Blog4Brains.com: A Rational Perspective on an Irrational World » The Fear of Abortion

The Fear of Abortion — Wiping Out Freedoms

Author: [Cerebrl] | Category: Domestic, Rants and Raves, Religion | 02-02-07

I was reading the Austin Chronicle the other day when I came across an article about abortion. Every time I hear about the pro-life abortion naysayers, it makes me want to vomit. Who the hell do these people think they are? I could care less what their ideology says is right or wrong, as I should be free from their irresponsible, irrational tyranny.

But, alas, I am not. I have to put up with their ranting behavior, and their judgmental, condemning attacks. Even though our “great” nation was wisely built upon the foundation of the separation of church and State, I have to watch the neo-radical conservatives destroy the very fabric of our nation’s original intention. Do we hold any respect for our forefathers and their judicious intentions? Are we to throw away what they spent decades building?

Let me explain something to the people out there who want to strip a woman of her rights. When the government established its separation from religion, it was so we could live in a free society. What this means is freedom from religious persecution, freedom to have whatever religion one wants, or freedom from religion and its influences. Constitutionally speaking, Atheists should have just as many rights as the Christians and be free from judgment and persecution.

But, for some reason, these pro-life radical Christians don’t want it that way. They want everyone to believe just like them. They want to create a “religious communism” so that we are all governed by the bible. But why stop at abortions, how about closing down strip clubs, make porn illegal, make premarital sex illegal, ban alcohol again, make being rich a federal felony, make all movies G rated and anything else illegal, make skipping church a crime, burn all witches at the stake, crucify all mentally ill people because the devil is in them, only sell Christian music, place a law against dancing… What else? Where do you draw the line?

If you let religion create one law, then what is going to stop them from creating another… and another…? What if it were different? What if it was a Muslim sect that was trying to create a federal law that removes the right for woman to drive cars. Trying to talk sense into them would be pointless, and they would be able to give you all the reasons why it is needed. They would tell you that the world would be better if it was done. Even though their reasons are irrational, you could not change their mind.

Well, there is no difference from the hypothetical above and pro-lifers. Their rationale is, in fact, irrational, not logic based. What happens once you let the Christians govern laws, then what stops Jews, Muslims, Mormons and the wonderful Scientologists from following suit. Then all the different religions could fight over who gets precedence over each other’s laws if they conflict. A wonderful consequence to all this would be a Holy War. That sounds great! Let’s just make America the Middle East.

Anyone know why the Middle East is overwhelmed by strife and suffering? Religion in government. Yes, it’s that simple! And, no, the Christian religion is not immune to these consequences either. Does anyone remember the Crusades or Salem Witch Trials? I don’t need to show any more proof. There is enough out there. So, where does this lead us — what are we to do?

My humble opinion is, that we need to make sure our politics stay black and white. We either let religion in or out. That’s it — no more, no less. Because, where would you draw the line? What would be permitted and what would not? And, what about the original intentions of this country and our constitution? Should we just throw holy water on the Constitution to erase the ink in the parts we disagree with? Does that excuse the mutilation, the destruction of the fabric of our society? As long as it is in the name of the Christian God, the 33% of the world’s God. And F*#K! everybody else? Does that sound American to you? No, it is not American!

America was founded on the principles of brave and gallant people who were escaping the very religious persecution that some people today want to revive by extinguishing a woman’s right to “choice” just because it doesn’t agree with their religion. Let’s remember why this country was founded in the first place. And not continue to pursue tactics that take us back to where we came from — back to the dark history in time when people did not have the freedom to believe the way they wanted. Let’s not go back to that. Stop the insanity!

Cerebrl

Thanks for the heads up on the story. I will read it soon.

Kilgore Trout

This is quite possibly the most compelling pro-choice personal story I've heard, from DBB.

DBB: My views on Abortion
(I hope that HTML is right)

Like the author of that story I always have a hard time really arguing strongly about this subject because I have a Y chromosome and will never be the one to make this decision, sure it's possible that someone else and myself would work through it together but ultimately it's not my decision. Or so I thought, now if you haven't already go to the link above. Thank you.

Cerebrl

Valerie -- I think it is a little more complex than just deciding to have unprotected sex. I hope one day you can realize that this issue is more dynamic and complex than "it is murder." I would go into it all in detail, but it would just be redundant from my comments above. Thanks for your voice.

valerie

its like taking an inasent childs life because you decided to have unprotected sex so for your mistake a child should die i dont think so.but you do have a good point about the seperation of the church and state.
love.peace.GodBless.
valerie

valerie

well i dont realy know about all this pro-life stuff but i do know that im against abortions not because of religion although yes i am very proudly into christ but because it shoud feel so wrong commiting a murder cause thats what it is murder.
love.peace.God Bless.

ausblog

Thanks,..been a pleasure......c u round.

Cerebrl

Oh, and one more thing. If I did not make the last comment clear enough, here is the bottom line to this whole argument.

If we define something as legal or illegal we have to be able to define what is black and what is white. Now, what is black and what is white can be tricky. Take murder, they do not call it murder when you are protecting yourself from a criminal. Right? Well, should we say that killing, any killing, is illegal? And, if you are protecting yourself or your family from an attacker, and you killed him/her, should you be thrown in jail?

Here is the blur between right and wrong, black and white. Well, let's make this an exception. Then we have war, we are killing Iraqi soldiers. Should our soldiers go to jail for following orders? Opps, so we need another exception. See where I am going with this? Should we have thrown the Iraqi officials in jail for killing Saddam? Is he any less worthy of Life than you or I?

