1) It’s not about choice; it’s about abortion.

I mean, really, what “choice” are we talking about here? The “choice” to what? We’re not debating the “choice” to keep your child and raise him yourself. We’re not arguing over adoption, either. The sole thing we have a difference on is abortion. That’s what we’re debating here. So let’s get real.

You’re either pro-abortion or you’re pro-life. If you support the “choice” to abort, then you are pro-abortion. And if you have a hard time with that, maybe you should reconsider your beliefs…

2) Abortion DOES hurt women.

This is part of the reason it’s “tragic,” in the words of many on both sides of the issue. It’s disingenuous to act as though abortion isn’t a painful decision for many women (not all).

Read these true stories. And these ones. And these. Here’s more.

3) Level of development and degree of ability don’t determine worth.

Just because an unborn child isn’t able to ______ (you fill in the blank), that doesn’t make her unworthy of life. Think of all the born people you know who are less able than others. Think of the degree of dependency an infant has on his mother. (Currently, I’m experiencing this with my son!) Arguably, the elderly experience a decline in development as they age. Should they be deemed unworthy to live?

4) Size doesn’t determine worth.

Nope. This one doesn’t matter, either. Whether we’re talking about an unborn child who is smaller than a peanut or the world’s tallest man, what makes us worthy of the right to life is our inherent humanity. Every human being – small, large, or medium – deserves to be equally respected with the right to life.

5) Just because you’re in someone’s body doesn’t mean you are her body.

It should be obvious, but instead, it seems to escape many people that an unborn child is not a part of his mother’s body. I mean, really, think about it. Yes, when I was pregnant, my son was inside my body. But he was not me. His body parts were not mine. He was (and is) a unique, separate, and living individual.

CLICK LIKE IF YOU’RE PRO-LIFE!

And just because his place of residence happened to be inside an organ of mine specifically designed for him to inhabit, that does not mean I had the right to end his life for the 40 weeks and 3 days he stayed there.

6) Men have a right to be pro-life.

Really, every person technically has the “right” to take whatever position he or she wants to. (Some are clearly more correct and humane than others, but that’s another issue altogether.) Women have always objected to being defined solely by our gender. It’s not fair in the least to turn around and insist that men and their views on abortion be defined by their gender. What’s fair for the goose is indeed fair for the gander. But please, go here and read someone far more convincing than me.

7) Women are strong enough to make this work.

Pro-choicers like to argue that women should be “trusted” to make their own decisions about “their own bodies.” Okay, we’ve already covered how we’re not talking about your own body. (Is it your own life you’re ending? I didn’t think so.) But let’s flip the coin.

Shouldn’t women be trusted to be strong enough to care for their children, despite their circumstances? Instead of saying, “Oh, we trust you to take a way out of this by killing your innocent, helpless child,” shouldn’t we be saying, “We trust that you are strong enough to handle this. We trust that you are strong enough to care for this child who needs you to make a choice for life. We trust that you can make this work. We trust that you can be an awesome mother. And what’s more, we’re going to help you do it by doing _____”?

That would be actually serving and caring for women. It’s easy to say, “It’s your choice. I won’t interfere.” It’s much harder to get involved, tell a woman she can do it, and actually help in the real ways that new mothers need. But if we really believed in the strength of women, that’s what we’d do.

8) Children are worth making sacrifices for.

Sure, you might have to postpone college to have this baby. (Though you probably really don’t need to.) Sure, you might have a hard time making ends meet. (Though there are plenty of places and government programs that can help you – ask at your local pregnancy resource center.) Sure, your mind might be overwhelmed with all the changes this baby will bring to your life. (Though there are people to help you sort through that.)

But every single baby is worth it! Every single baby – your baby – is irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. This baby isn’t coming back. If you end her life, she’s not coming back to you one day when your life is together. He’s not going to reappear in the womb of a woman you think is more ready. This is his one and only chance for life on earth.

She’s absolutely worth sacrificing for. (The huge majority of these women wish they had.)

9) Life isn’t all about “ME.”

I’m not saying that all pro-choicers are selfish. But the fact remains that a big talking point is that it’s “all about the woman,” her choices, her body, her life, etc.

But the choice for abortion doesn’t affect only “me” – whether “me” is you or the woman whose “right” you think you’re defending. Nope, sorry, she doesn’t get the right to be selfish when the result is killing a totally innocent human being.

Plus, as a woman, would you rather celebrate your baby girl’s birthday every year, or the anniversary of her death – your abortion? Because a woman does remember the day her child lived or died.

10) Women don’t get an exception to kill their children.

I’m a feminist. But that means I believe that women ought to be treated equally, not specially. We don’t get “special” rights just because we’re women. Especially not the “right” to kill our children.

First, that’s not even a right. At least it shouldn’t be. Second, what does it say about us as women if we gain our power through taking the lives of our children – those who are weaker and more helpless than we are? Really? That’s what we need to succeed and to be equal?

No, as a woman, I am powerful because I participate in giving life to my children. Only the weak believe they need to take away the rights of others and use their deaths as stepping stones to their own success.

11) Pregnancy resource centers are women’s friends.

Real friends share the truth, even when it’s hard to hear. And developmentally accurate photos, information, and ultrasounds of unborn babies, real descriptions of abortion, and info on adoption are all truth that women need to hear. (Take a look here for an amazing scientific and modern video on unborn life.)

Abortion clinics are not about truth. They’re about abortion. (We’ve come full circle, huh?) If you don’t believe me, read this story about a counselor who smiled as she insisted on abortion. Read about this case where an abortion was forced on a woman who changed her mind. Read what abortion really is. See one. Read about the corruption of Planned Parenthood. Take a look at the real facts behind the public face. Find out about investigations into abortion clinics. And watch this video about the real truth behind the abortion industry:

Now, I hope you get it…

LifeNews Note: Kristi Burton Brown is a pro-life attorney, volunteering for Life Legal Defense Foundation and as an allied attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom. She is also a stay-at-home mom and an assistant editor for Live Action News. This column originally appeared at Live Action News and is reprinted with permission.