The age old controversy of abortion

One of the controversial topics in Dogma was the issue of abortion. As Bethany is walking up to her job at Planned Parenthood, there are protestors outside telling her she will burn in hell for working there. Part of the controversy of Bethany working there is she is Catholic. The beginning of the film shows her at a mass. Catholics are known for being pro-life, so she’s going against her religion. But she doesn’t really care because she is questioning her faith. Another way abortion is talked about in the film is after Jay and Silent Bob save Bethany from the demons. She asks about what they are doing there, and they reply they are at the abortion clinic because they figure it will be a good way to meet loose women. It’s controversial because they say that all women who get an abortion are loose, sometimes it’s just a mistake or an accident you had no intention of happening.

Abortion has been a very controversial topic throughout history, possibly the most controversial topics. People have fought the subject; some say it’s murdering a person. Some say people are taking things for granted when others are trying and trying and can’t have children. Some are for it. Then in 1973, the Supreme Court decided abortion was legal under the doctrine of the right to privacy. Under the decision of the court, they decided abortion is completely legal during the first trimester; it can be regulated in the second trimester due to maternal health, and states can decide for themselves about the third trimester.

Media outlets can go either way on the topic of abortion. If it is a religious media source they will tell you how bad abortion is and try to change your opinion. Other media sources try not to talk too much about their opinions on that matter because they don’t want people to think they have an opinion and stop watching them. They will report on protests and events surrounding abortion, but try to stay off the topic of what they think. Only television they often show commercials for birth control and plan B, which is also restricting having children, just like abortion, but is never really controversial. In all my years as a TV watcher, I have never, and am confident I will never hear about abortion. In movies and TV shows it is usually only featured as a controversial subject where there are other controversial topics also. Like in Dogma there are many controversial topics like trying to find your faith. Another example, the movie Juno featured the option of abortion. She went to the clinic but Juno decided she wanted to have her baby. The other controversy in that movie was teen pregnancy. Abortion is a subject that is under the radar and not talked about in the public unless it is a special event for pro-life or pro-choice groups. Occasionally on the radio there will be a commercial for planned parenthood, but there are more than just abortion clinics there, plus they are on stations that younger people listen to, not overly conservative stations.

There are those who are pro-life. It is a moral matter: if someone kills a man out on the street he goes to jail and is possibly even put to death. So why should they be able to kill a unborn child, they are people too. The Catholic Church is very pro-life, which is why it is so ironic that Bethany works at an abortion clinic. They put lots of money and campaigns against abortion. They preach that life begins at conception so having an abortion is killing a person.

Then there are those who are pro-choice. They believe that a woman has a right to do what she wants with her body. She should have the right to do what she wants with her body. I believe women should have the right to choose. If I were in that situation I would want to have options. Some say people should be careful and not have sex unless they are ready to have a baby. Even if you use protection it’s never 100% effective. The pill is only 99% effective if used correctly and taken the same time everyday and male condoms are only 97% effective if used correctly every time. So you can be careful but sometimes things just go wrong. In my opinion, you should have that choice to not have the child. Even married women have abortions. Sometimes you get pregnant at the wrong time and a child wouldn’t be a good thing at the time. That’s another reason I’m pro-choice: If you have a child when you don’t want to have it or you aren’t mentally/physically prepared, then you can’t provide that child with the life they should have.