My two (probably) controversial beliefs about life and death

This will be one of my more intimate notes here in Medium. I don’t claim to have the ‘right’ opinion. I just want to share my sentiment and maybe stimulate a debate. I acknowledge the sensitivity of what I’m about to discuss and do not seek to stir controversy. I’m only sharing my thoughts and emotions which are evolving by the way — maybe a decade from now I’ll think differently.

A) Over the years I’ve grown ‘pro-life’. Pro-this and pro-that are simplistic labels that can never truly address the unique complexities of individual choices and situations. However, if I were to express my views simplistically, I’d call myself pro-life. For the record, my views are generally on the left side of the political spectrum. I’m a liberal — if you wish. I’m not religious; I’m agnostic. But I am ‘pro-life’. What exactly do I mean by that? In broad terms, I think that life, all life, is the most incredible phenomenon in the universe and should be respected at all costs. A tiny unborn baby has no means to protect itself, so we as a society, who are already enjoying the privilege of being alive, should do all we can to give it a chance to continue its existence. This is a casual blog. I’m not discussing when exactly an embryo becomes a ‘baby’. I’m not qualified to discuss all the medical and legal nuances. I also acknowledge that unwanted pregnancies can arise from all kinds of circumstances and that the choice to continue pregnancy can inflict suffering on the woman. Still, I’m referring to the inception of life early in…