Jamie McGowan, University of Strathclyde law student
BETWEEN the ages of four and nine I lived in foster homes with other children, some of whom had been conceived through rape. In many cases a great deal of compassion is required but I believe there are no conditions which would make abortion acceptable. There are always better options.
In Denmark, 98 per cent of babies which are suspected to have Down's syndrome are terminated. This creates a very eugenic way of thinking and goes down a dangerous path of discrimination against the disabled.
As a law student, I am no stranger to encountering controversial topics and engaging in challenging debates but I have been labelled a misogynist and verbally abused because of my pro-life stance.
I have always been anti-abortion. My family support this viewpoint. I volunteer for pro-life initiatives, such as the Cardinal Winning pro-life charity on the south side of Glasgow, and I have friends who share the same outlook. In my spare time, I work as a musician playing both the organ and classical guitar at university events, and enjoy canoeing.
My stance on abortion is motivated by medical proof and legal rights. The field of medicine is rapidly discovering more about the development of embryos and, also, exactly where life begins. For me, this is the moment of conception, so embryos have the same rights to life as we do.
As a young male, my interest in the issue is often deemed unusual. It's sexist to claim men cannot comment on this issue. We are talking about the creation of human beings.
I regularly attend events such as Project Truth, which is hosted by the Society of the Protection of Unborn Children, to provide an educational platform informing society of embryonic development. Discussion, however, can often take an aggressive turn. At the Birmingham March for Life, where pro-life groups sing in a friendly environment, opposing groups spat, used explicit language, and exclaimed chants such as: "F*** the church, F*** the state, women will decide their fate."
The aggressiveness that people exhibit towards my view is a by-product of the generalisation that pro-life groups use picketing, fear tactics and intimidation. This is something I strongly disagree with and I would never associate with a group that encouraged such behaviour. This stereotype has led to Strathclyde Life Action, the group in which I am involved, being denied affiliation with the university’s student union.
My stance on abortion aside, this is denying our fundamental rights to expression, especially in an academic arena where all should be able to articulate freely. There needs to be a platform for debate and dialogue, not the silencing of opposition. From this, I hope to achieve a civil and studious environment to discuss abortion.
On a greater scale, I hope advancements can eventually be made politically. If the US President Donald Trump, whom I am by no means endorsing, is able to act on his stance against abortion, I will be pleased.
I aim for affiliation with the union so pro-life supporters can hold lectures, debate in a civil manner and propagate pro-life as the positive message that we believe it to be – one that simply educates that there are better options to abortion, and shows that we are a society willing to support women in challenging pregnancies.
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