As a conservative, I am about to make a radical departure from conventional thinking.
Since the Roe v. Wade decision came about in 1973, there has been a huge movement by women crying, "Keep your laws off of my body." Many of these women want freedom of choice, and thanks to the Supreme Court, they have it. Unfortunately, many refuse to exercise responsibility in connection with that choice.
For many, abortion has become their chosen form of birth control. They choose to have unprotected sex knowing they can just abort the pregnancy if they conceive. Estimates range from 50 to 75 percent of abortions occur due to an irresponsible act of unprotected sex. Responsibility must be the key to abortion.
Abortion will probably always remain legal in the United States. Even prior to Roe v. Wade, abortion was legal for circumstances of rape, incest and danger to the mother. But many believe there should be restrictions on eligibility.
Contraceptives must be made more available to all women. They need to be as widely available as condoms and made cheaper. A method needs to be devised to track and record who purchases and uses these contraceptives. Many health organizations already track this information, so expanding it would not be impossible.
Condoms would be ineligible for this program because a medley of circumstances can lead to their failure.
Once a woman can prove she has been using a form of contraceptive, she becomes eligible for an abortion. She has shown she has taken responsibility for her actions and attempted to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Abortion, like many other things, should be a privilege, not a right.
People are allowed to drive cars (an arguably deadly machine), but not under the influence of alcohol. They must have a valid driver's license, and be accountable for their actions. Those who choose to drink must be responsible before choosing to grab the keys and drive. Driving is a privilege, not a right.
This concept is the best of both worlds. For those who are pro-life, abortions would be reduced by thousands. For those who are pro-choice, abortion would remain legal for those who take responsibility for their actions.
Accountability is the key. Part of having a choice in life is using that choice responsibly. Just because women have the right to abort a pregnancy doesn't mean that right should come without conditions.
Women want choice, but they had it long before 1973. They have the right to treat sex responsibly or recklessly. To be responsible is to use a safe, effective form of contraceptive to avoid pregnancy. To be reckless is to have unprotected sex and count on abortion to spare them the consequences of such behavior.
It is known that some women can't use certain contraceptives for medical reasons. It is also clear that this proposal has loopholes, but it is a start.
As far as I am concerned, abortion is a moral atrocity. It is the termination of a human life to save someone the consequences of their actions. I am a big enough person, however, to respect other people's viewpoints. Thus this concept is born: the fusing of both sides of the argument into a constructive alternative.
Pro-life and pro-choice advocates have been fighting about this issue for decades. The protesters on Wednesday have brought the spotlight to Ball State for a brief time. A compromise between these battling groups has to be reached to foster civility. Every revolution starts with an idea, and I sincerely hope this one makes people think.
Write to Russell at rlgreim@bsu.edu
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