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Question of the day

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Illinois

* Brenden Moore…

Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri will soon cut the ribbon on a “regional logistics center” intended to aid out-of-state women seeking abortion services at the organization’s Metro East facility.

Planned Parenthood and Granite City-based Hope Clinic for Women will jointly operate the centralized call center at the Planned Parenthood facility in Fairview Heights. The center will arrange travel and lodging, and connect patients with existing resources, such as abortion funds. […]

Planned Parenthood has projected that an additional 14,000 women from Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee would likely travel to Southern Illinois for abortion care if Roe v. Wade is overturned. […]

The center, which currently employs six people, is funded in part by a $10 million investment Planned Parenthood and Hope Clinic made to increase capacity and infrastructure at their Southern Illinois facilities.

* Gov. Pritzker appeared in a virtual event this morning to talk about the new center. His statement…

Illinois’ leadership in ensuring access to healthcare services has never been more vital than it is today, with reproductive rights under attack throughout the nation. We’ve already seen insidious restrictions in other states lead to more out-of-state patients seeking care in Illinois, with the rate more than doubling in recent years alone. I’m so grateful for partners including Planned Parenthood and the Hope Clinic for Women who have responded to these growing threats with an ever-increasing commitment to serve patients in need. Illinois is, and will continue to be, a beacon of hope in the heart of this nation when it comes to standing up for fundamental rights.

* The Question: Do you consider yourself generally pro-choice or pro-life? Explain. Also, please just let people speak their minds. Keep this about your own opinion and leave everyone else out of it. Thanks.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 1:51 pm

Comments

I generally consider myself to be pro-life. But at the same time I feel uneasy about the policies in my Party that want to end abortion but offer very little on how to improve the foster care/adoption system and oppose common sense ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies from happening in the first place.

Comment by SuburbanRepublican Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:00 pm
I consider myself Pro Life because of my beliefs about the Death Penalty. That said, as a white man, I don’t believe I have the right to tell a woman what she can do with her body. I myself would like to see the term “Pro Life” changed to “Pro Birth” because it’s my feeling that far too many “Pro Lifers” are only concerned about a fetus while it’s in it’s host.

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:04 pm
I am pro-life, with exceptions, (rape, incest, life/detriment of the mother)

My larger family has adopted, some have chosen adoption as an option, so both sides of the adoption scale.

I support organizations that promote adoption as well

That is my personal belief, practiced in my larger family too.

I vote, and support, pro-choice.

I can’t, personally, think that my beliefs in this issue should be put upon anyone, and if someone in my family chooses an abortion (they may have and not shared with anyone, more than possible) I want that option to be as safe and accessible for them, and hope they, and all, feel safe with the choice, from the decision and thereafter.

It’s easy for me to reconcile, as my choice and belief is mine, I’ve seen how choices of adoption work on both sides, I respect what I’ve seen within that window. That, I feel, is not being something I should force upon anyone, as my choice is a choice, but legislating how I’ve seen in practice is considered the only choice, no, and that I don’t know if anyone close has had an abortion, I’d hope they felt safe, it was safely done, and easily available for them.

I’m answering this quite quick and early, I will not be revisiting the post.

This is a difficult subject. I have nothing more to add, I’ve said exactly what my thoughts are.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:08 pm
Pro choice all the way, though I detest abortions. Who really likes them, obviously? It’s not my right to tell a woman what to do with her body, especially since I’m not going to raise the unwanted child. An abortion doesn’t pose a threat to me and is none of my business—unlike COVID, for example, where someone infected could harm me, therefore necessitating rules and restrictions. “My body, my choice” is not the same in regards to abortions and COVID.

Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:09 pm
Pro choice definitely. It’s not the government’s role to dictate moral choices like this. I don’t believe a few cells are life either.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:11 pm
Pro-choice. Was fervently pro-life until college due to church upbringing: this was, and continues to be, a single most important issue when voting to many members of my family.

Comment by Peanut Gallery Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:12 pm
Pro choice.

I have lived the experience of being in a situation where a choice was made. Ultimately I wasn’t the one going through the actual process. I supported the section that was made. Maybe I would do it differently now almost 40 years later. But I still support the choice.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:13 pm
Doesn’t matter what I am…Women will continue to abort unwanted pregnancies…regardless.

The relevant question is whether our society will punish or help them.

Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:14 pm
Pro-choice. Women should be allowed to decide and control their medical decisions without government interferance.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:14 pm
Pro-choice insofar as it should be safe and legal. However, I oppose government funding.

Comment by Bacon Sammich Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:18 pm
I’m pro-choice. I believe that unless and until a woman can decide for herself whether and when to have children, she cannot have equal status with men. I think women should have the same legal rights as men, therefore I am pro-choice.

Also, before I was born, my mother had a tubal pregnancy that might have killed her. Without safe access to healthcare for her, back then, I would not be alive today to type this or any of my other brilliant comments.

