Does continued debate on a Woman's right to choose to have an abortion have value?

My observation has been that most people both at DU and in the real world have made up their minds about Abortion (and my recent poll would seem to support this --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=734521&mesg_id=734521 ). It's not that complicated an issue, and most people have an understanding of what abortion means. If someone disagrees with you, it's unlikely that more information will cause them to change their mind; rather a proper or better interpretation of the information is what is required to arrive at the right answer.

But everybody seems to be so firm on their answer (whatever that answer is) that they aren't open to any discussion of alternative interpretations. So what value is there in further discussion of the issue? Or what would be the value of such discussion? Or does it have any value? If you see it as having value, please explicate further.

I should lay my prejudices out right at the beginning. I have strong and conflicting opinions on the practice of having an abortion, and the legality of said practice (i.e. I'm opposed to people having abortions in general, and in favor of the continued legality of having abortions). I don't like the idea of a debate being settled largely because nobody is willing to budge, but I also don't see how you finesse abortion - there really isn't a compromise position (the way there could be on Gay Marriage or the Impeachment of President Bush for example).

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

Those who would deny women the right to choose remain very aware of that fact, and constantly work to add those new voters to their column. They are NOT going to stop preaching their side. If we hang up the debate, they win by default and it will be 'Welcome to the Republic of Gilead'.

I would like nothing better than to never hear the discussion again, but only if a woman's rights are firmly protected. As long as women's rights are threatened the debate must continue.

It's a big issue for the 2008 election.

This is probably my reason #3 to elect a Democratic president. We need to get control of Supreme Court (and lesser court) appointments. Or Roe v Wade will be undone.

in that it tends to rally the respective bases.

Maybe that's just me. :shrug:

I appreciate the support.

"If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament."

Lee

Most people do have their minds made up about it, quite passionately, and the argument that ensues when it's discussed seldom if ever changes anyones' opinion. I don't suggest we stop talking about it - communication should remain open - but people in power are fully aware of its value as a wedge issue, and I always have to wonder whether we are being distracted from something else when it comes up.

Women do not have the ability to become pregnant without male sperm. It seems to me that if males treated their sperm with with a great deal more respect and sense of responsibility--let's say that every deposit into a vagina was looked upon as a potential lifelong emotional and financial commitment-the abortion issue debate might be over.

People are gonna debate what they want to debate. Unfortunately, for me, I do not see much of a debate. I see clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right. Being stuck in the middle I can see points on both sides, and also fanatics on both sides. Trying to debate with either side, get them to see the other side, usually just results in my decapitation. Not only do people seem to believe in their POV, but they also firmly believe the proposition "people who disagree with me on this issue are evil/ignorant/crazy". Some people seem to believe that about all issues. I would like to see a decrease in dogmatism and demonization in all debates.

Your poll lacks one important option: Further Debate is Counter-Productive.

The Supreme Court settled the matter in 1973 in Roe v Wade.

Sadly, the debate continued.

And sadly, a result of continuing the debate is that * was able to use abortion as a litmus test for the judges he appointed.

And even more sadly, it resulted in the most recent decision by the Supreme Court.

The debate should just END.

Not really possible for the debate to end as long as the fight continues. THEY are still trying to whittle at our rights and we are not going to allow that. Some people are able to eventually see the other side and there are always new people and youngsters coming to the table. Until everyone agrees how can the debates stop.
Lee

It amounts to the same debate.

Asshole.

on women's bodily integrity continue to be made.

Once the legal question is definitively decided in favor of women's choice, then debate becomes moot.

And at that point, focus can go where it should: toward making abortion less necessary, not less legal.

It lets us know who the assholes and fascists among us are.