The Editor, Sir:

There is a striking relationship between safe sexual practices, family planning and abortion. Unsafe sex and lack of planning result in pregnancies and the 'need' for abortion. It is that simple for some individuals, but is it really that simple? Do you just execute a foetus because of your lack of planning and safe sexual practices?

The thing is that 'safe sex' is a relatively recent phenomenon in light of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and perhaps would be non-existent had it not been for such. The truth is that most of our parents and grandparents never planned for a family - they just procreated as God commanded them to. Whether it was in or out of wedlock, a woman carried her child to term - hence the previous generations and the current generation.

Emotions, physical implications

The issues of abortion are far-reaching as it relates to the aftermath - the emotions, the physical implications and the social implications. It has been noted that women who had an abortion suffer emotionally and later on when some of these women want to conceive, they are not able to. I guess you could call it poetic justice.

What are we teaching the youth by supporting abortion - telling them that it is ok? We are directly or indirectly teaching them to take the easy way out of their responsibilities. We are teaching them that life has little value because if an innocent life as a baby's is of no value, what then for one who is infallible? I do not think that enough persons can really comprehend these, because if they could, then abortion would not be an issue.

It is quite reckless to consider family planning after pregnancy as you can only plan before the occurrence. If you do not want a child to 'tie you down', then it perhaps would be wise to plan and practise safe sex. It is for us, those who understand, to educate those who do not yet understand as to the right values and not leave them unprotected from European and North American influences.

Yes, a woman has a right over her own body - the right to say what goes into it - not only what comes out of it. It is for us to exercise these rights by respecting our bodies and the lives we have the opportunity to carry in them - a life that we once were, and are only still here because our mothers did not have an abortion.

Can there be a generation without a child? Can there be a child if its life is cut short before it has the opportunity to contribute to the society? As a nation built on the backs of strong black men and women who did not retreat at the first sign of the unexpected, and who fought for the freedom we enjoy, we ought to fight for the existence of the next generations. We need to fight against abortion.

I am, etc.,

LARISA McBEAN

mmlarisa@yahoo.com

Kingston 6

Via Go-Jamaica