choice, or pro life.

being 100% pro choice means supporting abortions on grounds of gender. we dont want a girl so we will abort it. very popular in india and china. just one example which supports the documentary message, its not a black and white issue. and there are many if's and but's

Originally Posted by Safekeeper

Er, the thread's supposed to be about the documentary, not abortion.

you posted a topic on abortions, what did you think would happen?

**Safekeeper** · December 24, 2007, 06:38 PM

you posted a topic on abortions

No, I posted a topic on a documentary. Oh well.

**Dunecat** · December 24, 2007, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by Safekeeper

No, I posted a topic on a documentary. Oh well.

...In an ethics forum, lol...

**Safekeeper** · December 24, 2007, 11:11 PM

Moot point.

**Irishman** · December 25, 2007, 10:05 AM

the baby should not be punished for the man's poor decision.

But the rape victim should?

**humvee2800** · December 25, 2007, 02:06 PM

The baby is a product of a illegal act, had the man followed the law the baby would not exist and thus its existance is solely at the descretion of the mother, within reasonability.