But I would love to see a world where there were no abortions. I don’t know any pro-choice people who are wildly pro-abortion. Most of us fall into the “safe, legal and rare” pro-choice camp.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:19 pm
As a woman, I have never felt I had the right to tell another woman what she can do with her body so I consider myself pro-choice. But personally, I would not have an abortion and not all my pregnancies were planned. Those surprises are pretty darned amazing and can’t imagine life without them.

Comment by Because I said so.... Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:19 pm
I am pro-choice. What happens between a woman and her doctor is really none of my business.

Sidebar–I’ve never liked the term “pro-life.” Isn’t everyone pro-life? Many people I know have a similar view as grandson of man. No one likes the idea of abortion, but the right to choose whether to terminate a pregnancy should be reserved to the person involved.

Comment by Steve Rogers Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:22 pm
Absolutely pro choice
Not up to me how anyone else decides any personal decision

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:22 pm
This is a deeply personal and emotionally complex medical issue. The government has no place between a woman and her doctor- there is no public interest in this extremely private decision. I am firmly pro-choice.

Comment by West Sider Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:25 pm
I am pro-life. But it is not a requirement for my vote. Like a covid vaccine, you can make your own healthcare decisions.

Comment by Blue Dog Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:28 pm
Pro-choice. More specifically, as a man I am pro-not-my-choice-at-all.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:31 pm
Pro life. Always. Have 2 adopted kids. A mother who gives up her children for adoption shows great courage. Can society require that a woman not kill her child? Absolutely.

Comment by Mr Big Trouble Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:31 pm
I guess I lean pro choice. Not the governments job. Between a woman her faith and her doctor. But sometimes I wonder what people will think in 100 years.

Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:32 pm
Personally pro-life, though politically pro-choice as any legislation against it restricts women’s healthcare choice basically as a given.

Comment by TJ Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:34 pm
Pro choice. No one can walk in anyone else’s shoes.

Comment by Banish Misfortune Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:34 pm
I am absolutely pro life but adamantly opposed to forced birth.

Comment by Abbey Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:34 pm
Pro-Choices and strongly in favor of robust polices that prevent unwanted pregnancies from occurring in the first place.

I am also strongly in favor of an evidence based approach to the practice of medicine which includes acknowledging the underlying components of human physiology and biology that are often lacking in legislative attempts to strip rights away from people. Where applicable, policy should be driven by data and science — not superstition.

Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:35 pm
Pro-choice, and a woman’s right to choose is the greatest freedom we have as Americans. There should be zero restrictions on when a woman chooses to end her term.

Comment by Matty Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:42 pm
I consider myself pro choice, but I will never be pregnant. I’m trying to offer as much grace and compassion as I can to the women who have to make this decision. I will never be in their shoes, so I cannot judge.

Comment by God's Country Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:45 pm
I prefer there to be less abortions rather than more, but I am not going to dictate that another person has to have a baby.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:45 pm
Pro-Choice and vehemently opposed to forced birth. Totally confused by people citing adoption as a corollary to being “pro-life” My adopted children would agree.

Comment by Uptown Progressive Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:49 pm
It’s complicated, perhaps I best describe myself as wishful pro-life. I wish the decision was always to have the baby. It’s my hope that we focus on governmental and private sector policies and initiatives that reduces the need to make the decision to have an abortion. I rejected a dogmatic approach when faced with the decision out of a medical concern. I thank God it worked out for our family, but I understand others may not be so lucky or in a position to continue.

The extremism and hypocrisy of the pro-life movement makes it impossible to support their candidates.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:51 pm
Pro Choice: It’s morally abhorrent to force women to give birth. Human life is obviously precious but the development and full autonomy of that life is a spectrum of development. Drawing the line at conception gives no thought to the woman with the health and life implications of carrying a fetus to term. The procedure should be fully funded by the government and free to all who want it so long as it’s safe.

Comment by Incandenza Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 2:56 pm
I am not generally pro-choice but am adamantly pro-choice. I am also a parent through adoption. I believe a woman who consents to sex can withdraw her consent and the sex must stop. A woman who consents to sex does not necessarily consent to becoming pregnant. A woman who consents to becoming pregnant can withdraw her consent and terminate the pregnancy and in some rare and unfortunate circumstances may need to do so in the 3rd trimester.

Comment by Cold of Winter Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:02 pm
Well, Oswego Willie pretty much just wrote exactly how I feel. I think abortion is wrong but that is my personal belief. But a women’s rights come in conflict with my beliefs. I don’t use my belief’s on this issue become a litmus test for my politics. I mainly back democrats so obviously I have backed many prochoice politicians. But I will never celebrate or be a cheerleader for abortion. I know it sounds hypocritical but that just the way I feel.

