Abortion 1

I am responding to Mei's letter Abortion or adoption? on April 30, 1997.

Whatever your religion is, killing a human being (an infant or adult) is a sin. There is no religion that allows anyone to do such a thing. In such a case of premarital sex that results in a pregnancy, one should be responsible for his or her actions and its consequences (playing an adult game, you have to make adult decisions).

To be responsible is not through having an abortion. Keeping the baby and raising it in the best way you can is the answer. Another alternative would be giving the baby up for adoption. If financial support is the issue in raising a kid, then you will never be ready, even if you are married. If you are married, is it guaranteed that you'll have a better life? What about broken families that children have to deal with? Are you sure you are going to marry someone who is financially secure or able to guarantee the family's welfare? Are you sure you will have more money by marrying someone than if you stay single? How many children in orphanages end up being juvenile delinquents compared to those who are raised by wealthy families? There are children of successful and prominent figures in this country who are nothing but troublemakers.

An infant is a human being. It has every right to live a life, whether simple or luxurious, poor or wealthy, with a single parent or two parents. It does not matter. What matters most is that the baby will be raised in a loving and affectionate way, and he or she will grow up knowing that the parents who made a mistake by having premarital sex did not make the second mistake by killing him or her.

The moral of this story is: Do not play adult games without being an adult. If something happens, face it (for better or worse) instead of having to live with guilt the rest of your life.

I am 32 years old and single. Several years ago I wanted to adopt a baby or be artificially inseminated (I wanted to have a child but I didn't want to get married). I changed my mind because I did not want to bring my baby up without a father. If I ever got pregnant as a result of premarital sex, I would keep the baby. That is for sure, not only because of my religion, but also because I am a responsible person.

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