dave@teldata.UUCP (Dave Heppner) (03/09/84)
All I wanted to do was live in my own little world. As long
as the government allowed me to live I did'nt care what they
did or how much of my substance they took. Then one day...
DECLARATION OF GUILT
"In Germany, the Nazis first came for the Communists and I
didn't speak up because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak up because
I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics and I was a Protestant so I
didn't speak up.
Then they came for ME...by that time there was no one to
speak up for anyone."
Signed by Pastor Martin Niemoller at the Council of the
Evangelical Church in Germany, October 18, 1945.
I had my head stuck in the sand, then one day I pulled
it out, and was appalled at what I saw in the world. I can
no longer keep my mouth and mind shut. I must try to speak
for those who cannot, and I must fight for the rights that
have been taken because no one was willing to get involved
and take responsibility for their own actions.
If man is to decide what is just, who is to say it can-
not happen again. Or has it already started.
Freedom costs something,
Dave.saquigley@watmath.UUCP (Sophie Quigley) (03/14/84)
Ok, you've been asking for it with references to Nazi germany and all that.
So, explain to me, whoever, how come since abortion led to the acceptance
of killing by germans at large, how come Nazi germany outlawed abortion and
punished it by the death penalty?????
come on, if the legalisation of abortion created this acceptance, the Nazis
should have ENCOURAGED abortion, not discouraged it, so I'm waiting for an
explanation......
Sophie Quigley
...!{decvax,allegra}!watmath!saquigleypellegri@ittral.UUCP (Dan Pellegrino) (03/14/84)
The fact that abortion was or may have been outlawed by the Nazis during
their rule in Europe is not, necessarily, indicative of a trace of humanity
in their hearts. I would sooner believe that the only motive that they had
in making such a law was that they wanted to control every single life that
existed in their domain. Exactly who should live and who should die was to
be their decision, and their's alone. The birth of each person had to take
place before the decision could be made. Okay, so abortion was outlawed -
but what happened to each baby after they were born?
I believe that the relationship between Nazism and abortion is not so
superficial. This does not only pertain to abortion but to any taking of
human life (I know - that's a separate debate) especially that which is done
on a categorical basis. The concern for this particualr argument is not the
motives for abortion in each, individual case. The concern is over the
acceptance, by the general public, of abortion as a readily available option.
This acceptance is sanctioned by the government in the form of law.
The parallel to Nazism is this: The acceptance of the elimination of
"undesirables".
It is for this reason - this general and, actually, casual acceptance - that
laws must not exist that allow abortion to be openly permissible. The very
existence of the law aids in the generation and perpetuation of an "if I don't
want it, I'll just eliminate it" attitude.
The potential danger exists of this attitude gradually seeping into other areas
concerning other cases of human life that is undesirable in the "public eye".
It could eventually manifest in the form of infanticide, euthanasia and so on.
Eventually, laws could exist legalizing and specifying when one can eliminate
an infant or an elderly person or a sick person an emotionally disturbed person
or any socially or otherwise undesirable person. Many of these groups were,
previously, of great concern to the public; to be cared for by us that are more
fortunate.
An in-depth study of Hitler's rise to power and his methods of dealing with the
populace might reveal what causes some people get concerned enough to vow "never
again". This is not an example of something that couldn't happen today.
It's onset can be very gradual, subtle and deceptive. Dave's statement - "I had
my head stuck in the sand, then one day I pulled it out, and was appalled at
what I saw in the world...(etc.)..." - is very appropriate and worth much
consideration (it's Article 57). Thanks, Dave.
It is not only the life of the individual fetus that concerns me here
(although that concerns me greatly) but also the phenomenon of casual, general
public acceptance, which represents potentially great danger.
It is very easy for us, who have been born and live relatively normal lives, to
have a disregard for the lives of others that don't fit into our plans.
Highly recommended reading: "Whatever Happened to the Human Race?"
by Francis Shaeffer (sp?)
--------------------------------------
Dan Pellegrino
ittvax!ittral!pellegri
wetcw@pyuxa.UUCP (T C Wheeler) (03/14/84)
Line eater line Nazi Germany rulled abortion illegal because Hitler thought he could populate the third reich with good little nazis, raised and nurtured under his insane system. Women were encouraged to have children to the extent that rewards were given to those who went beyond and above the call of duty. They even went so far as to hand pick supposedly genetically pure young women for hand picked young men for mating. The women were kept in special camps where the men were brought to perform their stud service for the good of the reich. Hitler wanted a super race and this was one of the ways he thought he could accomplish his nightmarish dream. Children born of not so pure parents were taken to raise by the state and were supposed to be indoctrinated so that they would serve the pure ones. Read that as slavery. Anyone who performed an abortion or had one performed was not only guilty of murder, they were guilty of theft of state property. Further, something sticks in my mind that a close relative or perhaps someone close to Adolph died as a result of a botched abortion. Don't quote me on that as it is just a thread in the back of my mind. T. C. Wheeler
martillo@ihuxt.UUCP (Yehoyaqim Shemtob Martillo) (03/16/84)
In the camps where the Nazis performed medical torture, Jewish women sometimes underwent abortions so that the Nazis could perform experiments on the fetuses or on the women.