The abortion issue is made complicated by emotions and situational circumstances. These attributes both contribute to its avoidance in conversation and to the general lack of understanding about it in our culture. In reading last weeks Optimist I was not surprised to find a published letter negatively portraying my efforts to raise awareness of abortion by giving away 500 free cupcakes. I thought the letter was poorly conceived in thought and motivation. The cupcakes were meant to be an inviting segue to start conversations, to educate, and get people thinking about abortion – all of which we accomplished. When people realize not every baby get’s a birthday, or a chance to eat cake, they stop and think about it. The cupcakes made our point and were very well received, even by Dr. Money.
During the two days and 6 hours that we were in the campus center, individuals, especially male, raised questions we were able to answer. I was asked repeatedly, “What happens in an abortion?” A question I never enjoy answering. When people don’t understand the issue, making an informed decision about its ethical nature is impossible. Naturally, those of us who baked cupcakes view abortion as wrong, but not once did we utter those words. Instead, we spent our time educating individuals so they could make their own informed conclusion. Unsurprisingly, when people realize every abortion kills a tiny boy or girl, and stops a beating heart, most recognize it as wrong.
Since we know making the decision to keep a baby is hard, we were also advocating for an organization called “Save the Storks”, which operate buses equipped with sonogram machines and who offer abortion-minded women free ultrasounds. This enables each woman to make a more educated decision and get connected with the resources and support she may need to keep her baby.
Rebekah Leitner
Senior nutrition major from Morrow, Ohio
Abortion is an issue made more convoluted by emotion and circumstance; both which change through encouragement and assistance. The main factor, which remains constant, is that every abortion destroys a human life. When this fact is realized the right thing to do becomes evident.
