Thoughts on (the Twitter) abortion

A couple of days ago a story caught my eye: A woman was having an abortion and was livetweeting it. I didn't really pay too much attention. It's just one of those headlines that stands out. So I tweeted too.

Today I read that Angie Jackson, the woman's name, has been viciously attacked on Twitter and internet otherwise for she did. Sky News documents some of those attacks,

But she has been astonished her decision has attracted so much attention and vitriol.

Within minutes of her announcement, she begain receiving angry Tweets.

xalisae: "Scorpion mothers will grab one of their children from their backs and eat it if she gets hungry. So u're @ the same level?"

mrsalbrecht: "With so many pregnancies that beat the odds, how can you be sure that killing your baby is absolutely necessary?

voicesforlife: "u've been an advocate 4death 4 aLongTime"

On her blog, Angie, describes more abuse,

Apparently I'm a murderer, a killer, a Nazi, Hitler (also, from another "prolife" advocate, I'm apparently a "dirty jew"[stet].) I've been told I made my choice when I "opened my legs", "dint giv him the brown hole[stet]" or "have dude cum on youre ugly face". People threatened my son, insulted him, called me a child abuser and told me I don't love my kid. (One threatened to call child services, under the mistaken impression, one supposes, that abortion is illegal, or child abuse.)

I'm not surprised by the reaction. I've long been disturbed by the hate and disgust that permeates much of the pro-life movement. Don't get me wrong, the pro-life movement represents a lot of good things: It's a much needed critique of the way human life is commodified and devalued in our self-centred and consumerist culture. It's also a push back of responsibility against over blown rights talk. Thoughtful pro-lifers - I consider myself to be one - are an extremely important critical voice.

What I am talking about is the visceral emotional animus of many pro-lifers. They really hate abortion. It disgusts them. To a degree, this might be an appropriate reaction. But when it causes someone to demonise another human being, as so many pro-lifers do women who seek out abortions, totally disregarding their concrete situation, problems and needs, it's not appropriate. Abortion is not black and white. It's not easy. It's not something anyone has done for fun.

Which brings us back to Angie Jackson. While her livetweeting is a bit dodgy, yes, and seems like a stunt, she's not an evil, selfish person who can't be bothered having a baby so just gets rid of it. If these people would have bothered to look a bit closer, there's a real chance, I think, that they would find adequate reason to sympathise and not demonise.

Here's why.

1. She already has a child. This super cute little boy, in fact. And he has special needs. We can deduce two things from that: One, she's not lazy and irresponsible, having an abortion because she can't be bothered (as many pro-lifers accuse women who have abortions of being). She's a strong and brave mother for raising her son. And two, there's risk that another child might have special needs too.

2. Her first pregnancy was very difficult. Due to sexual abuse when she was younger, she's physically damaged and wasn't supposed to be able to become pregnant because of that. But she did. As she explains in a Q & A with Frisky,

The last time I was pregnant I had trouble keeping on weight. I was in and out of the hospital for fainting spells and severe nausea. I lost 10 lbs while eight months pregnant from a severe stomach virus. My blood pressure was crashing, I was on bed rest. My heart nearly stopped twice and we lost the fetal heart beat a few times. And I was molested as a child, which I’m very open writing about on my blog, and that did extensive damage that led doctors to say I’d never have children. So my son was a surprise to begin with.

So her life is literally in danger if she gets pregnant. She doesn't say, so I might be mistaken, but it also seems like her physical condition was the reason her son is disabled.

3. She's not rich. She's struggling. One more child, possibly a special needs one, would be a serious strain financially, making it very difficult for her and her boyfriend to provide adequately for the children.

I realise this is personal information and I feel a bit awkward listing it like this. If I've misrepresented Angie, I'm sorry (please point it out, someone, if I did, so I can correct it). But here's the point I'm trying to make. I've found this out by browsing the internet for an hour or two. It didn't take much effort. Angie is a very open person. If the pro-lifers calling her a whore and a murderer would have made the same small effort to actually look a bit closer and not just reading the headlines, I think they would have thought twice before demonising her. Or just once.

The three factors above are, in my opinion as largely pro-life, legitimate reasons for having an abortion. Again, it's not black and white. It's not easy. It's morally hazardous. But when your life is in danger and when the health and well-being of your child is too, abortion, I think, becomes a morally sound option.

But even if you don't think that abortion is an option in any case, however dire the circumstances, at least the three factor above will make you sympathise with the woman and her choice. You understand, even if you don't agree.

It's a good and noble thing to be against abortion. But demonising and threatening people? That's just not right. And it doesn't behove the cause.

Finally, Angie, if you couldn't tell, this Christian sympathises. I don't hate or pity you. I understand. Good luck to all three of you.

Edit: I'm an idiot for forgetting this, but another factor making this abortion an option is the fact that it was done in the 5th week of pregnancy. The foetus at the stage isn't capable of feeling pain. And that's very important.