Comment by Been There Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:02 pm
Pro-choice. The examples of back alley butchery are horrendous. No society should permit that. Also for prevention, education and every alternative under the sun to prevent the situation from reaching a crisis stage in the first place.

Comment by Lt Guv Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:06 pm
I don’t know if I understand the question or not.

To me, anyone who is personally opposed to abortion but would let others make up their own mind instead of opposing their will on others is “Pro-choice.”

I am philosophically “pro-choice” because in a Free Society, I consider Reproductive Freedom to be one of the most essential Freedoms. A government that asserts authority over Reproduction has the power to not only prohibit abortion but also require abortions, and for me this is not a hypothetically issue from “What if the Nazis were in charge?” vein. American goverments have chemically and surgically prevented people from reproducing in my lifetime, and we were all revolted by China’s “One Child” policy and its consequences.

I am politically “pro-choice” because I don’t know how we could ever expect American states that have struggled to develop a universal school curriculum and often fail to manage their own college students, prisoners and wards to develop and manage a universal policy on reproduction.

I am socially “pro-choice” because I understand that abortion does not prevent children from coming into the world, it only delays it for a time when a child can be cared for under better circumstances, and that sometimes those circumstances initially are awful. Nor do I think you achieve your goal of building Strong Families by imposing parenting as a form of punishment for failing to use birth control properly or being raped. Nor does making adoption more available seem like a viable excuse when there are so many children available and waiting for adoption already.

I am ethically “pro-choice” because I do not believe you should ever expect someone to bear a burden you are unwilling to bear yourself, and since I cannot bear children I am in no position to tell others that they must.

Comment by Smokey Joe Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:07 pm
Pro Life. I am an adopted person. My life began at my conception, as science tells us all human life does. So it is morally abhorrent to end a life in the womb except to save the life of the mother. Even then it is a horrible choice. I am thankful that my biological mother chose to let me be born and give me to a loving family rather than take the easy, convenient way to escape an unplanned pregnancy. Because of her bravery and generosity I have thus far had an excellent life. I wish more of the 60 some million innocent babies who have been killed since 1973 had the same opportunity and I can’t help but wonder what they might have achieved had they been allowed to live. One of them may have been the doctor who cured cancer, or covid, or the common cold.

Comment by Captain Obvious Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:16 pm
I’m pro-choice. The notion that there are scores of women out there carrying pregnancies to term and then deciding they don’t want to give birth is a nasty fiction that endangers the people who seek and the people who provide reproductive health care services.

Comment by The Opinions Bureau Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:17 pm
Pro choice. Abortion is always sad but sometimes necessary, and I’m not the one who can decide for you whether it is necessary or not.

Comment by Jibba Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:31 pm
I 100% support any and all women’s right to control their own bodies.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:33 pm
I have never understood the concept that one can end the life of a baby or anyone unless it’s self defense. I’m not for the death penalty and I think society through government and charities should help families who need help financially or otherwise. If a Mom were to watch the ultrasound of their baby, they would be hard pressed to end that life. Anyone who is pro choice should probably watch ultra sounds and also watch an abortion procedure. If you want to educate yourself fully, then you may want to do that. I have had many conversations with Moms who have aborted a baby. I have friends who have made that decision. I feel bad for them that they have to live with that. I know life is complicated and as someone who has adopted children, I encourage adoption.

Comment by Life Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:47 pm
Pro choice. In every single instance. No exceptions, ever.

Comment by Anon Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:48 pm
Pro Life for sure and against the death penalty also. Humans are different than all other created things. Deep conviction we are made in the image and likeness of God. All babies deserve a chance to be born and that includes instances of tape an incest.

Comment by clec dcn Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:52 pm
Pro-choice. My faith teaches that the fetus can do harm and so a woman has the right to protect herself.

On the other hand, I believe in a society that does not make having an unexpected pregnancy a great way to either be poor or become poor.

Comment by cermak_rd Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:55 pm
I am pro life.

Those who are pro choice had several choices. Take the pill or other measures to assure no pregnancy, or take the day after pill.

How many choices do you need without ending a life?

Comment by MOON Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 3:58 pm
Pro-choice. I have been involved in several situations where hard decisions were made. None were easy. It’s a personal choice that each woman needs to make that works for her.

Comment by zatoichi Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 4:04 pm
Completely Pro-Life. Really don’t understand how killing a baby is something to be celebrated. As others have said I am also anti-death penalty, as I view that as Vengeance, and that is not mine to seek.
I also believe that when it’s my time I will have to account for my sins, but not for someone else’s. Justifying their choices will be up to them.

Comment by SOIL M Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 4:06 pm
I am pro-reproductive freedom, which includes defense of abortion access. People should have right to obtain an abortion without government or religious figure interference.

Comment by Justin Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 4:07 pm
Prochoice

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 21, 22 @ 4:21 pm
Pro-choice

Comment by woodguy Monday, Jan 24, 22 @ 8:07 pm