Communication and Respect & Things Fall Apart

     Communication and respect is key when it comes to human rights issues like abortion. Abortion is also a main political issue; typically Republicans are "Pro-Life" and Democrats are "Pro-Choice." Many right-wingers believe that abortions should never happen, let alone be legal, and left-wingers believe that abortion should definitely be allowed. Typically, Republicans believe this way because of their religious views and their firm belief in the Right to Life. Most Democrats believe that it should be left up to the mother to decide if she wants the baby or not. Neither are willing to compromise on the issue, which is the reason why abortion is such a critical human rights issue. These two groups are so passionate about their stance on abortion that they are willing to get arrested! The FBI arrested "a radical abortion rights campaigner with a long history of threatening pro-life activists, and charged him with making interstate threats against two abortion opponents who were not identified" ("Pro-Choice" 1). Anti-abortion activists were also arrested outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C. "and charged with unlawful assembly" ("Six Anti-Abortion Protestors" 1). Both the Pro-Life and Pro-Choice activists are extreme in their beliefs and are willing to fight for what they believe is right. In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe highlights that the Christian missionaries forced their way onto the Igbo's land and tried to get them to convert their religion. They wanted to build Christian schools, hospitals, and other buildings; they didn't want to compromise. If the missionaries had just allowed the people who wanted to convert to do so, then it would have been more peaceful. Also, if the Igbo clansmen were more accepting of the converts, then the transition would have been a lot smoother. Instead, neither decided to allow a compromise, and violence ensued. The same happened for the sides on abortion and it turned violent. If they would communicate in a respectful way, then maybe a compromise would lead both sides would be happy.

Works Cited

"Six Anti-Abortion Protesters Arrested Outside Speaker Boehner's Office." Politics Daily. N.p., 2011. Web. 23 May 2013.

"Pro-Choice Extremist Reportedly Arrested by FBI for Threats to Pro-Life Activists." Politics Daily. N.p., 2011. Web. 23 May 2013.

Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.