You may perceive Saddam as an evil, vile man that deserved to die. Well, what if someone thinks that about you? Or, what if you think that about the man who rapped, mutilated and beat you, and now you are pregnant with his child? If we went around tabulating what is right and what is wrong we would be out there for eternity gathering the results of the survey, so that everyone declares their right and wrong. This is all a individualistic thing, and is not universal.

But, you may say that the bible will tell us what is right and wrong. Well, here we go back to the bible and religion, but I have already covered the church and State issue.

Okay, now I can go to bed. Thanks for listening.

Cerebrl

[Sorry in advance for the length of this comment, I am just trying to cover as much as possible]

Birth control and sex ed.

Kilgore and Ausblog, I think you guys are great for wanting to improve sex education and trying to encourage people to take more accountability with their actions and being more responsible.

I think you are absolutely correct. The more people are educated and given real world experiences that will make people think twice about sex without protection is a very needed thing in today's society.

Will it erase the 98% unnecessary?

But, and a big but, I am having a hard time believing Ausblog in thinking even with the above statement fully applied you are going to get rid of all unnecessary abortions. We have tried that with drugs, alcohol, smoking, hell even just eating right, and we are still fat, high, drunk and coughing up smoke.

Medical Necessity

My next issue is what do you consider medical necessity? Here we go again. Where do we draw the line? Does the medical issue have to be mortal? What if it just leaves the mother brain dead? Brain dead is not a mortal condition so...?

And as far as the rape thing? I respect you and all, but damn! That was harsh? Have you ever talked to a rape victim? Have YOU ever been raped? One time I was watching a show on a girl that was produced by a Crack Addict being raped. She went through all kinds of developmental problems, premature birthing, multiple surgeries and went through many, many foster homes growing up being abused mentally and physically. No one wanted her, and she ended up attempting suicide two or three times. Her life was a living hell.

Is this kind of suffering something that you know intimately? If not, then I believe we have no right at all to say what should be done in that situation. And, in my opinion, we shouldn't have a say in anyones life regardless of how we perceive it.

I value life just as much as the next person, but the way I value life is by letting it exist without judgment. I think true love is unconditional, and this means to let people go about this world and live it in the way they deem necessary.

Best Friend's Mother

I know of an extremely educated, caring, responsible older woman that had an abortion once a long time ago. She was dead broke, had a boyfriend and was trying to finish school, so that she could make something of her life. She ended up getting pregnant on accident because of failed birth control. Well, at the time she did not realize the birth control did not work as planned and found out about a month later that she was pregnant.

Here boyfriend bailed on her, and she was left alone (no family), broke, and with nothing (no degree, paying job, and help). She decided to abort the pregnancy because if she did not, she would have to drop out of school to take care of the baby. This would mean that her and the baby's life would have to struggle all their lives. And, if she was going to have a baby, she wanted to make sure that she would give it all the opportunity and time and love she could.

So, she did. This was the first and only time, as she thought long and hard about it. Then after she graduated and built a business, she got married. After about a couple of years she had a child, gave it all the love, education, and attention she could. This child ended up becoming a person that saves many lives as a paramedic.

Does this sound like a horrible person, one that takes advantage of the system, is irresponsible and is a murderer. Well, I can say with all my heart that she is not. Why because this woman I am talking about is my life long best friend's mother. I have never meet a sweeter more giving person in the world.

If she was not given the opportunity to do what she did, then I would not have my best friend and many people might not have been saved and healed because of this guy.

I think if we want to get the real story on abortion, talk to someone that has had one and really listen. You may end up realizing that all of life is not black and white, and maybe we need to let people govern some parts of their life by themselves.

Semantics

Talking about what would be baby think, and if it's murder, in reality, is just the usage of semantics trying to make a point. None of us will be able to truly prove or argue to the point of complete clarity. Since this subject exists in this way, we cannot make laws governing it.

It would be like making one a vegan by law since it is murder of animals and all. Well, we are omnivores, so does that mean we are given the ability not to kill animals to eat or...? Should we just kill animals since all other carnivores do? But, plants are living too. As ridiculous as this sounds, vegans really contemplate this stuff as much as we are doing with this subject. Should we allow them to make killing a chicken illegal?

Here is the moral to the story. What if by aborting one pregnancy, you ended up saving 10 lives or 100 lives? This is not implausible at all, live has a weird way of working out. You may say, by not aborting you could end up saving lives. Well, that is what makes all of this just semantics.

What is the answer?

So, let's just concentrate on our own lives and make them as fantastic as we can. Stopping at nothing to create greatness within our own life, maybe we can lead ourselves to a greater, brighter future. By leading with a positive example we can influence more people then by forcing them into fellowship.

Well, now that I have written a novel, I will sign off. But, before I go, I want to thank all of you for sharing your ideas and being compassionate to others by not judging or condemning others in the process. [POOF] Going to bed.

Cerebrl

Hey Bryan Runnels,

As for your comment, you are correct. Any living organism will fight to stay alive. That is just the evolutionary survival innateness in all living things including bacteria. But, organisms, like the human, fight against many things to survive, like smoking, consumption of alcohol, prescription drugs, even staying lean and athletic. But, does that mean we should make smoking illegal, alcohol illegal, trying to get leaner then 20% body fat illegal?

And, I will say it again. I am not against being pro-life. I am ONLY against pro-life having a part in our politics and law making.

Cerebrl

No, I am not pissed off, well at least not at any of you. I have been replacing my brake pads and fixing a stupid flat tire all day today. That is why I have not taken the time to type out a well thought out comment. Sorry for the delay. I will write out something later tonight or tomorrow. I have much to say, but I need to get my car rolling again, soon. Thanks for the concern though, I really appreciate your kind thoughts.