Is this a case where an abortion would have been the best option?

If I were told that any of my children were going to grow up to be terrorists I wouldn't have an abortion. For the most part, these people were not raised properly, either because their parents taught them that certain people do not deserve to live or because they just was a lack of good parenting. I would do my best to raise them in a loving, caring environment where there would be little chance that they would turn out to be horrible people. I know it CAN happen anyway but I would take steps to try to prevent it.

Hello Alex. I'm glad you presented this opposing point of view. I agree with you that correct parenting may have prevented this tragic episode.

It's obvious that these men didn't grow up in a loving, caring environment.

Besides the fact that science is indefinite, and changing all the time, I could not abort a child of mine. I would have to agree with Alex. I would do everything in my power to raise the child in a home of love where human life is precious.

Hi Lisa. That's 2 against the abortion and none in favor. I also believe that we have the ability to raise a child in a manner that would lead him or her to believe that all human life is precious.

Obviously these terrorist believe that killing a human is like stepping on an ant. They fail to see the difference.

very interesting question. I really don't know how to answer this one.

but where does it stop
do you abort the parent
alot of it is gotten from the parents too and the culture
abort the whole culture?

Hi Sarah. For those who don't have a clear cut position on this issue, this those pose an interesting question.

We now have 2 against the abortion and 1 not sure what to do.

Thanks for your honest reply.

Hi. Sandi. It won't be possible to abort the parent, but we may be able to try and change the culture.

If these terrorist keep coming from the same areas, there will be those ready to abort the whole culture. What they keep doing is just unacceptable. Don't you think so?

It really has nothing to do with them being born it was how they are raised. So if you know if they are going to be terriorist then instead of aborting them change their enviroment. Never know one might end up curing cancer instead.

i agree with denise. it is how you are raised

There are extremists in all cultures and altho they are not as public they do as much damage in other ways. Where would you start and where would you end?

Abortion is NOT the answer ! It's all a matter of how they were raised! Obviously, they didn't have very good up bringing to respect life! How sad.

it is how they were raised that turned them into what they are,
we know you cant abort the parents, or the culture
aborting one child because you knew he was bad
wouldnt solve much I dont think

Aborting the child because it may turn out to be a terrorist would make us just as wrong as the terrorists themselves as regards the value we place on human life. Having said that I am still pro choice.

I can see physiological reasons for aborting a fetus but character is equal parts environment as genetics. Bottom line the idea that you could predict which baby will be a terrorist suggests there would be a genetic factor there... in which case the parents must already be equally as flawed... where do you draw the line?
It's like when they used to sterilize those children who were mentally handicapped no matter the cause or how mildly impaired they were. Science and psychology have come so far that some of those who once were judged mentally deficient are now known to simply have learning disabilities that can be treated, even reversed.

If you had the foreknowledge, and actually cared, you could do something about it a head of time. The key would have been, would you have cared. If not, then wouldn't have been better to make both the parents sterile?

Hello, Lloyd-

The Answer would, of course, be "No."

Lloyd,
Being we don't have the technology, I say "No." Abortion is another evil and not to replace an evil. These men or animals should are weaklings who are dupped by evil. To replace one evil with another is simply wrong.
Join La La Land
Merry Christmas

Besides, I would like to mete out punishment on the likes of them. How would turning them loose naked on the streets in front of the Taj Majal at an announced time. Then, we'd see how tough they are.

I don't think it would have mattered; others would have taken thier place. It is not so much the parents in my mind, as it is the ridiculous teachings of radical Islamists. We're not talking about a few criminals here, but a religious movement of intolerance and hate.
My thoughts anyway, take care.

Hi Denise. You make a great point. I always wondered what positive contributions, those who were aborted, could have made to society.

Lloyd

Hi Tammie. How you were raised plays a huge role in the way you turn out, but there are many examples of children raised in an ideal environment who commit heneous crimes.

Is there a perfect environment that would make a evil proof child?

Lloyd

Hi APE. There are extremist in all cultures, but they don't follow through on their teachings like these people do.

Don't you think if we eliminated this highly extreme portion of society that it would be for the better?

I'm not talking about the people who chant "Bush Lied and our Soldiers Died".

