The 50 year debate - Comment No. 2 on a colleague

In this unit, I learned more about Roe v Wade, a case that was taken to the court in 1971 and even though this happened almost 50 years ago abortion is still a very controversial topic. We all have our own points of view and opinion on things and I believe that as a society we should all be more open-minded and be willing to listen to the opposing side. There are people who say to be open minded but as soon as you talk against or different to what they believe they will say you are insane, don’t know what you’re talking about, you’re wrong, and walk away or not want to hear the conversation anymore. I have also learned that there are people at both ends who take things to the extreme. For example; extremely to the right or extremely to the left, and being like that, I believe, is not a way to be balanced.

I was browsing through the different blogs to see who’s post I would comment on and I came across “Originally Commentary on Abortion” by Dawson Walton. So, I chose to comment on this blog because only a few days ago I was watching some YouTube videos and came across a type of interview/movie titled “7 Reasons” and it touches on the subject of abortion. I find it very interesting and educational when I watch a debate or look at both sides of a topic/story. I feel doing this broadens my perspective. It makes me see more rather than setting my mind to just one thing as if I was in one small box.

In his blog, Mr. Walton writes that “It shouldn’t be up to lawmakers to decide whether a woman can abort…” And to this statement, I say that lawmakers have made many decisions that don’t go according to what the popular vote is. I feel as if many decisions are taken without asking the public. In class this semester we learned how there are different topics that concern the U.S.A. and a great majority of the public feel strongly one way yet when laws get passed it goes the opposite way. Why does this happen? Is the question I always wonder about.

Mr. Walton states that “…a teenager is most likely unfit to take care of child.” And I agree 50/50 on that. Because I have seen and know of many moms who got pregnant in their teens and fought through it and became really good moms and other moms who became pregnant in their teens and gave up the responsibility to someone else. So in that, I believe a better education system should be put in place to avoid teens to become pregnant.

Overall I give deep thought to what Mr. Walton wrote about and thank him for sharing this with all of us.

“Let me inject heroin in a safe place, it’s my citizen right”

A few months ago, I came across some videos where in some cities (I can’t remember where in the U.S.) they created a space where people could come in and use illegal drugs and in case they overdosed they had professionals there to help them right away. A few questions came to my mind as I watched these videos: What is the purpose of creating these “safe places”? Who is paying for the building, staff, professionals? And wouldn’t creating spaces like these just encourage people to continue to use drugs, seeing that there are no consequences?

As I was wondering on what topic to write about I came across this topic once again “Should cities open drug ‘safe places’ where people who are addicted to illegal drugs can use them under the supervision of medical professionals?” I imagine addiction can be a very difficult thing to live with, maybe it was easy to fall into addiction and now it’s difficult to come out of it. And I believe that if cities do open spaces like these, they would just encourage the use of those drugs. Why not create more programs of help? If someone wants to change for the better and quit addictions they will seek help. But how can we help those who don’t want to be helped? By opening up a space so they can freely inject those drugs? What’s next, providing the drugs for them?

Some might argue, “opening a safe place will allow people to come in and be protected from the bad people out there. From people who want to abuse them, steal from them, and maybe even kill them”. Yet, shouldn’t these reasons/circumstances push the people, who are addicted to illegal drugs, to make a positive change for their lives? To run away from that life and pursue some positive goals or career?  

Perhaps I’m missing some info and I would like to see, read, and hear the point of view from someone who supports the opening of these “safe spaces”. But if the opening of these places, to have the staff, and with medical professionals (which we know won’t be cheap) is coming out of our pockets, citizens who work hard to earn their money and pay their bills, I don’t imagine many people agreeing with the opening of these spaces.

We live in some very interesting times. With there being so many other things that we could work on, just as one example, free college education. Why not provide the opportunity for many people to receive a very good and free education, to have a well-educated and knowledgeable country? Feeding the hungry? Amongst many many other things to work on. But maybe there is a very good outcome for opening these spaces, like I said earlier, some information that I may be missing. I would really enjoy reading about it. How would opening up these places be beneficial to our society?