My original intent in starting this thread was simply to get the argument over morality OUT OF the General Discussion thread and into a more appropriate forum. The O-Club venue allows those who have no interest in the thread to be, essentially, oblivious to the wailing and gnashing of teeth.
I did not really think it would turn into an "abortion" topic but upon reflection, I can quite easily see how it led to NineZ's commentary.
I really DON'T want to continue down the abortion road but there is a direct connection to that thread over the LW's role.
It's that difficult "when is human life human life" question.
The world does not go to war when a litter of mongrel puppies is drowned at birth. Oh, the PETA folks get pretty worked up but they are generally the non-violent types anyway.
OTOH, most of the world got pretty worked up <albeit a bit too late> over the state-sponsored genocide perpetrated by Hitler's regime.
That particular regime, however, characterized those it destroyed as "sub-human"; in other words, akin to a litter of mongrel pups. No great loss to humanity. The Nazi public posture was that they were doing the world a favor.
Somewhere in between those two data points lies a man's personal conscience.
Clearly, the world has decided that rounding up humans and systematically putting them to death is not "OK". Oh, it went on before Hitler and it is still going on in some places, I guess. The world just doesn't condone it. Doesn't do much about it, but doesn't like it. There's not going to be a world war about it.
On to what NineZ pointed out.
So when is a human a human that should be given society's protection? Moment of conception? Moment the fetus can stay alive outside the womb, given the local medical capability? Normal birth at term?
Or only when he/she has clearly joined/been identified with a "group" like "Aryan" or "Jew" or "Gypsy" or "Political Activist" or "Homosexual"?
Surely no one would advocate carrying the fetus to full term and then killing it minutes after a live birth?
What of partial-birth abortion at mid-term then? Is that a human dying?
When does the world step in and say "This is human, not "sub-human" life. Let it be; respect it." ?
I don't have the answers for you. I have the answers for ME. You live with your conscience and I live with mine. Which is as it should be.
I respect NineZ and I think he raises a valid point for consideration.
Isn't it funny how those who clearly do not respect "the sanctity of human life" seem to drag those who purportedly do into bloody, savage, armed conflict to settle the differences?
It will probably always be so.
[This message has been edited by Toad (edited 08-02-2000).]