I'm talking about people willing to kill hundreds, if not thousands of people.

Lloyd

Hi Fay. If it's all a matter of how they were raised, then how do you explain those raised in an ideal environment who commit heinous crimes?

Lloyd

Hi Sandi. If we can't abort children, the culture or the parents, then what should we do?

Should we just hope and pray that they will somehow see the light?

I've seen many cases where the parents of these individuals actually encouraged their children to become martyrs.

Nothing will ever change their hatred for Americans, Jews and western civilization.

Lloyd

Hi Kathleen. How would aborting a child capable of causing a 9/11 or what happened in India, make us just as wrong?

Just look at the death and destruction this type of person causes.

There are children in India who no longer have the ability to tell their mom or dad that they love them.

There are families devastated. They've lost the head of the household.

Some will now be subject to abject poverty.

I'm not suggesting that we go overboard. I'm just asking that if we had the ability to stop a terrorist in his tracks, would we do it?

Lloyd

Hello Fabulous D. Since my question was a hypothetical one, I don't see how it can be an inane one.

It's not lacking significance, meaning, or a point, and it's not silly.

Mankind has a problem unlike anything we've ever seen.

These terrorist are tearing at the very fabric of our existence.

You and I both know that, if they were to ever get their hands on a nuclear weapon, that they would use it.

So my question is not to insult the dead, but to protect the living.

Lloyd

I am a prochoice and think that abortion is a decison one woman must make if ever faced with the choice. As far as this situation goes it goes down to more with how these people were raised. Terrorism isn't a gene we are born with. Its a behavior that is honed and developed by their peers. Peers who probably should never have the influence they do have.

The reason I deleted your reply to my post was because you did exactly what I asked everyone not to do. Here is what I wrote"

"Please don't call me any names or get angry at me. It was just a thought that popped up in my head after watching the aftermath of this terrorist attack".

I don't appreciate being denigrated by you or anyone else. If you would have taken the time to read my profile you would have seen that am one who believes that we can agree to disagree.

This post consists of over 30 comments and you are the only one who felt the need to respond in this way.

I am not silly and I am not a coward. One of the things I hate the most is people who use the anonymity of the internet to say and do things to others that they wouldn't dare say or do to that person face to face.

In my opinion, that is one of the definitions of a coward.

I did not join Gather to get into these types of personal confrontations, so in the future I'm asking you not to respond to any of my posts and I'll do the same in regards to yours.

As far as I'm concerned, this case is closed.

I'm sure you can find other venues here at Gather to express your points of view.

Once again, I'd appreciate it if you know longer respond to any of my posts again. I will delete them as soon as I see them without any regrets.

From the person you called a coward.

Lloyd

For everyone else who responded to this post, I'd like to apologize for having to respond in this fashion. This is not who I am. I truly hope that those who disagree with my positions will still be able to agree to disagree respectfully.

That is all I ask of everyone.

Lloyd

If there were such a test that would presume to tell me my child was going to be a terrorist, I would have the baby and do everything in my power to make sure that didn't happen. I would make sure my child grew up knowing about love, about how prescious mankind is - even those who are evil and our enemies.

Then, if all my attempts at making sure my offspring turned out to be good rather than eveil failed, I would not hesitate to turn my child into the authorities the first time I knew that he/she had committed a terrorist act.

Lloyd, I'm sorry that you've experienced some of the name-calling that goes on here. It's unnecessary. I've been the recipient of those kinds of comments as well - from people on "the other side". :-)

Hello Marilyn. I believe you have made the most reasonable case for not aborting a child if such a test were available.

That is the problem we face with many of the fanatical people living in the Middle East. Many parents encourage their children to commits these acts as opposed to turning them into the authorities.

As far as the name-calling is concerned, I will not tolerate it. I will delete any comment that disrespects me or any Gather member.

The only reason I let this one stay is because people need to see what he wrote and how I responded.

If I wanted to engage in this type of back and forth nonsense, I could have stayed at myLot, where this type of thing is prevalent and sometimes encouraged.

Sorry to hear that you have been the recipient of these kinds of comments, but you won't have to deal with it here.

Your friend.

