Abortion is an issue many Americans do not wish to discuss, debate, or even hear the word for that matter. The issue of abortion does not divide Americans, but rather Americans' values separate the proponents of abortion from the opponents of this act. Many "Pro-Choice" advocates (which are defacto pro-abortion proponents) argue that religious people have no right to impose their private religious belief on those Americans who do not share a theistic worldview much less adhere to Christian teachings. Although I disagree that religion should be kept a private matter and lacks validity in the public square, I think that it is necessary to make a non-religious case against abortion.

Why? Because many Americans who fancy themselves Pro-Choice may feel that abortion is ethically problematic and/or immoral, but believe that Americans should have the right to make this choice nonetheless. Also, a non-religious argument case against abortion, and in favor of the sanctity of life can be made convincingly without bringing in any references to the God of Abraham. Not only can this argument be persuasive, but is entirely logical based upon secular reasoning.

For example, does it make sense for a species to actively exterminate itself? No, it does not. But women have natural miscarriages quite often. But are these miscarriages the product of the healthy development of an embryo or fetus? No, the mother's body recognizes that something is wrong with the development of the child, and expels it.
Many advocates of abortion point out that an embryo is different than a human being.
Isn't a human embryo a human being in a developmental stage by definition? In other words, a human embryo is specifically different from a chicken embryo or a cow embryo or even a chimpanzee embryo? In other words, if allowed to mature, what would an aborted embryo develop into? Do you really think that a woman who has been raped should have to carry a rapist's child to full term? Does aborting the child erase the evil act of the rape? Does the abortion alleviate the trauma the woman has suffered or exacerbate it? (Reasonable people can disagree about this issue)

Does the "Americans can have the choice to do potentially unethical acts" argument apply to child pornography? Incest? Polygamy? If not, why not? Furthermore, if abortion is simply a surgical procedure like many others, why is it not shown on "the surgery channel"? Or on a special on "20/20", "Dateline", or a "CNN Special"? Certainly topics of less heated debate are featured-such as gun control, Social Security reform, and electronic voting machines.

In conclusion, I think that America's brilliance as a democracy lies within the ability for citizens to discuss, debate, and make public policy decisions through the democratic process. I feel that giant billboards of contorted aborted fetuses does not advance the discussion between the different sides on this issue, and is actually quite counterproductive. Making a religious argument is ineffective with people who do not share these beliefs and principles, and can only further alienate potential supporters of life in all its stages. It is time for Pro-Life advocates (wherever they may fall on the political spectrum) to begin to make an argument that is long past its due.