I take more offense to this than to your opinion. Just because you have a different opinion than I do, does not make you a better person.Thankfully, I grew into a better person.
Or me worse.
Well, in fairness, I don't think daniel was saying he was better than anyone else, only that he was better than he was before.christie1111 wrote:I take more offense to this than to your opinion. Just because you have a different opinion than I do, does not make you a better person.Thankfully, I grew into a better person.
Or me worse.
Well, in fairness, I don't think daniel was saying he considered himself to be better than anyone else, only that he considered himself to be better than he was before his change of heart.christie1111 wrote:I take more offense to this than to your opinion. Just because you have a different opinion than I do, does not make you a better person.Thankfully, I grew into a better person.
Or me worse.
Like me ask this and I hope it is not unfair to ask - although I don't know in all honesty if you can truly answer it (I don't mean that a slight, I mean that I'm not sure it is a fair question that anyone could truly answer - somethings just can't be broken out and still remain intact).danielh41 wrote:I certainly never claimed to be a better person than anyone else. I only claimed that I was a becoming a better person than I was before. If anyone took that to mean that I claimed to be better person than someone who claimed to be pro-choice, then I apologize.
I only meant to detail my personal journey from pro-choice/ambivalent to pro-life.
Regardless of what disagreements we may have on this subject, allow me to clear one misconception (if you'll pardon the phrase) right now. My statement about a gratuitous post in response to your earlier post was a reference to mine, not yours. I respect your right to hold and state your opinion, even though I disagree with it. Posting your feelings is not gratuitous.danielh41 wrote:I was being sarcastic. My other anti-abortion anti-Obama post was marked as gratuitous right out of the gate, so I thought I would beat mrkelley23 to the punch.peacock2121 wrote:If your post was really gratuitous (which I think it was not), then don't bother reading what I have to say. If it wasn't gratuitous and you wrote it with the intention, the hope, the wish to change someone's opinion on the abortion issue, I have some advice.
Don't say that you became a better person when you changed your position. It makes someone with a differing opinion think that you think they are a worse person than you are. It lessens the chance of them wanting to listen to you or read you, in this case.
Also, don't minimize what you had to say with a parting one liner.
I don't know if I could answer that because I did leave my pro-choice views behind. My outlook on the abortion issue is just part of my growth.frogman042 wrote:Like me ask this and I hope it is not unfair to ask - although I don't know in all honesty if you can truly answer it (I don't mean that a slight, I mean that I'm not sure it is a fair question that anyone could truly answer - somethings just can't be broken out and still remain intact).danielh41 wrote:I certainly never claimed to be a better person than anyone else. I only claimed that I was a becoming a better person than I was before. If anyone took that to mean that I claimed to be better person than someone who claimed to be pro-choice, then I apologize.
I only meant to detail my personal journey from pro-choice/ambivalent to pro-life.
If your personal journey that you underwent went exactly the same with the exception that you didn't leave your pro-choice stance - for example you might still personally oppose abortion but still recognize that it would be up to each female to control what is done to their own body - would you still consider yourself a better person then before you embarked on your journey?
I hope this question isn't too personal and it is not meant to be antigonistic, I'm just trying to get a handle on if you think you can ever reconcile you beliefs with one that allows choice for others and if you think that holding the belief that others can be pro-choice would for you make you feel you were not as good a person or not?
I personally tend to try to look at these types of belief systems as one where I could be wrong, think about what it would take to convince me to be wrong and look for that evidence as opposed to looking only for evidence that confirms my beliefs. For me this is a win-win approach, if I look to disprove my beliefs and find it hard to do that, I feel that it adds just a little more validation to them, and if I do succeed in shaking or disproving my beliefs I feel I've grown and gained new knowledge and insights. I wish that any of these so-called debate/discussion shows on TV where they usually end up yelling over each other started with asking each person - what would it take for them to drop their position and take up the other sides - it would be a better discussion - if they answer, 'Nothing I'm sure I'm right' - then why have a debate/discussion, because IMO, that person has shut himself off from the learning process.
