I would like to share my experience on this subject:
I have personally gone through this situation. I got pregnant at a very young age and it was very hard to tell my parents, as they are very religious. My mother told me she loved me and would be with me through the whole thing when she found out (even though it was probably a shock, and I know she was disappointed).
I will try to be kind, as well, when I speak of my opinion, since I am in the minority here. Please dont flame me, as I, too, am just trying to give my honest opionion, even though it is different than yours.
I am pro-life. My religion teaches there are other alternatives to abortion. What I did is put my baby up for adoption. Actually going through with the pregnancy--whether you keep the baby, or not, is "the hardest choice a person could make", in my opinion.
the first thing my parents did is start me in counceling. Right before I started 'showing' I switched schools. I went to a school that was specifically for pregnant young girls (this was many years ago). I was actualy surprised to see people I know there. A van actually came to my house and picked me up for school, then drove me home afterward. There were also girls there who lived in a house for pregnant teens, and the van would drive them, as well (it was a very nice, large house). Those were girls who maybe couldnt live at home, or chose to go away and have the baby, then go back home. Some kept thier baby, some did not.
I did not miss one day of school, in fact, I ended up graduating early when I went back to my regular school (after I had the baby and put it up for adoption), since I was so far ahead.
It was a stressful and hard time, but it did not last forever, and I will never, ever feel the guilt that many of the people I know feel who have had abortions. I do not condemn them, yet I would have to say that I would never be able to go with someone to get an abortion. I feel it would be me condoning something I am very much against. I would still love my friend, be there for her in other ways, listen to her, but I would not agree that she had no other choice, etc... My friends know what choice I made, and yes, they have/had the right to make thier own choices, but I would fully expect my friend to respect my religious beliefs enough to understand why I couldn't possible go with her for the actual procedure.
As for the terrible behavior some people have wittnessed from anti-abortionists: I do not agree with that kind of behavior---I think it is wrong to be so aggressive. If the pro-lifers want to share thier beliefs and show girls that they have opther options, they can do it in other, nicer ways.
Everyone DOES have the right to make thier own decisions. I, personally, couldnt live with myself if I ever ended a pregnancy, and I am comfortable with my decision enough that I feel that when it comes to (what I belileve) is judment day, I wont have to worry about the decision I made. If you do not believe what I believe, then you would not have to have the guilt that I would feel, and the worry about what will happen because of my decision, etc...
Again, it's all in what you believe. Pro-choicers who do not feel the way I feel, or maybe was not brought up in the same religion---or, dont agree with it if you did.......In YOUR heart, what you did is okay. In MY heart, it is not okay. Personally, my faith in God, and my beliefs about abortion (which again is just MY beief) is more important to me than if my friend gets mad at me for not holding her hand while she does something that I believe to be a mortal sin. I do believe that God is a forgiving God, and that people can be sorry, ask for forgiveness and repent,, so it's not that I think people who get abortions are all going to %%%%.
And, again, I would most definately still love a friend who got an abortion, listen to her, let her cry on my houlder, etc... but I could not be there for the act. I would tel her about the other options, tell her about my experience, then let her make her own decision. I would not condemn her, though. I would pray for her and the baby.
PS: To finish off my story, I went on with my life, went to college, did everything I would have done had I not gotten pregnant. Then, when my son turned 18 I CHOSE to find him and I did. We had a lovely reunion.
In closing, do what YOU feel is right in YOUR heart. This is just MY sotry. It is always nice, I think, to hear directly from someone who went the other route...that is how we all learn. We choose our own paths, destiny and yu do have the right to make yours.... so if that is pro-choice, I guess I am, just not the same choice as a lot of others. But, mine, nonetheless. I hope I dont get flamed too much. Lets just learn about each other. Thank you all for sharing your stories, I hope to learn a lot from you all. I do respect everything you all have to say, I just might not always agree.
