We do not have a forum like that here.

We are the demographic most affected by unintended pregnancy. However, it is a silent problem. Statistically, most of us know someone who has had an abortion, but do we know who it was? Would that affect how we looked at her and treated her? If so, we are guilty of maintaining the atmosphere of silence and fear around unplanned pregnancy.

We need to think about what it would be like to be a young college student who finds herself pregnant. Who could she tell? She could be sure very few people would not judge her. Chances are, she couldn't tell her family.

Worst of all, if she is considering abortion, it is very likely she would feel completely alone, since the voices of women who have utilized abortion are silenced.

Abortion is not just another political issue. It is an intensely personal and politicized issue about how a woman handles her body. It really is significant that it only affects women. Pregnancy only affects women, and pregnancy can destroy a person's life. However, it only has an affect on men's lives if they allow it to. Women cannot avoid being affected by pregnancy.

We all know the reasons abortion might be the best option for some women.

However, most of the arguments we hear for abortion are hypothetical. Most pro-choice commentators don't frame their arguments in terms of personal experience, relying instead on hypothetical arguments. Such arguments rely on psychological inferences, such as how a woman "might" not feel ready for parenthood, "might" fear her family's reaction or "might" worry about her income level.

The voices of women who have had abortions and have firsthand stories on the subject are conspicuously absent. Hearing actual women's stories on the subject would clear up the speculative weakness in these arguments.

Furthermore, relying on speculative arguments allows opponents of abortion to rely on their own form of the same type of argument. For example, our hypothetical pregnant woman also might consider abortion because she is selfish, malicious or sexually promiscuous. This allows pro-life advocates to create myths about who gets abortions. The voices of women who speak from experience can serve to clear these falsehoods.

The main trick with facilitating such conversation is to have anonymity. However, as much as a woman believes what she did is right, it is often very detrimental to have the world at large find out about it. Friends, parents, the father's family and even professors may become upset or treat them differently. People hostile to their actions may stalk them or send threatening or upsetting e-mails.

Why would any woman subject herself to this?

This is why we need a more open and accepting forum for discussing abortion. These women need voices, even if they are anonymous. This is the best hope for the pro-choice movement.

Women who have used their power to choose need to be allowed to speak. And they need to be free of fear to do so.

We owe it to them and to the young women among us who feel alone in their unintended pregnancies. We also owe it to our opponents so our debate is on even ground and all the facts are out.

Silence is never the best policy.

Kate Lester is an MSU political theory and constitutional democracy senior and State News columnist. Reach her at lesterk2@msu.edu.