While abortion will continue to be divisive, as Torie Bosch states ("Abortion debate will continue divisions until question of 'life' is answered," Feb 23), earnest discussion would at least give us the satisfaction of knowing that our position is being heard. The pro-choice camp has been unable to provide that on The Daily Collegian's opinion page.

The first hurdle is language. Word choice is important. Bosch, like so many in the pro-choice camp, talks of "when life begins." There is no disagreement there. Even those radically pro-abortion groups recognize a fetus as a life when they refer to the fetus as a "parasite in the mother." What is meant is "human life." Even Professor Scott Gilbert uses "human life," unlike Bosch's inaccurate portrayal of his writings. Second, we must not shy away from reasoned thinking. For instance, Bosch suggests that it is consciousness that grants us rights.

From that line of reasoning, it would be impossible to prosecute a man for having sex with a woman passed out drunk, since not being conscious at the time, she would also possess no rights. We must also avoid faulty reasoning. Gilbert makes reference to those who conclude that, since death has been defined as loss of isoelectric electroencephalogram (EEG), then life begins with EEG. Of course, the reason life ends with EEG is that we have not observed people returning to life after loss of EEG.

That is not true of the fetus. Therefore, the original line of reasoning was faulty.