Abortion issue

David Whitley’s Feb. 5 column (“In abortion battle, state Democrats can’t go to extremes”) regarding abortion used incendiary language and distorted facts to manipulate readers into a state of fear, excitement or anger. No presidential candidates from either party are advocates for abortion let alone riding the “infanticide train,” as Whitley calls it. None even advocate for abortion or are even pro-abortion.

The abortion issue is about power. Almost everyone wants to force their particular beliefs (which are the only correct ones) about life and morality on everybody else.

Some right-to-life advocates are opposed to all abortion while others believe that in certain instances abortion is acceptable. Then there are the pro-choice advocates, most of whom also want to put limits on that right. These might be limits in time, age or on who must be informed and included in the decision.

Choosing to have an abortion is not easy. It is complex and deeply personal. It involves the individual’s physical and psychological health along with the health of their family and financial situations. And all of this at a time of great emotional stress.

It is neither possible nor necessary for anyone else to understand the unique factors that influenced a girl or woman making such a difficult choice. Since we cannot walk in her shoes, what any of us would do is not relevant as we can never understand the reasons for her decision. But we can and must respect her right to choose even if we can never truly understand her choice. Otherwise, we just want to exercise power over her to make her behave in a way that we believe is best. Penny Storm Titusville