by Matt Ingham

Created on: February 08, 2007   Last Updated: April 19, 2007

The Declaration of Independence states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This is also upheld in our U.S. Constitiution. I view these as the most fundamental of all rights, with the right to life as the most sacred and important than any of the others.

Roe v. Wade relied on a new right, one not found in the constitution. This is the 'right of privacy,' the basis of the Roe v. Wade ruling. Apparently, the right to privacy for a pregnant women is more important than the right to life for an unborn child.

Roe v. Wade did set a standard to determine if abortion was allowable. This point is determined by the term 'viability,' meaning the point in a fetus' life where it can "live outside the mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid." But 'viability' varies depending on certain factors; including current medical technology and availability of medical technology. This means that a fetus of a women living near no high tech hospital can be aborted later than the fetus of a women in a large city with readily available medical technology.

Now, we know that all people have the right to life. If, for example, life began after birth (the belief of pro-abortionists), it would be true that the beginning of life is a commodity based on circumstance. I do not believe this. Viability does not determine when life begins.

However, science has concluded that life begins at concepetion. AT conception, it is a fact that there is a separate human being, with a completely new genetic code, living in the mothers' womb. This fetus, latin for 'little childe' or 'young one,' is not part of the womens' body, simply living in it.

Even though Roe v. Wade declared the right to privacy for pregnant women, the fetus has the right to life, this right given by the U.S. constitution. The right to life is more important than any other right, and should be protected no matter what.

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