On Jan. 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that stripped a certain class of humans, pre-born humans, of their right to life by legalizing abortion on demand in the United States. In these past 42 years, abortion activists have attempted to create a right to abortion in the United States by claiming that the idea of “reproductive freedom” enables individuals to choose whether or not a pre-born human has the right to develop and live.

Today, however, thanks to a greater understanding of both fetal science and civil rights, it is apparent that this so-called right to abortion is incompatible with even a basic understanding of human rights.

Today, due to advancements in 
technology and science, there is no doubt that from the moment of 
conception, or fertilization, a whole, distinct and living human being 
comes into existence. All of the genetic material of this new human is present, and the only things that make him or her different from you and me are size, level of development, environment and degree of dependency.

So then why does it matter if a pre-born child is a human or not when it comes to discussing abortion? Well, given that these brand-new individuals are, at the most basic level, members of the human family, why do we deny them the most basic human right, the right to life? In the past few decades, one reason abortion was justified was because of a fuzzy understanding of fetal science – the humanity of the pre-born child was still up for debate, because the technology that could confirm the humanity of the fetuses did not exist as it exists today.

While some still deny this basic science and dehumanize the pre-born in their justification of abortion, many American liberals actually do understand that the pre-born child is a member of the human family yet continue to lobby for unlimited access to abortion as a human right. This is 
perhaps the greatest inconsistency in the application of human rights happening in the United States today.

American liberals love claiming they are on the forefront of the American social justice scene and are constantly saying that they are all for human rights, but when we look at their record on defending these smallest members of the human family, it is clear that they are just spewing empty talking points.

It’s hard for me to take seriously an individual who claims to stand for social justice yet is the first to unequivocally defend an individual’s “right” to an abortion. If we, as a country, wish to create a society where all human beings can live in peace and are guaranteed even the most basic rights, we must end the violence against the smallest among us. We are more than capable of creating a society where both women and their pre-born children are able to thrive and coexist. After 42 years, and after 55 million missing children, it is imperative we rethink our collective attitude that tolerates abortion.

Joe Puchner is a sophomore majoring in mathematics and economics. His column runs biweekly.