---Jay
There are economists and scoial scientists who predicted the reduction in crime in the 90's as a result of Roe v. Wade. The reduction came to pass.danielh41 wrote:I find that comment offensive. If Bill Bennett did make that comment, he does not speak for all conservatives.NellyLunatic1980 wrote:Gamblin' Bill Bennett (former education secretary, conservative radio host, and CNN pundit) said a couple of years ago that you could abort every Black fetus in America and the national crime rate would decrease. How's that for compassionate conservatism and morality?dimmzy wrote:My question is, why is this always a Caucasian discussion?
I have yet to hear an African or Asian discussion about abortion whether, they are American or not.
Children are born all the time into families where they are beaten, underfed, uneducated, or even starved. Many FAS and crack babies were abused before they were born. Now that they are born, they're not going to come across your radar like the once-in-a-lifetime situation of seeing a helpless person be robbed -- they're easy to find, just ask any school or social worker. I'm guessing we agree that wholesale abuse to this particular class of children is wrong. I definitely question whether you are doing enough. At the very least, I believe you should be volunteering at a Boys and Girls Club or joining the StudyBuddy program at the closest school. If there isn't one, you should be starting one. Or you should be adopting an FAS or crack baby.danielh41 wrote: Let's put it this way: If I saw an relatively helpless old lady being beaten and mugged, would I do something to help her? Absolutely I would. It's the same way with abortion. I think that the wholesale killing of fetuses is wrong. Therefore, I am using my voting power to try to help them. It isn't much, but there it is. I have to follow my own convictions.
Now I have to question whether I am doing enough. I have never picketed an abortion clinic or tried to block a pregnant woman from entering such a place. In fact, I have generally looked down on people who have done that. But if I feel this strongly about the issue, should I be doing these things?
now the "apology"As the Politico's Jonathan Martin reported, South Carolina Democratic chairwoman Carol Fowler said that John McCain had chosen a running mate "whose primary qualification seems to be that she hasn't had an abortion."
I personally admire and respect the difficult choices that women make everyday, and I apologize to anyone who finds my comment offensive. I clumsily was making a point about people in South Carolina who may vote based on a single issue. Whether it's the environment, the economy, the war or a woman's right to choose, there are people who will cast their vote based on a single issue. That was the only point I was attempting to make.
Why is it that any time a conservative talks about the abortion issue with a liberal, the liberal changes the subject to child abuse or capital punishment or even the tragedy of war?SportsFan68 wrote:Children are born all the time into families where they are beaten, underfed, uneducated, or even starved. Many FAS and crack babies were abused before they were born. Now that they are born, they're not going to come across your radar like the once-in-a-lifetime situation of seeing a helpless person be robbed -- they're easy to find, just ask any school or social worker. I'm guessing we agree that wholesale abuse to this particular class of children is wrong. I definitely question whether you are doing enough. At the very least, I believe you should be volunteering at a Boys and Girls Club or joining the StudyBuddy program at the closest school. If there isn't one, you should be starting one. Or you should be adopting an FAS or crack baby.danielh41 wrote: Let's put it this way: If I saw an relatively helpless old lady being beaten and mugged, would I do something to help her? Absolutely I would. It's the same way with abortion. I think that the wholesale killing of fetuses is wrong. Therefore, I am using my voting power to try to help them. It isn't much, but there it is. I have to follow my own convictions.
Now I have to question whether I am doing enough. I have never picketed an abortion clinic or tried to block a pregnant woman from entering such a place. In fact, I have generally looked down on people who have done that. But if I feel this strongly about the issue, should I be doing these things?
It's easy to vote with somebody who says her or his views align with yours regarding unborn children. Actually doing something about it after the children are born, that's hard. Feeling as strongly about it as you do, no, you're not doing enough.
