Informing the abortion debate

After the report of the Council of Europe to de-criminalise abortion, our local noble knights have re-emerged from their slumber to shut the doors and windows to any serious and objective discussion on the issue of abortion.

They are even telling us that 93 per cent of the population is against abortion. I do not know from where they got this percentage.

I was not asked whether I agree or not. I asked around, and it seems that no one else was asked whether he or she agreed (or not agreed) with abortion. They probably did a survey based on 100 individuals 93 of whom said "I do not agree".

Indeed if the survey's question was: "Do you agree that abortion should be legalised?" then I am not surprised with the high percentage.

I would rephrase the question into something like: "Do you think it is right to introduce the morning-after pill on the island?"; "Do you think that a woman who got raped should have the right to abortion?"; "Do you think that in a life and death situation for the woman, the pregnancy should be aborted?"; "Should it be intrinsically the woman's choice whether or not to have the baby?"

This question should be accompanied by: "How much are you informed on the issue of abortion?" and "Can you define an embryo?"

I believe that if these questions were to be asked, then the percentage would be different.