With the recent slaying of Dr. George Tiller and President Obama’s speech addressing the graduates of Notre Dame, we have once again brought forth the issue of abortion.

As someone who had often held discussions with those on both sides of the issues, I have seen the passion both sides possess. It’s an emotional subject that needs rational thought. It boils down to when one believes a human being is created.

What many anti-abortion people fail or choose not to see is the vague line of the beginning of life. They feel that a human being is created at conception and that is an obvious marker no one can deny. Some see abortion doctors as no less guilty of murder than Dr. Josef Mengele. Some feel that by killing a doctor, they are saving thousands of unborn lives. This is apparently what has happened in Kansas.

On the other side, we have abortion rights folks who do not believe that a human being is created at conception and cannot comprehend the reasoning behind what the anti-abortionists believe and feel. Until we have a rational discussion and definitive marker to define a human being, the issue will remain in contention. Tolerance is in short supply on both sides.

My hope is that one day, we can instead put our emotions in check and work together rationally to reduce abortions to the point that they are no longer a necessary option and thus make this issue moot.

Gregor Michels

Arlington