[Peace-discuss] (changed title) The Tiller stuff continued...

[Neil Parthun]

Carl, from the link you sent:

When this argument allows abortion --

This argument seems to allow two cases where abortion would not be  
wrong:

     * abortion is not wrong where the foetus, if born, would be so  
handicapped that it would not be capable of having any future  
experiences (or at least none that it was aware of).
     * abortion is not wrong where the foetus, if born, would be so  
defective that all its experiences would be so unpleasant or painful  
that it would benefit from being deprived of those experiences.

Dr. Tiller was performing abortions for fetuses where they would be  
not capable of having any future experiences (i.e. the fetus was  
already dead or would likely be dead moments after birth).  Dr.  
Tiller was also performing abortions for 10-11 year old girls in  
certain cases who had been raped by a relative.  If that child would  
be born, the experiences for the "mother" (read: kid) would be so  
damn unpleasant and the child (read: the baby) would have one hell of  
life finding out that Grandpa and Dad are the same person, for instance.

Instead of quibbling about the legality of abortion, there should be  
grassroots work for better social safety nets, better and more  
comprehensive sex education programs and more assistance for women to  
give them the viable option of choosing to carry the fetus to term.   
With the argument you sent, it would be up to the mother to decide  
with the guide of her medical physicians to see if the fetus would be  
so defective that it would benefit from being deprived of  
experiences.  Women should continue to have their choice without  
having it infringed upon by assassins or overzealous fanatics  
harassing and bullying people receiving medical care.

Solidarity,
   -N.

Neil Parthun
   Sports/politics writer, UC-IMC

"There are many victories worse than a defeat." - George Eliot

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