Hey y'all,
Why should we talk about abortion, when people hardly ever change their mind? How can we have an actual conversation, when the very frames—choice, or life—answer different questions (and you can be pro- or anti- on both)? Then again, how can we afford not to talk about the hard stuff, when it so deeply impacts us and our world?
So this week: Abortion. What is it? And who do you want deciding?
Places we can start:
- Recent US news: (a) Surrogates, contracts, custody and the supreme court; (b) the Environmental Protection Agency testing drinking water for abortion pills after abortion opponent lobbying
- In Germany, abortion is a crime but counseling and a three-day wait make it unpunishable. How do other countries handle this, and how could that improve the way your country does?
- Polarities: bodily autonomy versus a life; a contract is a promise versus a body can't be owned; which mother to trust (genetic or surrogate). And the rights of fathers in these decisions?
- What if we can predict what the baby will be? What about designer babies?
Here are some existing discussions on the site: why one member can't understand restricting reproductive rights before we've built support for children and families, and four views on what would actually reduce polarization.
Let's do our best to learn from each other, be generously empathetic, and still firm in our convictions. We’re probably not going to change each other’s minds, but we might make the world a slightly less hateful place in a way that comes up with surprising win-wins.
Lots of love, and see (some of) you here today.
Jordan Myska Allen (UpTrust CEO)
#ethics #abortion #public policy