I was persuaded by the "pro-choice" arguments until I became pregnant with my first child. Reproductive rights is an appealing slogan. A woman's right to privacy and freedom of choice sounds fair and logical, even lofty. Many of us have a natural resistance to government or anybody interfering in our lives. It is easy to be persuaded if you do not seriously consider the rights of the unborn child.

       When pregnant with my first child, I took perfect care of myself. One day it struck me how completely dependent this child was on what I do to my body. While pregnant, I can optimize my nutrition or not. I can drink alcohol and take ilicit drugs. I can even destroy this life within me if I choose to. From that day of awakening and for the rest of my life, I will support laws that protect that most vulnerable helpless member of our human family. Based on the core source for laws that protect your life and mine, it is no less imperative that the life of the unborn child be protected. The fact that they cannot speak for themselves compels us to speak out for their rights.

      There are self-righteous, love-lacking supporters of both the "pro-choice" and "pro-life" standpoints. On the "prolife" side, there are also many of us who are well aware of our own weaknesses and mistakes and have tremendous loving concern and compassion for pregnant women in difficult psychosocial situations. This does not impact our stand that it should not be a legalized personal decision to destroy an unborn child any more than it should be legal to snuff out your life or mine.

Annie Bukacek MD