Abortion is the No. 1 cause of deaths today. More than one-third of our generation has been wiped out due to this practice.

No one would argue the more than 3,000 lives lost during the Sept. 11 attacks was anything but horrible.

We have memorials set up to remember them — and rightfully so.

Yet, those same numbers of people are dying every day due to abortion.

We have laws allowing abortion because it “preserves the woman’s right to choose.”

It’s not as if the woman wants “the right to do whatever she wants to her body” by cutting off an arm. She wants the right to do whatever she wants to someone else’s body.

It’s been discussed that the unborn child is merely a blob of tissue. But development begins at conception.

Birth is only a stage that every human being must endure, such as puberty or aging.

At 10 to 11 weeks, all major organs are present and working. At 21 weeks the heart begins to beat.

If life does not begin at conception, then why would it begin at birth?

Is it because the child is suddenly living on his/her own?

How do we view babies hooked up to IVs and oxygen tanks who can’t live without outside help? Are their lives of any less worth?

We live in a society where “we don’t want to tell others how to live their life” for fear of being looked upon as judgmental.

Is it all right if other people own slaves or abuse their spouse, then? Certainly it does not affect us, and who are we to stop them?

It is believed abortion is there “to protect the woman’s health.” This is only the case in a very tiny percentage of cases.

Medicine and technology have progressed so much that the chance of a woman dying from childbirth is extremely rare.

Besides that, women’s health is now being harmed by the very “solution.” Sadly, women rarely know all the facts behind having an abortion. There is rarely, if ever, any type of counseling session prior to the abortion being performed.

What little they are told is that the procedure is safe, short and painless. Besides the immense pain, the after effects can be devastating.

The majority of women sink into deep depression (Post Abortion Syndrome) following an abortion. Sixty-two percent of women experience suicidal tendencies.

The chances of cervical cancer and the possibility of becoming infertile are also greatly increased. Not only that, but there are documented cases of hundreds of women having been either raped or sexually assaulted by their physician.

As recently as January 2004, abortion practitioner Brian Finkel was found guilty of 22 counts of sexual abuse and sentenced to 34 years in prison. Worse yet, injuries or deaths still continue due to complications from the procedure.

All of this from a procedure that was made legal to prevent future deaths/injuries.

Regret is also a very common feeling shared by women experiencing abortion. Many of these women, however, are speaking out. Silent No More, for example, is a collection of women who travel the United States to share their personal stories with abortion while urging its end.

They discuss alternatives such as the one million American couples waiting to adopt, as well as the thousands of pregnancy crisis centers dedicated to helping pregnant and new mothers.

One of today’s leading champions is Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe from Roe v. Wade). Her adamant opposition to the horrendous practice has led her to spend the rest of her life working to overturn the court decision that bears her name.

Even nurses and doctors who once worked in abortion mills are fighting for its end. Abortion is not simply a matter of whether or not a fetus has rights.

It’s an issue that devalues life overall and gives society a nasty aftertaste. Women want the same equal rights as men. However, abortion allows women to kill innocent lives, placing them above the law. Come to the following event for more information:

Personal Stories about Abortion

Monday, March 8, 7:00 pm Monday in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union, featuring Georgette Forney, Michelle Howa and Justine Kyker.

Teresa Krug is a freshman in liberal arts and sciences from Heber Springs, Ark. She is a member of the Campus Republicans.