[Talking to friend Veronica, Anita Blake worries she may be pregnant.] Ronnie: I could ask, who's the father, but that's just creepy. If you are, then it's this little tiny, microscopic lump of cells. It's not a baby. It's not a person, not yet. Anita: We'll have to disagree on that one. Ronnie: You're pro-choice. Anita: Yep, I am, but I also believe that abortion is taking a life. I agree women have the right to choose, but I also think that it's still taking a life. Ronnie: That's like saying you're pro-choice and pro-life. You can't be both. Anita: I'm pro-choice because I've never been a fourteen-year-old incest victim pregnant by her father, or a woman who's going to die if the pregnancy continues, or a rape victim, or even a teenager who made a mistake. I want women to have choices, but I also believe that it's a life, especially once it's big enough to live outside the womb.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Anita and Ronnie debate abortion, revealing personal conflict between pro‑choice values and belief that life begins early.
- In plain terms
- She supports choice but sees early life as a life.
- What can you take from it?
- Complex ethical issues often involve personal experience and nuanced belief.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can personal experience shape public policy?
Another view
Strong personal anecdotes can obscure broader policy considerations.
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