Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site x.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!ucbvax!ucdavis!lll-crg!seismo!harvard!think!mit-eddie!cybvax0!frog!x!wjr From: wjr@x.UUCP (Bill Richard) Newsgroups: net.abortion Subject: Re: Life of fetus vs. Life of mother? Message-ID: <795@x.UUCP> Date: Thu, 10-Oct-85 18:36:24 EDT Article-I.D.: x.795 Posted: Thu Oct 10 18:36:24 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 13-Oct-85 04:48:13 EDT References: <429@cmu-cs-spice.ARPA> <1546@pyuxd.UUCP> Reply-To: wjr@x.UUCP (STella Calvert) Organization: Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA Lines: 62 Keywords: slavery <> Note: This is STella Calvert, aka mrswjr. In article <344@gcc-bill.ARPA> bird@gcc-bill.UUCP (Brian Wells) writes: > Actually we weigh the life of the fetus ( or cell, whatever stage >it is in for that matter) against the choice of the woman. The life of >the woman is usually not at stake. I believe most of us have said that >we would respect the mother's right to life at the expense of the fetus >if indeed the situation was that serious. Where do you draw the line? If I were a slave, would I have the right to kill my "owner" if that were the only way I could escape? What makes one form of involuntary servitude different from another? The stakes are not trivial. On one side, we have the belief that freedom to make choices IS the chief right inherent in being alive; on the other, we have the assertion that my right to the life I choose is less than the right of my unwanted tenant to enslave me for nine months. I'm sure the pro-slavery faction of this discussion will argue that I'm not making any effort to see their point of view. But that line of debate would degenerate into "You're another" if I didn't just unsubscribe. I respect the decision of a woman who feels that her fetus's rights outweigh her freedom to decide when and whether to reproduce. I have no problem with other people making different decisions than mine. But I am sickened by the willingness of others to attempt to interfere with MY decisions. When/if I stand before god, I will thank for the wisdom to make my decisions, and the maturity to allow others to be different. If god didn't want us to use our minds and wills, why were they built in (no, I don't want to debate maltheism, free will, or any of those subjects right now). > If the stakes were trivial we would not be speaking out against >abortion. If the stakes were trivial, I would have unsubscribed months ago. But maybe, just maybe, I can encourage a few people to respect other people's opinions rather than assuming that they have god's unlisted phone number. > I seriously doubt that losing privacy will cost women their >lives. They may have to adjust their lifestyles, but I count that as >nothing when weighed against the loss of the fetus' life in an >abortion. I think you exaggerated a bit here. If I captured you and chained you in my kitchen to wash dishes, you might have to change your lifestyle, but I count that as nothing when weighed against the load of dishwashing I wouldn't have to do. (Do I really _need_ a smiley? Well, maybe, since humorous acceptance of diversity is a scarce commodity in this group, so -- 8-)) Seriously, forcing a woman to bear a child she doesn't want is slavery, and I will die in a homemade abortion before I will be enslaved. >James 1:5 Liber AL I:42 . . . thou hast no right but to do thy will. BTW, if you want people to see your quote, insert it! It's not that hard. STella Calvert (guest on ...!decvax!frog!wjr) Every man and every woman is a star.