[Peace-discuss] Re: Pro-choice [was Re: letter to my former comrades]

[Carl Estabrook]

I agree that it's quite worthwhile to consider the elements of choice and
personal responsibility in this debate, Ken.  But your conclusion ("it's
wrong for the government to forbid abortions") depends on an unstated
premise: namely, that abortion does not end a human life.  I can't think
of many cases where you would think it wrong for the government to forbid
the taking of human (or indeed a good bit of non-human) life.

Regards, Carl

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004, Ken Urban wrote:

> We need to consider the elements of choice and personal responsibility
> in this debate.  I think it's quite inappropriate for government to
> force abortions.  Additionally, it's wrong for the government to forbid
> abortions.
>
> Pro-abortion and Pro-life is a false dichotomy. The better solution,
> Pro-choice, where people make their own INFORMED and PERSONAL choices
> and live with the consequences, to do otherwise is to demean us as
> humans and argues the virtues of a totalitarian state.
>
> Ken
>
> PS I can see where the Green/Libertarian views have some overlap here.
>
>
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ken Urban
> Assoc. Prof., Computer Science Parkland College
>
> Office: B129A
>            (217)-353-2246 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> - - - - - - - -
>
> >>> Joe Futrelle <futrelle at shout.net> 11/12/2004 11:35:30 AM >>>
> The consistent life position omits possibly the most important threat to
> life, which is environmental resource depletion (unless that's what they
> mean by "poverty"). Another reason I think the Greens are on the right
> track.
>
> At 10:16 PM -0600 11/11/04, C. G. Estabrook wrote:
> >Bill is of course correct, and that is the position taken for some
> time by
> >various groups under the general name "consistent life."  Their
> original
> >statement read as follows:
> >
> >"We are committed to the protection of life, which is threatened in
> >today's world by war, the arms race, abortion, poverty, racism,
> capital
> >punishment, and euthanasia. We believe that these issues are linked
> under
> >a 'consistent ethic of life.' We challenge those working on all or
> some of
> >these issues to maintain a co-operative spirit of peace,
> reconciliation,
> >and respect in protecting the unprotected."
> >
> >In anarchist solidarity, Carl
> >
> >
> >On Thu, 11 Nov 2004, bill wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>  ...Perhaps progressive evangelicals should speak up in their own
> >>  churches and try to shape the congregations' political agenda.  If
> >>  someone is pro-life, it should follow that they're anti-war,
> >>  anti-death penalty, anti-nuclear weapons, pro-universal health
> care,
> >>  and pro-environment.
> >>
> >>  Bill Gorrell Producer, Co-host, & Commentator "The Illinois Labor
> >>  Hour," broadcast Saturdays 11am - noon on WEFT 90.1 FM Champaign,
> IL
> >>  Member, LIUNA Local 703
> >
> >_______________________________________________ ucprogressives mailing
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>
>
> -- Joe Futrelle Person _______________________________________________