Op-Ed #2: Abortion and Poverty: The Two Biggest Challenges In America

Op-Ed #2: Abortion or Poverty? The Two Biggest Challenges in America

In the United States of America, there are many challenges. However, a few challenges are caused by others before children are born. Those two challenges, in my opinion, are abortion and poverty. The reason why they are big to me is because they are controversial to talk about.

Abortion has been a problem for years, especially in American Negroid communities. A phrase I see from pictures of billboards is “the most dangerous place for a black child is in the womb”. Of course, me as a boy didn't know what that means until I knew how to research. Black women are more likely to abort their children than any race of women. I wondered why. Well, I realized I was raised in poverty, and a good reason would be that the reason black women abort their children is because they cant afford it. I've also seen that most of the black kids that I went to school with were raised in matriarchal households, which the women was the lead like my mother was. We were in situations in which the mothers knew were not great, but has us willingly anyway. My mom is against abortions and adoption, which is why she had me. Speaking about abortion, there was a question I saw on Facebook:

“Which scenario is more insensitive - aborting a helpless child or giving birth and subjecting that child to a life of poverty and deprivation?”

When I saw this question, it was really something to think about. It is a question that would stump most people, I believe. It is a question that has no clear cut answer, but is a question that people that the majority of people do not think about. Now, if you're a religious person, you would say that every life matters and that abortion is murder. That's understandable. You would also say that life begins at conception, which is also understandable to say. If you're pro-choice, you would reject all arguments and would think it is woman's right to choose and that it should not be infringed.

Here is how I see it: both issues, abortion and poverty, are big. However, wouldn't the best answer to prevent problems like these is to not have sex at all? Wouldn't you wait until you are financially, emotionally, and socially capable to have children? Also, would it best to have children with the right male and female, and that both partners actually want children? These are basic things to do in life, and it is not about politics. It is just common sense.

I know what it is like to live in poverty. It is horrible. Not knowing when your next meal will come or even where you may sleep. I would say this: I wouldn't steal. I had some respect of myself by not stealing, but I am a exception, and I believe that a exception to a rule doesn't make the rule false. I was blessed to not fall in to the trap of criminality, teenage pregnancy, or worse, death.

I know every life has a story, but why should a story start off with “I was raised in poverty”. I understand we can make decisions different than our parents, and that they should be great decisions that are actually beneficial.