John Blumenthal: Yesterday I Was Just a Sperm Cell. Now I'm a Person!

For the record, while I am pro-choice I do think that if a man is in a committed relationship he should have a voice about abortion.

I understand this point, but for me, it always raises the question: What if she wants an abortion, but he doesn't?

What recourse can he possibly have other than to physically force her to carry to term a pregnancy she doesn't want?

The baby is as much his as hers, she should not have more parental rights than him just because biologically the baby must reside in her until it is born. They both actively participated in the activity that brought about that baby, therefore they should both have equal say in what happens to it.

The baby is as much his as hers

Sure it is, once we've assigned it one of those pesky "birth dates". Until then, well...not exactly.

Skot1sh: However, it is the woman and NOT the man that takes on the medical risks associated with pregnancy and abortion. Since these are HER medical risks to take and not his, then she is the only that has the legal decision power. The ONLY people we get to make medical decisions for are minors we have legal custody of & people we have power of attorney for.

skotish,

unfortunately this is one of the 'grey' areas. Because the woman takes on all the risks, and is completely dependent on the mother (the zygote to fetus to just before the baby is born cannot survive on its own), this is something that is totally within the domain of the pregnant woman. As I said, it is one of those grey areas that many so called libertarians don't really understand because they only see black and white.

Skotish,

More to the point, the fetus is her until it is born, a baby, and separate. The sperm the man donates only starts the process of eventual birth. The man gave it up, and he has no more claim to it than he would to a bacteria he slipped to her. The man has no investment rights until the child is born, and he takes action to parent it.

This is, and should be a societal determination. It is certainly not a fiat passed from on high.

The baby is as much his as hers, she should not have more parental rights than him just because biologically the baby must reside in her until it is born. They both actively participated in the activity that brought about that baby, therefore they should both have equal say in what happens to it.

Yes, ideally...but what do YOU, personally, recommend in a case where she wants an abortion but he does not? What is the literal solution?

While many may not like this point of view, she should carry the baby to term and then give up her parental rights once the baby is born.

It is a matter of responsibility for her actions. Assuming the pregnancy isn't a result of rape or something along those lines, and that it doesn't pose any more medical risk than the average pregnancy, she should take responsibility for the "consequences" (not necessarily in the negative form of the word) for her engagement in sexual activity...especially if the father of the child is fully willing to take on the parental rights and raise the child once it is born. She should not be able to abort the fetus as it is equally his as hers. Consider it shared property during a divorce settlement. It would be illegal to destroy anything that would be considered shared during a divorce settlement. While the flat screen may be technically in her house right now, it is just as much his as hers so he should have a right to protect it until the divorce is finalized.

She made her choice when she decided to have sex with the man. Just because she didn't expect/want to get pregnant doesn't change anything. I keep speeding (sexual relations) because I like to drive fast (insert your own thing you enjoy about sex here), regardless of how many precautions I take like radar detectors (birth control), etc. I am going to get a ticket (pregnant) eventually. While I do not enjoy getting the ticket (being pregnant) and may whine a little, I'm not going to tear it up (abort it) and not pay it... because I made the choice to speed (have sex). There should be no take-backs.

and Roe v. Wade says otherwise, but hey, right now, I am of the opinion that the united states might as well just slap a nationwide abortion ban, because hey, who cares of women die in back alley abortion 'clinics' where they use rusty coat hangers, I mean, really, are women's lives really all that important? I mean, there is an almost endless supply of women to pick from, who cares if a few die horrible deaths.

I am not sure what YOU don't understand. If you don't like abortion then don't have one, but YOU DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO TELL ANYONE how they should or should not behave in the same situation. You honestly, and quite frankly don't.

Skot, comparing an unwanted pregnancy to a speeding ticket is an exercise in lack of proportion.

You say she should "take responsibility" for her choices, but that's not what you're arguing-- you're arguing for a form of "moral accounting" where the woman needs to "zero out the balance sheet" according to your particular view of right and wrong.

Further, any argument that uses "personal responsibility" as a basis should, in my opinion, allow the woman freedom to make her own choice as to where and how responsibility to her person should be fulfilled. You may not like what she chooses, but it's not up to you to make that decision for her. If you want her to accept responsibility for her choices, then allow her to make the choice as to whether or not she wants to be pregnant.

Having sex? That was her choice. Whether or not to have children? Also her choice. That you think she should "suffer the consequences", as if she had committed a crime by having sex in the first place? Immaterial.

Hey, sperm cells swim and possess the "intelligence" to know they have to find and penetrate the egg.

Until men can prove that the soul doesn't reside in the sperm cell, they must be stopped from masturbating - and aborting - these living beings. Life begins in the scrotal sac! Stop the slaughter!

bonos quit making me spit out my coffee

Hey, sperm cells swim and possess the "intelligence" to know they have to find and penetrate the egg.

