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From: csdf@mit-vax.UUCP (Charles Forsythe)
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: Re: \"Words mean what I pay them to mean . . .\"
Message-ID: <441@mit-vax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 23-Jul-85 09:42:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: mit-vax.441
Posted: Tue Jul 23 09:42:24 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 25-Jul-85 23:37:33 EDT
References: <393@cmu-cs-spice.ARPA>
Reply-To: csdf@mit-vax.UUCP (Charles Forsythe)
Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 52

(Thomas Newton) writes:

>I think you're both forgetting one basic fact.  A fetus is quite distinct
>from his/her mother -- just look at the DNA.  And yes, genetic information
>is important -- it's what makes us different from the rabbits, cats, dogs,
>fish, etc. and what makes each human a unique individual.

I think you are forgetting a basic fact. Many cancer cells are quite
distinct from the parent's body -- just look at the DNA. And yes, the
genetic information is important -- it's what allows the cells to grow
unchecked.

>They lived in the 'womb' of society and used its resources.  So society just
>exercised its 'right' to control its own body, and killed them.  After all,
>surely their lives weren't worth as much as society's convenience, right?

Wrong! Society shouldn't kill or control people just because they live
off it! Free the murderers, theives, drug pushers, pimps, con-men,
arsonists and right-wing-abortion-clinic-bombers!

>> No, it's a matter of nature.  You just can't keep a two months old embryo
>> alive to the point of maturity and until you can, your argument loses.
				      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>There is no reason to believe that the natural laws a century ago were any
>different from the natural laws today, or that the natural laws a century
>from now will be any different.  So if (by an incredibly small probability)
>aliens landed tomorrow and gave us a 'fetal support system' machine, it would
>work even though it might take a while for our technology to catch up to it.
>
>I suggest that you learn the definitions of 'nature' and 'technology'.

I suggest you learn how to read. I did say,"Until you can." Here's an
example of your mentality:
(Conversation circa 1840)
Ma: Hey Pa, let's go out west to Califonia.

Pa: We can't do that Ma. You know I couldn't survive the trip through
them thar Rocky Mountains.

Ma: No problem Pa. In about half a century they will invent a flyin'
machine so let's fly there.

Pa: Good idea Ma. No reason why we shouldn't fly, after all, there's no
natural law saying we can't.

I think you get the point.

-- 
Charles Forsythe
CSDF@MIT-VAX
"I always try to avoid cliche's like the plague!"
        -Rev. Wang Zeep