Due to the recent anti-abortion ads disgracing the city of Hamilton, I feel the need to voice my opinion.

Abortion is not a black and white issue. I am neither for not against abortion. I judge each situation uniquely because no two circumstances are exactly the same. I would strongly urge each and every one of you to begin critically thinking about complicated issues before stating an opinion.

Tell a woman who has been brutally raped that having an abortion is wrong. Insist that the right thing to do is for her to have her rapist’s child. Tell a woman who is carrying a terminally ill fetus who will not live past a day or a week and whose life will consist of nothing but excruciating pain that she must carry her baby to term. Sometimes the most loving thing one can do is letting go rather than selfishly holding on.

The reason the issue of rape and illness is brought up repeatedly in the discussion of abortion is because it is an incredibly valid point that holds particular merit in the case of politics. Unfortunately to most people who view the issue politically, they believe it to be a black and white issue. Abortion is either wrong or right, bad or good, which is clearly not the case. From an ethical standpoint, the issue is all grey.

Simply stating that abortion is one thing or another without backing up that statement is nothing but a personal assertion based on biased experiences. I tend to view the world outside the confines of two shades and appreciate the necessity of having a healthy debate about issues that will never have a right or wrong solution especially when discussed between individuals who may have a difficult time viewing the argument objectively.

From an ethical standpoint, I am neither for nor against abortion because my judgement depends on each unique circumstance. From a political standpoint, I am pro-choice because it is not my right to tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body. I am not willing to put a woman’s life at risk or force her to birth her rapist’s child in order to keep healthy babies born as mistakes from being aborted. From my point of view, it is simply not worth the consequences.

Like everything in life, right and wrong are a matter of opinion and perspective. Love looks different to everyone.