Obama. Abortion. Reduction?

It looks as if Obama is making good on one of his campaign promises-- to find common ground in the abortion debate and work to reduce abortions in a number of ways. This, I believe, is the only real solution to the problem, at least in this period of American history. Abortion is going to be legal and people are going to have sex, thus we need policies that will reduce abortions and make an abortion-free country seem possible.

Obama said recently: "I would like to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies that result in women feeling compelled to get an abortion or at least considering getting an abortion." The Administration has brought together pro and anti abortion advocates to discuss ideas and goals in reducing the number of abortions and to get people talking rather than arguing. The White House will then consider ideas and recommendations that come from these talks. Ideas that are being discussed are: "improving education about use of contraception; better access to emergency contraception (which can be used after sex); improving education about sex, relationships and the "sacredness of sex"; stamping out employment discrimination against pregnant women; improving family-leave policies; and encouraging adoption." The Administration is especially interested in: "sex education; responsible use of contraception; maternal and child health; pregnancy discrimination in the workplace and elsewhere; and adoption."

This is encouraging for me and others who voted for Obama despite the protests of friends and family that Obama was a hard-core pro-abortion guy not really concerned about reducing abortions. Most frustrating for me is to read about pro-life people poo-pooing contraception. A global study of abortion conducted by the WHO found the lowest rates were in Western Europe due to its widespread availability of contraception. Fewer unwanted pregnancies means fewer abortions-- go figure!

I'm hopeful that this effort will produce some creative policy that the majority of pro-life and pro-choice people can get behind, and that the militants on both sides will continue to decrease.
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