Nicole Jones

Partial-birth abortion only makes up about 1 percent of abortions according to Gwen Ifill from PBS’ “Newshour.” Many Americans oppose partial-birth abortion because they say the fetus looks like a person, rather than a blob of cells. Dr. Maria Fitzgerald, professor of Developmental Neurobiology at University College in London, pointed out that the brain registers “little sensory input” until about 24 weeks. Only .05 percent of all abortions performed in England a year occurred after 24 weeks, yet anti-abortion advocates frequently use it to gross people into siding with them, thinking that partial-birth abortion is the most common type of abortion.

Yes and no. The fetus does have rights, but only in so far as the mother allows. If the mother’s rights and the fetus’ rights conflict, whose should trump whose? The fetus is a part of the woman. No one else is capable of taking care of the fetus as long as it is inside her womb.

It is her choice and her choice alone what happens to her body and every part of it. Once it comes down the birth canal, it is its own separate being and as such is granted full rights. But as long as it is a part of the woman, it is the woman’s decision, whether it is her foot or her fetus.

I would never advocate a woman have an abortion, just like I would never advocate the use of dangerous drugs. But I still believe that everyone should have control over their own body, and every part of it.

Abortion has certainly divided and dominated the country’s political landscape, and with good reason. Each side of the issue cuts to the core of American values. Anti-abortion activists represent America’s respect for life and desire to help those who can’t help themselves.

Abortion rights advocates also embody American ideals. They fight for privacy and individualism, two principles shared by most Americans. Unlike most political issues, this one sets some of America’s most cherished values against one another.

With one side advocating liberty and the other side life, it is easy to see why Americans grow so passionate when discussing this issue.

No other issue has ever had to perform this balancing act, much less succeeded at it.