Because the "conservatives" (not really, at least not in the original sense of the word in America) keep saying they're really talking about something called "pro-life" when what they're really talking about (by your own admission, in the above sentence) is abortion?danielh41 wrote:Why is it that any time a conservative talks about the abortion issue with a liberal, the liberal changes the subject to child abuse or capital punishment or even the tragedy of war?SportsFan68 wrote:Children are born all the time into families where they are beaten, underfed, uneducated, or even starved. Many FAS and crack babies were abused before they were born. Now that they are born, they're not going to come across your radar like the once-in-a-lifetime situation of seeing a helpless person be robbed -- they're easy to find, just ask any school or social worker. I'm guessing we agree that wholesale abuse to this particular class of children is wrong. I definitely question whether you are doing enough. At the very least, I believe you should be volunteering at a Boys and Girls Club or joining the StudyBuddy program at the closest school. If there isn't one, you should be starting one. Or you should be adopting an FAS or crack baby.danielh41 wrote: Let's put it this way: If I saw an relatively helpless old lady being beaten and mugged, would I do something to help her? Absolutely I would. It's the same way with abortion. I think that the wholesale killing of fetuses is wrong. Therefore, I am using my voting power to try to help them. It isn't much, but there it is. I have to follow my own convictions.
Now I have to question whether I am doing enough. I have never picketed an abortion clinic or tried to block a pregnant woman from entering such a place. In fact, I have generally looked down on people who have done that. But if I feel this strongly about the issue, should I be doing these things?
It's easy to vote with somebody who says her or his views align with yours regarding unborn children. Actually doing something about it after the children are born, that's hard. Feeling as strongly about it as you do, no, you're not doing enough.
As for working with children, I have already discussed my going for a teacher certification with my wife. I've told her that it would mean a pretty big expense for the training program, plus a cut in my pay when I'm done. But I just feel compelled to make a move in this direction.
Because the conservatives like to congratulate each other, pat themselves on the back and then go home, kick back and leave the liberals to deal with the results of their self-righteousness?danielh41 wrote:Why is it that any time a conservative talks about the abortion issue with a liberal, the liberal changes the subject to child abuse or capital punishment or even the tragedy of war?SportsFan68 wrote:Children are born all the time into families where they are beaten, underfed, uneducated, or even starved. Many FAS and crack babies were abused before they were born. Now that they are born, they're not going to come across your radar like the once-in-a-lifetime situation of seeing a helpless person be robbed -- they're easy to find, just ask any school or social worker. I'm guessing we agree that wholesale abuse to this particular class of children is wrong. I definitely question whether you are doing enough. At the very least, I believe you should be volunteering at a Boys and Girls Club or joining the StudyBuddy program at the closest school. If there isn't one, you should be starting one. Or you should be adopting an FAS or crack baby.
It's easy to vote with somebody who says her or his views align with yours regarding unborn children. Actually doing something about it after the children are born, that's hard. Feeling as strongly about it as you do, no, you're not doing enough.
Male Bovine FecesHere's Fanny! wrote:Because the conservatives like to congratulate each other, pat themselves on the back and then go home, kick back and leave the liberals to deal with the results of their self-righteousness?danielh41 wrote:Why is it that any time a conservative talks about the abortion issue with a liberal, the liberal changes the subject to child abuse or capital punishment or even the tragedy of war?SportsFan68 wrote:Children are born all the time into families where they are beaten, underfed, uneducated, or even starved. Many FAS and crack babies were abused before they were born. Now that they are born, they're not going to come across your radar like the once-in-a-lifetime situation of seeing a helpless person be robbed -- they're easy to find, just ask any school or social worker. I'm guessing we agree that wholesale abuse to this particular class of children is wrong. I definitely question whether you are doing enough. At the very least, I believe you should be volunteering at a Boys and Girls Club or joining the StudyBuddy program at the closest school. If there isn't one, you should be starting one. Or you should be adopting an FAS or crack baby.
It's easy to vote with somebody who says her or his views align with yours regarding unborn children. Actually doing something about it after the children are born, that's hard. Feeling as strongly about it as you do, no, you're not doing enough.
danielh41 wrote: Why is it that any time a conservative talks about the abortion issue with a liberal, the liberal changes the subject to child abuse or capital punishment or even the tragedy of war?
