[Vision2020] Compassion for All Life

[Art Deco]

The issue of abortion has many facets.  One should be very obvious: Those at 
odds are arguing in part over the meaning of terms like "the beginning of 
life", "human being", etc.  Such arguments are only useful if recognized as 
such and a set of definitions agreed upon so that the real issues can be 
debated.  If either or both parties fail to do this, the resulting arguments 
are just emotional puffery on the part of those insisting that their 
definitions are the correct ones.  People are free to choose how they define 
and use language.

The abortion issue is a very emotional one.  I do not know any pro-choice 
person who thinks that abortion is something that should be warmly 
encouraged except in special cases.  I, for one, wish that the number of 
situations where an abortion is an option could be reduced through various 
strategies including the educated use of birth control.  I take this 
position because I don't believe that in a free society people can be 
persuaded in any great number from engaging in activities that could result 
in conception.  The fact remains that unfortunately undesired pregnancies do 
occur.  The point of contention is that who should decide what to do about 
such occurrences:  Should it be the woman who is pregnant and most likely 
the one who will be impacted the greatest by the decision to abort or not or 
someone else?

Another very troubling aspect of this debate is that frequently pro-life 
advocates base their position solely or in large part on their particular 
superstitious/religious beliefs.  For Christians, there is very little 
biblical justification for being pro-life without a great deal of contortion 
of scripture.  In fact, in the two places in the Bible where abortion is 
directly discussed the position taken is morally neutral except with respect 
to a private property damage claim in one case, or in the other case, 
prescribes an action which would most likely lead to an aborted fetus.


One aspect of this debate is fraught with dishonesty and hypocrisy:  So 
called libertarians arguing against personal choice.

The fundamental belief of classical libertarianism is that the government 
(and others) should stay out of individuals' personal choices in their 
lives.

Those so-called libertarians who are pro-life (mostly men) apparently 
believe that personal choice should not be limited only when it is their 
personal choice, not some other's choice whose lives mostly likely would be 
greatly affected by such choices.  Many so-called "religious libertarians" 
are truly hypocrites.  Their credo is that personal choice should not be 
limited except when it conflicts with their particular religious 
beliefs/superstitions, many of which are very restrictive and horribly 
draconian.


Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
deco at moscow.com



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "david sarff" <davesway at hotmail.com>
To: <debismith at moscow.com>
Cc: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 8:06 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Compassion for All Life


> Yes, this is a troubling factor.
> I'm pretty sure there really is not a Soy version of Tony Baloney. He is 
> now
> engaged in seeing his own reflection in others and is striking out at the
> ugliness. Frankly, I openly suppose that he was not loved when he needed 
> it
> most, during developmental years and uses attention seeking tools to 
> verify
> his existence. We literally have the screaming tantrum of a baby when not
> getting attention his way. Sadly this format is used as little more than a
> squeaky toy, like a pet dog might. A child in this position likely needs
> outside forces tending to it, but that is his job now and the best action
> when this situation occurs is to not respond. As you are indeed basically
> pointing out.
> We can talk around it though.
> This kind of problem will continue on this list and across the globe. To 
> be
> sure there are many persons of differing beliefs, sensitivities, shapes,
> colors and sexes that wisely avoid any emotional stabbing. The content of
> this and other topics is important to many. If the list is to stay open, 
> we
> must cope with even the most selfish and cognitively handicapped.
>
> Thank you Debi,  with no demands or expectations, my invitation remains.
> Dave
>
>
>>>This is why more women are not involved in this particular thread...
>>Debi R-S
>
>
>>
>>From:           "Tony" <tonytime at clearwire.net>
>>To:             "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
>>Date sent:      Sun, 28 Jan 2007 17:35:46 -0800
>>Copies to:      vision2020 at moscow.com
>>Subject:        Re: [Vision2020] Compassion for All Life
>>
>>Tom, for God's sake, would you call what Charles Manson had his
>>followers do to Sharon Tate, an "operation?"  How then can you
>>characterize the equally barbaric practice of ripping an innocent
>>child from it's mother's womb and then summarily trash canning the
>>bloody remains, as a medical procedure??
>>
>>Think, you misguided enabler!  A man who intentionally causes the
>>violent death of an innocent child, is NOT a "physician" but simply a
>>more polished Charley Manson.  The result is the same: violent and
>>unnecessary death.
>>
>>When judgment day comes, if there is such a thing, may God have mercy
>>on your soul, Tom, for countenancing our modern age's most horrific
>>crime.
>>
>>-T
>>   ----- Original Message -----
>>   From: Tom Hansen
>>   To: 'Scott Dredge' ; vision2020 at moscow.com
>>   Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 6:05 AM
>>   Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Compassion for All Life
>>
>>
>>   Two things that legalizing abortions (prior to the third trimester)
>>   accomplishes:
>>
>>
>>
>>   1)  Reduces mandated influence of the government over women's
>>   personal lives.
>>
>>
>>
>>   2)  Provides availability of sterilized environments and
>>   trained/qualified physicians for such an operation.
>>
>>
>>
>>   To believe that abortions will not occur if they are not legal is
>>   absolutely ludicrous.  To believe that the number of abortions has
>>   increased since Roe v. Wade is just as ignorant.  Perhaps the number
>>   of REPORTED abortions has increased, possibly due to a drastic
>>   reduction in abortions being performed in back alleys with coat
>>   hangers.
>>
>>
>>
>>   Seeya round town, Moscow.
>>
>>
>>
>>   Tom "I'm Pro-Choice and I Vote" Hansen
>>
>>   Moscow, Idaho
>>
>>
>>
>>   "Don't pray in my school and I won't think in your church."
>>
>>
>>
>>   - Author Unknown
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>--------
>>
>>   From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
>>   [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Scott Dredge
>>   Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 10:03 PM To: vision2020 at moscow.com
>>   Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Compassion for All Life
>>
>>
>>
>>   Tony,
>>
>>   You can oppose abortion all you want.  The fact is that whether or
>>   not abortion remains legalized or whether it is completely banned
>>   will not directily impact you.  You personally gain no rights nor
>>   lose any rights as abortion restrictions ebb and flow.
>>
>>   But would your position on "compassion for all life" change at all
>>   if you were affected?  For instance, let's say that I need half of
>>   your liver to survive because for [insert any reason] my own liver
>>   is failing.  Let's say that an operation to split your liver carries
>>   no more risk of death to you than that of a woman in child birth.
>>   Let's also say that the recovery time from this operation is no more
>>   burdensome than what women typically go through from late term
>>   pregnancies through child birth.  Your liver will regenerate back to
>>   full size 6 months after the operation.  The question then I have
>>   for you is this: should you be allowed to make the choice of whether
>>   or not to donate half of your liver to save my life or should the
>>   government be allowed to strap you to a gurney against your will and
>>   take half of your liver to save me in the name of "compassion for
>>   all life"?
>>
>>   Looking forward to your bobbing and weaving response - if you have
>>   any response at all.
>>
>>   -Scott
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>--------
>>
>>
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