Murder, the Key to Success?

If I asked you whether committing murder is necessary for success, what would you say? You would probably be appalled that I even asked the question, declaring that murder is not even legal, let alone acceptable, and that being a murderer is not a recipe for a successful life but a life behind bars. You might even ask what kind of person would say yes to a question like that. 

Roe v. Wade

Well, you might be surprised. In a survey done by Best Colleges, 39% of prospective college students say that the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade impacts where they decide to go to college. Also, 43% of students say the ruling impacts whether they decide to stay in the state where they are currently attending college, and 75% of students say colleges should help students gain access to abortions. What is interesting about these numbers is that even among the students who supported Roe v. Wade being overturned, 70% still said that colleges should provide access to abortions. 

Historically, college students have never been that active politically in terms of laws and voting, so why would college students be so passionate about this specific law being overturned? Because becoming pregnant and having a child is seen as a detriment to educational, career, and life goals. In a survey published by Guttmacher Institute, 74% of women said the reason they sought an abortion was that having a child would interfere with their education or career. So, to achieve a level of success educationally or in the working world, women depend on abortions. 

Murder in the Name of Convenience

In an article published by TeenVogue, Veronika shares the story of her abortion: “When I was 17, I found out I was pregnant. I knew immediately that I needed to have an abortion. I had just gotten into [college] and was ready to change cities and start working toward a career in electrical engineering…having an abortion was the most responsible thing I did for myself and my future, and I will never regret it.”

Jessa also shares her story: “In June 2012, I was in my second of five years at an accelerated college. I was entering the first round of internship interviews and juggling Spring term finals as well…there was never a doubt in my mind that I was going to have an abortion. Terrifying as the prospect was, reality set in that I was completely unqualified for motherhood at 20 years old. I didn’t want my life to be put on hold to be chained to the consequences of a one-night stand.”

Veronkia did what was best for her electrical engineering future, and Jessa prevented her career-driven life from being “chained” to her baby, which she refers to as the “consequences” of her actions. 

When Is Life Protected?

Does the value of a baby’s life depend on how convenient it is to the mother and father? These stories are just two among thousands of other women who felt their career goals and future plans justified murdering their children. If that is the measuring stick used to determine whether murder is acceptable in some cases and unacceptable in others, where do we draw the line? 

Imagine with me a mother and father who have six children. Suppose the father is the breadwinner and the mother stays home with the kids. One day her husband is tragically killed, and she is left at home with all six of her kids. Imagine that she never finished high school and can’t find a job good enough to support her family, and she doesn’t have any close relatives who can take care of her. So she decides to do what is best for her financial situation and kills five of her children, reasoning that she will be a much better single mother to one child than she could ever be to six. 

Or imagine a father and mother with a 17-year-old son who is bright and intelligent and wants to go to college. The father and mother know his college bill will be expensive and that their son will depend on them to pay for it. However, the father has career goals of his own and wants to go back to school to get his Ph.D. Doing what is best for his career goals and aspirations, the father and mother kill their son so they can have enough money to pay for the father’s Ph.D. 

Do these stories sound absurd? Of course, they do. Both parents in these stories would be locked up for a very long time if anyone ever found out about their actions. But this is the slippery slope we put ourselves on when we decide that our convenience matters more than someone else’s life. While the overturning of Roe v. Wade was a victory for human life, I would be more than a little naive to believe that it will stay that way for long. Additionally, even with the recent change, six states, and Washington, DC, have no limitations on how late an abortion can be performed, which could even be the day before a woman’s due date.

It is not unreasonable to assume that abortions will someday be legal even after the baby has been born. Maybe it will start as something small, like an hour after birth, once the mother looks at the baby and realizes she has no idea how to be a mother. Then maybe it will increase, and all children three and under can be killed once the parents realize that raising a child is consuming their life and causing them to sacrifice financial luxury or career goals. And then maybe it will extend until a child becomes a legal adult at 18.

If the value of a three years old life isn’t dependent on how much of a financial burden they are to their parents, why should that determine the value of a child’s life while in the womb? 

Is abortion necessary for success? Maybe it is for some people, but that is the wrong question to ask. 

Edited by Sean Mulryan

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