Lily, that's a very moving story and yet I have a hard time reconciling that with a system that won't prevent killing of a baby because its female, and a lot more babies are killed because they are female than because they have Taysachs. I don't have the answer, questions are much easier.lilyvonschtupp26 wrote:I preface my comments that I too never post to political threads, but feel compelled here because of personal experience.
I grew up near a family that was from eastern Europe. They were Jewish. My girlfriend was delighted when her little brother Jacob was born. I watched him develop into a smiling, toddling gibberish talking adorable youngster when things started going horribly wrong. Jacob started reversing his development due to Tay Sach's disease. He stopped talking, walking and moving until at his death he was curled back into the fetal position. It was the most painful experience I ever had to watch in the 4 month period b/4 Jacob's death. His family suffered incredibly. They barely survived the ordeal.
As a result when Amy married, she knew she was a carrier and had a 25% chance of conceiving a Taysach baby. she had a therapeutic abortion when she found out that her baby would die this horrible, painful death. Was it hard for her to do? Absolutely.
That's why there are matchmakers who specialize in DNA testing for Eastern European Jews so they are spared the pain of having to watch their child die in this manner.
To learn more about Tay Sach's, here's a link:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tays ... ysachs.htm
Until you've walked in someone's shoes, I say the choice must remain with the woman.
I think if you would have stopped right there, we would have had a basis on which to agree on something.Bob Juch wrote:I am a liberal and anti-abortion. I do not believe that the government should interfere.
I don't know if I have a litmus test for the Presidency. There are so many reasons why I oppose Barak Obama besides the abortion issue. But Obama's position on that issue, plus what I've read about the bill he killed in Illinois has just put that topic foremost on my mind. I also felt that the board needed a counterpoint to "The Definition of Pro-Choice" thread that SSS started, more for discussion purposes than anything else.KillerTomato wrote:I also am an American, and right or wrong, we live in a country where abortion is legal. It is my right to work to see this stop, but it's not fair to make it a litmus test for the Presidency, since the President has many more responsibilities than just nominating judges to the Supreme Court. And the Court has many more responsibilities than just deciding this one topic.
lilyvonschtupp26 wrote:I preface my comments that I too never post to political threads, but feel compelled here because of personal experience.
I grew up near a family that was from eastern Europe. They were Jewish. My girlfriend was delighted when her little brother Jacob was born. I watched him develop into a smiling, toddling gibberish talking adorable youngster when things started going horribly wrong. Jacob started reversing his development due to Tay Sach's disease. He stopped talking, walking and moving until at his death he was curled back into the fetal position. It was the most painful experience I ever had to watch in the 4 month period b/4 Jacob's death. His family suffered incredibly. They barely survived the ordeal.
As a result when Amy married, she knew she was a carrier and had a 25% chance of conceiving a Taysach baby. she had a therapeutic abortion when she found out that her baby would die this horrible, painful death. Was it hard for her to do? Absolutely.
That's why there are matchmakers who specialize in DNA testing for Eastern European Jews so they are spared the pain of having to watch their child die in this manner.
To learn more about Tay Sach's, here's a link:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tays ... ysachs.htm
Until you've walked in someone's shoes, I say the choice must remain with the woman.
My belief is that all abortions are morally wrong. Yet I recognize that there are circumstances that I hope I would never have to consider. Could I stand firm to my convictions under such circumstances? I don't know.mrkelley23 wrote:I'm curious, since you speak with such certainty. From whence does your information on how many abortions are wrong and/or performed for the wrong reasons come? I freely admit my ignorance on this point. But it reminds me of the people who "knew" that the vast majority of welfare mothers were African-American "welfare queens," cranking out babies to increase the size of their monthly check.
Now that that bugaboo has been disproved, maybe we can address the issue of the wrongness or rightness of the vast majority of abortions, now that you have conceded that some of the stories may be a little more complicated than others.