1. This is a tough one. My outlook and idealism was shaped by a comfortable distance to the whole topic until it was brought starkly into my face. Suddenly your airy liberal absolutism flies out of the window when your head is full of conflicting thoughts on what it is you actually want and the practical realities of the World.

I was always staunchly pro choice, but again this was from the standpoint of a man looking at the situation remotely with no real dog in the fight. I was also disgustingly judgemental of those who had to make that choice. So it was a case of "yeah, you should be allowed to do it, but I think you're a bad person for doing it". Basically an ill thought out version of "I may disagree with what you say but I will fight for your right to say it" but applied to people.

Then reality hit, suddenly it was my offspring on the line and the clear lines and colours didn't seem so clear anymore. Suddenly the realities of a women sitting in front of you not wanting to have a choice brings the whole thing into focus. She asks you "what do you want to do?" and you see that it isn't as simple as her just flipping a coin and taking a trip. She's heartbroken, you're heartbroken and you're both there trying to decide about this life. Rest assured, when it's you sitting there scientific rationalisations suddenly hold little to no water.

Before that very point I would say zygote, embryo, collection of cells with all the affection a dentist shows a tooth, but in that moment when someone says to you "what do you want to do?" it becomes your baby. Try not to imagine a child. Try not to see you in the future playing with your child. We're having to make a decision by exploring our situation, our careers, our ability to provide the lives we wanted for our children and to do that you explore that future...you put a body and soul to that collection of cells and then you choose to end that life, no matter how imagined.

So I remain pro choice, but tinged with regret and a more thoughtful consideration for those who have to make that choice.

2. Again, it's easy when you're not at the frontline. No one I know or care about has been murdered. It's easy for me to sit here and wax lyrical about exacting the same barbarism on the criminal as they have on their victim and being no better and the state having no right to take life and blah blah blah, but now my I know to be a little more empathetic in my reading of situations. I can't speak as the family or friend of a victim but I can see that some of them may have that need. What I am sure of is that revenge should not be the concern of our authorities. I say that even if we are 100% sure the accused is guilty.

Which brings me to the main reason I oppose the death penalty. Nothing is 100%. I'd rather guilty people sat in jail than innocent people die.