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Person 1: I’m personally pro-life, but I’m politically pro-choice. Person 2 (our hero): I’m glad you don’t support abortion. I’d like to understand you better. Would you be willing to explain why you’re personally against abortion?

Personally Pro-Life but Politically Pro-Choice

Listen carefully to their response. They might be against abortion for the same reasons you are, but they might have totally different reasons. It’s important to understand their beliefs and values before you can talk about how those beliefs should be applied to political questions.

First posted August 23, 2018

Suggested:

Person 1: We shouldn’t tell women what to do. Person 2 (our hero): I agree that we should generally avoid restricting people’s freedom, but we should make exceptions to keep people from hurting each other.

Person 1: I’m pro-choice because I’m libertarian. Person 2 (our hero): Most libertarians think the government should prevent aggressive violence. Ron Paul and many others think that includes abortion.

Person 1: A woman’s choice to get an abortion is none of your business. Person 2 (our hero): I don’t want to violate anyone’s privacy. Let me ask a question; bear with me. If I overhear parents planning to kill their two-year-old, should I intervene?

Person 1: The decision to get an abortion is between a woman and her doctor. Person 2 (our hero): I don’t want to violate anyone’s privacy. Let me ask a question. It may seem irrelevant, but please bear with me. Suppose a doctor starts offering infanticide “services.” How should we respond?