Editor,
This is in response to the letter by Rachel Shreve about abortion in the Oct. 2 Daily Lobo. Speaking as a female scientist, I would like to agree that generally there is no debate that biological life begins at conception. Yet, life in the biological sense just means that a cell is able to metabolize nutrients, produce energy to grow and reproduce. The life that Shreve talks about is more of a spiritual and philosophical one, meaning the beginning of life as a human being, not just as a living thing.
I am not going to argue for or against the beginning of life at conception in the philosophical sense. Everyone is free to believe as they wish. However, our individual beliefs must not be imposed on others, as they might not agree with our own.
Abortion has existed since ancient times. Even when it was illegal and morally condemned, it was still done. Legal abortion should remain for the safety of the woman that chooses to undergo the procedure. Once a woman has chosen to go ahead with an abortion, I believe she will probably do it whether it is legal or not, as has been done for centuries before.
So, let her undergo this already traumatic experience in a controlled, clean and safe environment. In aiming to save the possibility of future lives, let us not forget the value of the already existing ones.
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Leyma De Haro
UNM student