Lloyd

I would say 'No' to the killing of an unborn child. This disregard for human life was instilled in them through the ignorance of adults. What's sad about it is they actually think they've done nothing wrong. Besides, the scriptures read.."Vengeance is Mine said the Lord". I believe He will take care of things as He said in His own time in His own way.

Hello mzkuma. Thank you for your well-thought out reply. It appears that the overwhelming majority of people who has responded to this post agree with you.

Lloyd

I would never condone abortion - no matter what. There is a reason for everything. This world is created by our thoughts, yours and mine and everyone's. There are also group-mind-thoughts and national/cultural mind-thoughts. All of our thoughts become physical reality - we see, feel, taste, touch, hear the results of our thoughts - our thoughts become people, animals, plants, situations, dramas, love, fear.... What happened in India is a projection of thoughts that have come about over time - as have all of the natural disasters and other atrocities taking place now and over the past few years. Our planet is at a crossroads. We as a people are seeing these undesirable projections and are deciding that we do not want those kinds of projections any longer. We are looking, hungering, seeking better answers, better ways... Our planet is purging itself of all that fear, greed, and power have wrought. This has to be done so that love, peace, and harmony can be the replacement. We have to get rid of the undesirable - which we have learned that we no longer want. Then, a vacuum is created and we replace what we do not want with what we do want. We want a world free of wars, disasters, terrorists and terrorist's acts. We will fill the vacuum with thoughts of love, peace, and harmony instead. Obama, his team, supporters like us, filled with hope and trust, are all part of this new option - this new way of being. How sweet it is (I am already projecting my positive, peaceful, loving, harmonizing thoughts out there...)!

Hello Becky. the majority of people overwhelmingly agree with your position on this issue. I want to make something very clear. I was not advocating having an abortion under these circumstances. I was only putting out some food for thought.

It's amazing that some people have taken this post personally and decided to attack me and start the name calling.

It was a hypothetical question to begin with. I never intended this to turn into a shouting match or name calling episode.

I'd like to thank you and everyone else who responded to this post. I now have a better understanding of how most people at Gather feel towards this issue.

Lloyd

No, not because I don't find what they did heinous or because I'm not pro-choice. I do and I am.

But because everyone should have the opportunity to make their own choices. Who knows what each of us is capable of in the right circumstances? I don't. I'd like to think there are some things I'd never do under any circumstances, but I don't know. I've never had to face them. What they did was wrong and, by all means, they should be punished and the people that masterminded the activities should be brought to justice if possible. But it's a dangerous thing indeed to punish anyone for crimes one expects them to do.

I we had the technology to determine that these terrorists had, within them, the capacity to commit such a heinous crime and the parents were given the choice of aborting these terrorists before birth, would you agree to them having an abortion in this case?

So, are you asking that if someone consciously knew that their unborn fetus would one day grow up to be a terrorist, would it be okay to abort? Just clarifying so I don't misinterpret you.

I am highly pro-choice regardless. Though I'm not necessarily pro-abortion, I feel that the decision to terminate a pregnancy should be left to the discretion of the parents. I believe that every life is precious; however, there are some instances where the pregnancy/birth could be harmful to either the mother or unborn child. In these examples, I think aborting the pregnancy is the only means. I would say that knowingly bringing a future terrorist into the world would fall under this category. So, yes, I think it would be okay to terminate before birth.

Hi Stephanie. You wrote:

"But it's a dangerous thing indeed to punish anyone for crimes one expects them to do".

That statement is one of most powerful arguments against having an abortion in this case.

It brings another point of view regarding this issue.

Lloyd

Hello Kelldogg. No you did not misinterpret what I wrote.

I'm glad you had the courage to present position opposed to the majority of comments in reply to this post.

You wrote:

"I believe that every life is precious; however, there are some instances where the pregnancy/birth could be harmful to either the mother or unborn child. In these examples, I think aborting the pregnancy is the only means. I would say that knowingly bringing a future terrorist into the world would fall under this category. So, yes, I think it would be okay to terminate before birth".

I only hope that those opposed to your opinion recognize that we have the right to state our positions without being attacked, personally, for it.

Thanks for your reply.

Lloyd