[net.abortion] Re*2: The final argument, etc.

kjm@ut-ngp.UUCP (Ken Montgomery) (10/16/84)

[Help stamp out feeping creatures!]

>But there is some ( possibly small ) relationship between intercourse and
>pregnancy, ergo a risk of pregnancy.

*RISK*, not *NECESSITY*!


> ...
>Refusing to use the products of our mind does not terminate the existance
>of another human being, and the products of our mind is not the result of
>something we have done, if I understand your statement correctly.  Clarify
>your statement If you think that I don't.

Clarify your objections.  What exactly do *you* mean?


>>That's probably one of the reasons why abortion was invented.
>
>Because people don't want to carry teh respnsiblity of their actions.

(One more time...)  Why is abortion irresponsible?


> ...
>>>You invite me to pitch a tent, and then put up electric barbed wire fences
>>>to keep me out.  If I get in anyways, am I there without your consent?
>>
>>This analogy is fundamentally broken.  It assumes that contraception is
>>entirely the responsibility of the woman.
>
>Where does the analogy state that women carry the responsibility?

In the phrase about the "barbed wire fence".


>>                          It also contains a blatant
>>contradiction.  The very use of birth control is an indication that
>>the partners *DO NOT* want a baby.  Thus it is ridiculous to suggest
>>that sex with birth control is consent to pregnancy.
>
>Again, there is a risk of pregnancy even with birth control, and the couple
>(not just the woman) should be prepared to carry the responsibility.

(Yet one more time...)  Why is abortion irresponsible?


>>Anyway, why does taking this risk morally obligate one to carry any
>>resulting baby to term?  Why is it that one person can enforce a
>>demand for support on another, or have it enforced for her?
>
>If you're refering to the fetus demanding the support of the mother, the 
>fetus didn't ask to be conceived,

Nor did the mother ask for her particular biological characteristics.

>  and even small children demand the support
>of the mother, so why not abort them, too?

This is an entertaining red herring -- "abortion", in context, is a
medical procedure done to terminate a pregnancy before birth; this
term is wholly inapplicable to an entity which has been born.

> And what about the extremely mentally hadicapped?
>  They need the support of others for their very survival,
>so why not abort them?

1) See above, under "red herring".

2) You seem to believe that there are only two possible actions
   towards people in need: help them, or harm them.  This is
   false.  There is a third possibility: ignore them.  This
   (obviousy) does not help them.  It also does them no harm;
   they will be no better or worse off than if you had never
   existed.

>                                       Steve Wall
>                                       ...!ritcv!ritvp!spw2562

--
"Shredder-of-hapless-smurfs"
Ken Montgomery
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