SLB is quite correct when she suggests that I, too, go beyond the topic, but I am forced to think of all the consequences of a total acceptance of human life beginning at the moment of fertilization of an ovum. Blanket assumptions and conclusions can lead to unexpected and problematic issues.
First, if a fetus has all of the rights of a person who has been born, then anyone who causes that fetus harm or endangers the potential person should be criminally liable for child endangerment, manslaughter or homicide. So if a pregnant woman willfully refuses to take pre-natal vitamins or drinks alcohol or takes harmful drugs or even smokes, shall she be prosecuted? All of these activities can cause harm.
Second, if the earliest possible start of personhood is chosen, are some methods of birth control the equivalent of abortion and are they to be condemned? An excellent article on some of the ramifications involved is at http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_emer2.htm.
The bottom line, as far as I am concerned is that
Abortions ought not to be treated casually, not as a routine or accepted method of birth control.
There is a qualitative difference between a potential person in the form of a cluster of cells and an unborn child with viability.
The ultimate decision of control of a woman’s body is made by the woman. Not by the government, not by someone else’s church.
And in one of my favorite expressions from the old days, “Further affiant sayeth naught.”
And one final thought from SLB
I didn’t know we were going to keep going without Damo, Jim. One salient point, though… there are plenty of cases on record where pregnant women got in trouble with the law for drinking and drug abuse. Funny how the state can force them not to “harm” their babies, but killing them is acceptable…
Tags: abortion, Dr. Teller, late-term abortion
Copyright © 2012 Always Positive, Sometimes Right All rights reserved. Amazing Grace theme by
Jim, I was positively seething as I was reading that debate. Civil seemed to sneak out the window the moment SL appeared on the scene. That’s my opinion. You handled yourself and your arguments with respect and insight. But she just can’t seem to help herself. Reading her comments is no different than listening to Hannity or Rush or O’Reilly. Sarcasm and snark are used as substitutes for substance, and when all else fails, claim to be the victim of personal attacks.
Regarding the issue of abortion, it is so tricky for me, because like you, it makes me very uneasy. For me, it is the wrong choice. But that’s the key. My Choice. As there is no moral consensus regarding abortion, it would be wrong to legislate against it.
Well, done Jim. I doubt you changed SL’s way of thinking, however, it provided a great platform for your rational thoughts, and a viewing place for the debate stylings of one who is, as you say, an idealogue.
Natalina, do you write for other sites?
Hi Jim. I have read all three parts of this and I applaud you for such a well written piece and for keeping, at least your side of the debate, completely rational and based on facts not resorting to spurious personal anecdotes like those of SLB.
I have to say I was honestly very surprised you agreed to the debate. Every time I’ve read anything written by SLB on this subject all rationality goes out the window and she loses all credibility by peppering what she writes with insults and stories which in all honesty, sound completely fabricated. Unfortunately she very rarely provides anything to substantiate any of her ‘facts’.
This is, and will always be, an emotive and divisive issue. My stance is that it must be the individual’s right to choose and it frightens me that society could take a step back and take that right away. It is horrible that a very small percentage of women use abortion as a form of contraception. For most women abortion would be the hardest decision they would ever have to make.
I agree with you completely that we should be attempting to make a world where less abortions are necessary. Education and easy access to birth control are major steps toward this end and incredibly easy to provide so it is unfathomable to me that there are people that do not want to provide either. Teaching abstinence does not work but we have also allowed a society to develop where everything is sexualised and seemingly acceptable. There is a middle ground but we seem to have lost it.
Religion should never be part of legislating. I agree with your quote above completely.
“The ultimate decision of control of a woman’s body is made by the woman. Not by the government, not by someone else’s church.”
I’m sorry this is such a long comment but you obviously put a great deal of thought into the points you made and I think they most certainly deserved a thoughtful response.
I came across your blog, i think your blog is cool, keep working !
To: Designs: Thank you for the compliment.