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zoethe - Why - and how - you become the first one to lend a hand.
Viaarliss - First Richard, a Franciscan priest, answered that this is indeed a painful issue but that it is not the only "pro-life" issue that progressives — even Catholics — should concern themselves with during elections. There are also the matters of capital punishment and the war in Iraq, and of HIV. Then Jim, an evangelical, spoke about the need to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, and the need to diffuse abortion as a political issue, by welcoming pro-choice and pro-life supporters to the discussion, with equal respect for their positions. He spoke gently about how "morally ambiguous" the issue is.
I sat there simmering, like a samovar; nice Jesusy me. The moderator turned to me and asked quietly if I would like to respond. I did: I wanted to respond by pushing over our table.
Instead, I shook my head. I love and respect the Franciscan and the evangelical, and agree with them 90-plus percent of the time. So I did not say anything, at first.
Then, when I was asked to answer the next question, I paused, and returned to the topic of abortion. There was a loud buzzing in my head, the voice of reason that says, "You have the right to remain silent," but the voice of my conscience was insistent.
Read that. I'd copy it someplace if you want to keep it - the LA Times is like that. They'll lock it down, put it to archives and charge you to look at in in a couple of weeks. This echoes my feelings very neatly - "I wanted to express calmly, eloquently, that pro-choice people understand that there are two lives involved in an abortion — one born (the pregnant woman) and one not (the fetus) — but that the born person must be allowed to decide what is right."
Because the "born" person? Is the one responsible. Will be held accountable. And also the only one pregnant. *bows out*
I'm all for letting the person who has to pay for all this make the decisions, yanno?
(And guys? No offense? But if the statement contains "should" or "can?" Where the rubber meets the road, there's only one gender that gets pregnant. And that gender gets left holding the bag - if the other one doesn't want to deal with it. Trust me on this. It has a lot to do with the reason the two genders aren't the same, and it has nothing to do with brain size.)
In other news? These guys can stay.
They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals.
Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs -- explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq.
The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags.
"The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, the group's Kentucky captain. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement."
At least 14 states are considering laws aimed at the funeral protesters, who at a recent memorial service at Fort Campbell wrapped themselves in upside-down American flags. They danced and sang impromptu songs peppered with vulgarities that condemned homosexuals and soldiers.
About time, say I. I really resent that it takes ten people to drown out the yapping of one negatively polarized voice...but if that's what it takes....ionotter gets the nod for that one.
In truth, us "libber" types really only want one thing - to be left alone. And we want to leave everyone else alone. I think, at least for me, that my rights end where the guy's standing next to me begins. And I'm acutely aware of it. I can't tell people what to do.
And I resent like heck that someone else makes that their life's work. Not the good stuff mind - encouraging people to reach potentials can only be a good thing. Tearing people down who only differ from you?
..
zoethe - Why - and how - you become the first one to lend a hand.Via
arliss - First Richard, a Franciscan priest, answered that this is indeed a painful issue but that it is not the only "pro-life" issue that progressives — even Catholics — should concern themselves with during elections. There are also the matters of capital punishment and the war in Iraq, and of HIV. Then Jim, an evangelical, spoke about the need to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, and the need to diffuse abortion as a political issue, by welcoming pro-choice and pro-life supporters to the discussion, with equal respect for their positions. He spoke gently about how "morally ambiguous" the issue is.I sat there simmering, like a samovar; nice Jesusy me. The moderator turned to me and asked quietly if I would like to respond. I did: I wanted to respond by pushing over our table.
Instead, I shook my head. I love and respect the Franciscan and the evangelical, and agree with them 90-plus percent of the time. So I did not say anything, at first.
Then, when I was asked to answer the next question, I paused, and returned to the topic of abortion. There was a loud buzzing in my head, the voice of reason that says, "You have the right to remain silent," but the voice of my conscience was insistent.
Read that. I'd copy it someplace if you want to keep it - the LA Times is like that. They'll lock it down, put it to archives and charge you to look at in in a couple of weeks. This echoes my feelings very neatly - "I wanted to express calmly, eloquently, that pro-choice people understand that there are two lives involved in an abortion — one born (the pregnant woman) and one not (the fetus) — but that the born person must be allowed to decide what is right."
Because the "born" person? Is the one responsible. Will be held accountable. And also the only one pregnant. *bows out*
I'm all for letting the person who has to pay for all this make the decisions, yanno?
(And guys? No offense? But if the statement contains "should" or "can?" Where the rubber meets the road, there's only one gender that gets pregnant. And that gender gets left holding the bag - if the other one doesn't want to deal with it. Trust me on this. It has a lot to do with the reason the two genders aren't the same, and it has nothing to do with brain size.)
In other news? These guys can stay.
They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals.
Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs -- explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq.
The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags.
"The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, the group's Kentucky captain. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement."
At least 14 states are considering laws aimed at the funeral protesters, who at a recent memorial service at Fort Campbell wrapped themselves in upside-down American flags. They danced and sang impromptu songs peppered with vulgarities that condemned homosexuals and soldiers.
About time, say I. I really resent that it takes ten people to drown out the yapping of one negatively polarized voice...but if that's what it takes....
ionotter gets the nod for that one.In truth, us "libber" types really only want one thing - to be left alone. And we want to leave everyone else alone. I think, at least for me, that my rights end where the guy's standing next to me begins. And I'm acutely aware of it. I can't tell people what to do.
And I resent like heck that someone else makes that their life's work. Not the good stuff mind - encouraging people to reach potentials can only be a good thing. Tearing people down who only differ from you?
..
