Legalized abortion in the United States has been a contentious and polarizing issue for more than 50 years. In the aftermath of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, it has become a top issue in elections from the U.S. President to local state and county offices.

Abortion defined
Merriam-Webster defines abortion as “the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus: such as a: spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of gestation b: induced expulsion of a human fetus.
“Abortion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abortion. Accessed 18 Sep. 2024.

Abortion in my life
My wife and I experienced abortion in the early 1990s. It was the “natural kind,” meaning that we didn’t want it to happen, but something went wrong. Doctors would call the 2-1/2 month-old a “fetus.” We called it our baby, and I felt deep loss.

Of course, the controversy today is over abortions where a parent decides to terminate a pregnancy where the baby/fetus is otherwise viable. People who are pro-abortion focus mainly on the right of a woman to make medical decisions that impact her body. People who are anti-abortion see the unborn life as having an innate right to survive.

When society considers the “right” of abortion, we make legal and moral judgments. Should individuals have the legal right to end a pregnancy? Is the life within a woman more than a mass of developing tissue?

I wept for the loss of a child 30 years ago. I weep today for the people who have made a difficult decision to have an abortion. I mourn the loss of so many potentially impactful lives that were cut short.

When I complete my ballot this year for national and local candidates, their views on abortion cannot be my only litmus test. Our nation is struggling in many areas, and we face many issues that require true leadership to tackle.

I will vote because that is both a right and a responsibility in the United States. No political party has consistently demonstrated commitments to every ideal I hold dear. So I will judge each candidate on the totality of their background, ideas and accomplishments.

As you consider your votes, will you struggle like I do with making decisions based on not only what is “best,” but what is “right”?