But now by analogy fundimentallists can argue that the rocks in their heads have measurable intelligence enough to roll down a steep hill. Look what you've done Boros!

Hey, sperm cells swim and possess the "intelligence" to know they have to find and penetrate the egg

Lol, only because the egg is smart enough to stay in a warmer part of the female reproductive tract. The sperm head for the warmth :) If it weren't for the superior intelligence of the egg, the poor sperm would get lost and die :)

bonos quit making me spit out my coffee

ok, nearly made an offensive sexually rooted comment on that one. please don't do that again for I might just make that offensive comment again.

Goes back to my girlfriend application form and edits the spits/swallows clause, because we just can't waste those swimmingly little things.

oh wait, did I just make that offensive comment....

ARGH!!!!!!!

Then masturbation could be seen as reckless endangerment (Legally Blonde).

Then masturbation could be seen as reckless endangerment

Close. It's wenchless engorgement.

OK, saying if your significant other swallows, will/can they be charged with cannibalism???

canibalism or mass murder, is there really much of a difference?

OMG, sexual pleasure is so bad. NO NO NO!!!!!

Until men can prove that the soul doesn't reside in the sperm cell, they must be stopped from masturbating - and aborting - these living beings. Life begins in the scrotal sac! Stop the slaughter!

Yes, this is a serious problem . Keeping the unborn sperm from achieving their sacred union should be punished with all the church and legal system and for profit prisons backing.

Besides the obvious job creation possibilities here, moral responsibilities require us to take in hand the task of keeping the sanctity of sperm.

Literally millions of sperm are left helpless every day. Won't you help us to achieve our goals? The sanctity of life is what is at stake here.

After all, EVERY SPERM IS PRECIOUS.

May monty python live forever.

They're not getting slaughtered, just beat up.

Lots of good wit here ; )

I missed this story I guess. When did Santorum claim sperm are people?

ROTFLMAO here. WADZILLA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGUCX53u90I

I'm not sure, but this is really perhaps the most illogical thing ever to be dreamed up by men - in their desires to keep women in their natural role as property. Nothing has really ever made me sicker to my stomach when daydreaming about being an American than his crap.

I mean, people actually believe this @!$%#...sigh.

LOL

I don't know about that.

The IRS will have to report you to the FBI for all of those mass murders you've handily committed.

So when the sperm dies during sex is the woman going to be charged with murder?

Yes, those early days of adolescence need to be remembered. The "good" boys will remember "wet dreams" and feeling so guilty for their "evil" thoughts, yes, no spicy foods, cold showers, and 20 more laps around the gym to keep them little guys and gals nice and warm in their sack! But despite all the efforts to save their little lives, the sad morning when they broke loose in the middle of the night, and now nothing but a embarrassing gooey mess, gee, to be an adolescent boy, again.

Why am I afraid to google a translation of this?

I wasn't...heh heh and the translation is!!! tada Excellent thomise8

Happy Valentine's day, I wish the world lovers to marry.

lovely translation to: Happy Valentine's Day, I wish the world lovers to marry.

Seems appropriate for the day and the silliness of the conversation.

People are living breathing individuals. Anything less is not a person.

How about a painting with the little tadpoles sitting around drinking beer and playing cards, or one of those crappy tapestries like all the guys used to have hanging in their dens only substitute sperms for dogs.

Marketing is the sperm, errr key...T-Shirts, hats, key chains, .....

I keep remembering the scene in the Woody Allen movie with the paratrooper sperm...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djQ7WZlb140

WmRALLEN

Oh yeh , that was funny

Second verse: Every sperm is sacred. Every sperm is great. If a sperm gets wasted, God gets quite irate.

Let the heathens spill theirs on the dusty ground - God will make them pay for each sperm that can't be found!

Your mind is in the gutter. Sorry, strike that. It's the bad condom makers that are in the gutter. They always split, leaving you needing a spare.

Careful, if you ask for welfare, you'll end up with cheese once a month.

Not always, depends on the state and usually how far along she is.

Same reason you will get charged with vandalism if you break out someones windows even if they were going to bust them themselves to put in replacements.

Whether the answer is not always or not, can you answer the question as to why people are charged with 2 counts of murder if they kill a pregnant lady? To try to spin by claiming that isn't always the case does not explain why it is like that in the first place.

"Zero taxable income here I come"...Pablo, you too can be Mitt Romney!

Will there be a new business in charge of making the teeny tiny coffins?

Will the right to lifers and the sanctimonious Christians insist on last rights, prayers and funerals for each and every one ?

Will billionaires and Corporations be able to pass on their wealth in special trusts?

heh heh.