Re: Abortion

On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 12:36:07 GMT, BlackWater <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Ray Fischer) wrote:
>
>>BlackWater  <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>>A fertilized cell is NOT a "person" - but a 8.9 month
>>>fetus has everything required to be so except a seperate
>>>mailing address.
>>
>>And what are the requirements for "person"?
>
>   A variety of abilities and 'potentials' too
>   numerous (and sometimes too vague) to list.
>   It's kinda one of those "you know it when
>   you see it" things. Whip out an 8.9 month
>   fetus and you see a 'person', a human baby.
>   Whip out an embryo and you DON'T see it.
>   The transition, the shift in the balance of
>   features and characteristics from mere 'stuff'
>   to 'person', happens somewhere during the
>   gestation. Try to apply black and white
>   thinking to a continous, analog process and
>   you'll never get it right.  

This from the person who wanted to draw a firm line at 4.5 months.  If
your definition is 'you know it when you see it', it is useless for
anything but forming your own personal ethics.  (The analogy with the
fights of the definition of pornography is thought-provoking.)

>
>>> Clearly "personhood" - moral and 
>>>hopefully legal - is something that *develops* as the
>>>pregnancy advances. 
>>
>>Says who?
>
>   Says ME. I count. I also plan to spread the word,
>   so soon it will be MORE than just me. There are
>   no 'solutions' to the abortion issue at either
>   extreme of the gestation process ... the answer
>   is in the middle somewhere. 
>
>>>There's no clear line, but it seems that the MIDDLE
>>
>>"Seems"?  "No clear line"?
>>
>>You really haven't a clue, do you?
>
>   I seem to be the only one with a 'clue' around here.
>   I'd suggest you accept my proposed compromise. It's
>   rational, sensible, functional and something all
>   'sides' of this idiotic debate might grudgingly
>   accept. 
>
>   But then I guess it's more FUN to be at the throats
>   of the 'opposition' ... gives you a sense of higher
>   purpose, moral superiority and such .....

You say there is 'no clear line', then propose an arbitrary 'clear
line' at 4.5 months.

-
Larry
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