To have an abortion or not? Couple asks on the Internet - Married couple solicits tak
More real than any reality-based TV show or contest, Pete and Alisha Arnold, a couple from Minneapolis are expecting a baby. But they aren’t sure if they want to have the child. Having a history of two earlier pregnancies ending in miscarriages, they create a website to ask anyone on the internet to help them in answering one crucial question: To have an abortion or continue with their pregnancy.
What's your vote?
Abortion? Or continuing with the pregnancy? The question that haunts every couple nowadays especially when a pregnancy is unplanned, worse unwanted.
This is the same question that has given birth, no pun intended, to Birth or Not1 – a website by Pete and Alisha Arnold, a married couple expecting a baby, but they are unsure whether they want to have the child or not.
Some background info
The Arnolds are both 30 years of age, been married for 10 years and are working in the IT industry.
They have had two planned pregnancies before but both ended in miscarriages; the first one in January, 2010 at 16 weeks and the second in April, 2010 at 5 weeks.
BirthOrNot.com was started in September and has been a journal of their pregnancy with health updates on the fetus and the mother being regularly posted.
However, the website has one crucial purpose: the conduct a poll on the internet on whether to continue on with their pregnancy or terminate it by having an abortion.
Voting will end on December 7, 2010, two days before December 9, ’10 which is the last day then can legally avail of an abortion.
Why put it through an online poll?
The couple has pledged that the result of the online voting will be considered in making up their minds. They explained the use of an online poll:
Voting is such an integral part of the American identity. We vote on everything. We vote on things ranging from the best singer on American Idol to who the next leader of the free world will be. Wouldn’t it be nice to voice your opinion and have it actually make a difference in the real world? Why not vote on whether to continue or abort an actual pregnancy? Your vote can help a real couple to make a decision on this issue.In terms of reality-based talent shows or contests, you can never get more real then this. Of course the couple has received tons of negative feedback, including attempts at taking over the website or taking it down completely.
As of this writing, 44, 013 votes have been cast. 81.03% or 35, 662 votes are in favor of continuing with the pregnancy while 18.97% or 8, 357 votes are in favor of aborting the couple’s baby.
And what is my vote?
I am in favor of continuing the pregnancy. Not necessarily against abortion per se. Looking at the Arnolds’ history of two failed pregnancies, it can be so easy to give up now with the third. The pain of losing an unborn child is one of the most difficult tragedies a couple could face.
However, the fetus is developing quite well, and at 17 weeks, it has surpassed the 1st pregnancy. So the little one is putting up a good fight. Hope springs eternal as they saying goes. And that is what the child is. Hope for the couple.
What will you vote be?
Three weeks to go before voting closes. If you want to make your voice heard, the couple are listening. If these had happened in the Philippines, all hell would’ve broken loose already with the Catholic Church leading the march. Which got me into thinking, the Arnolds are not the only ones who are facing the same difficult question. Lucky for them, they are able to discuss it with the whole world via the Internet.
Footnotes:
Content from...
This is so wrong. Some people will do anything to court publicity and fame. The baby will live or die because the US public says it will. A child is the most precious thing in the world and it's fate should not be down to public opinion, it should be a very private decision made by the parents. Personally I am not in favor of abortions for convenience sake, although there are no doubt good arguments in favor of it where there are extreme medical reasons or the mother is a rape victim.
Originally Posted by sars_notd_virus
