Events and Activities

MDRTL Foundation 2010 Essay Contest Winners

Senior Level: Marykate O’Donoghue, St. John's Catholic Prep, Frederick
Junior Level: Skyler Wisomierski, St. Philip Neri, Linthicum

Abortion: When They Say … You Say
by Marykate O'Donoghue

Abortion is the termination of human life within the other. This is a biological fact. Pro-choice advocates give many arguments for their cause, such as the “what if” arguments: What if the woman is raped? What if the child will be deformed physically or mentally? Or the argument used most commonly: “It's the woman’s body; let her do as she pleases.” These arguments have nothing to do with the question that must be answered — the questionof when human life begins. However, human life clearly begins at conception — biology proves this.

To understand the issue of abortion and when life begins, it is important to udnerstand the biology of human life. According to biology, human life begins at conception when 23 chromosomes from the egg and 23 chromosomes from the sperm meet and create an entirely different entity, made of a unique DNA. Within 18 days, a new heart begins to beat. This is before most women even know they are pregnant. By 28 days, the eyes, ears, and respiratory system are formed. By 42 days, the skeleton is formed and brain waves can be detected. After only eight weeks, all bodily systems are present. Once the sperm meets the egg, human life exists. It is an undeniable fact that biology — not religion — presents to us.

Some pro-choice advocates prefer to use the “What if the woman was raped?” argument. Fewer than 1 percent of all abortions are catalyzed by rape. However, rape does not justify murder. Rape is a heinous act that is not permissible; however, one heinous act does not justify another. According to biology, human life begins at conception. What right does anyone have to kill another human being.

Often pro-choice advocates ask, “What if the child will be deformed physically or mentally” Even to suggest that abortion is justified due to the possibility of deformities devalues not only the human life in question, but also those already outside the womb. It suggests that there ust be something wrong with the person if a deformity exists; however, a person is a person and his or her lfie is precious. The possibility of a deformity does not justify murder.

Perhaps the most common argument used by pro-choice advocates is the “woman’s body” argument. This argument suggests that the body belongs to the mother; therefore, if she wishes to have an abortion, it is permissible. This argument may seem sound, except that it fails to recognize the body of the child. Yes, the child lives within the mother; however, the mother does not have the right to kill the child simply because the child lives her. Life is life, no matter how small the life is or where it exists … in the mother‘s womb or outside of it.

The pro-choice arguments often address circumstances surrounding the topic of life, without fully recognizing the issue. The question is not of circumstance, situation, or license; the question is when does life begin? Life begins at the moment of conception.

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The Right to Life
by Skyler Wisomierski

February is coming and along with the snow and winter weather comes my birthday. It’s a special day that is just for me. Family and friends get together to celebrate another year of my life.

I get to celebrate lots of other occasions too, like Christmas and Thanksgiving with family and friends, summer vacations at the beach, and camping with the Young Marines. I get to do all these things because of one special woman who chose to bring me into this world.

If my mom wanted to, she could have aborted me and then I would have missed out on all the experiences I have had in my almost 14 years. Instead, she thought of me as a baby the minute she discovered she was pregnant, and that’s exactly what I was — a tiny person growing inside her.

There are some people who would not have thought of me as a person at that point of time in my life, because they believe that until a baby is born, it’s not a breathing human being. They believe that it’s ok to get rid of these unborn babies by abortion. These mothers who think it’s a mother’s right to choose whether or not to abort their child don’t see that a life doesn’t get to grow and thrive. You’re making a choice for a person that doesn’t have a voice.

I know I’m only going to be 14, but I did some research, and after reading some different points of view on the matter of abortion, I came up with my own. When the sperm meets the egg, that’s the starting point of the mingling of chromosomes, and the starting point of a new cell. This occurs right after conception — isn’t this the starting point of a new life?

So as it gets closer to my birthday, I can’t help but wonder if the mothers who choose to abort wonder what they will miss and who or what that child may have grown up to be. Even in the worst circumstances, there are other choices; there are many families that would die to have the chance to adopt a baby and raise it as their own. I know in some cases, abortion might seem to be the only choice, but from that moment of choosing abortion, you have a life-changing challenge ahead — the wonder of “what if.”

Life begins and ends with the beat of a heart. I’m glad that my heart gets to beat every day, because of the decision my mother made.

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Cash prizes! Winners compete at the national level!

Junior Essay Contest: Grades 7–9 / Senior Essay Contest: Grades 10–12
Oratory Contest: Grades 11–12

Plan now to to participate in 2011. Download a contest application package or send an email with subject line “Contest Information” to cookie@mdrt.org

2010 Maryland March for Life