Yes Ireland

For the last few weeks I've been really enjoying my Irish friends getting Facebook posts about the Irish referendum on legalising abortion and revoking the eight amendment. The eight amendment acknowledges the right of an unborn child to life. Which for many of us on the other side of the Celtic Sea might find a challenging ethical position to understand or even undertake. I was raised a Catholic so it's an idea that I was brought up with. The abortion debate was widely discussed in at my Catholic high school. As a young people who had little say or no say in the religion that we were born into and thus in part educated by we endured a large amount of Catholic propaganda around the subject. Which even involved watching videos of abortions taking place. Yup it was pretty gross. For me personally there is no doubt that life begins at conception and as I understand most expectant mothers experience this to be true. There would have to be some very challenges circumstances surrounding around conception that would make me even consider having an abortion. This being said I completely support any woman's and all women's right to be able to choose, as i believe the detrimental impact of birthing an unwanted child can cause irrevocable damage for both the child and the mother.

I've been pleased to see that most of my friends that are able to vote, have been posting in favour of Yes and are men. You might be able to argue that this is highly advantageous to them. On the other hand it's hard to ignore the inhumanity of Ireland's current abortion laws. Which works as an almost complete ban unless of course there are serious medical issues at play. Further more with regard to this medical clause, it seems to take little or no care of the mental health issues that might be triggered or arise as a result of either being or raising an unwanted child.

More so though it's incredible that a whole nation should be able to have a say as to what happens within another persons body. It of course brings up massive feminist questions and debates surrounding womens rights. Which are far to large and cumbersome for me to engage with here.

What I will say though is given the impact that this referendum will have on the personal outcomes of countless women, children and families, it is hard to condone the application of a secret ballot here. If some one feels that they have the right to determine the course of two other peoples entire lives, they must also be willing to undertake the responsibility of that affliction on Irish society. This is so that every child is indeed wanted and is instantly placed within a community that is willing and actively involved in caring for children and mothers left in this situation.