[Vision2020] Compassion for All Life

[Tony]

Hey Scott, how's it hanging?  Say, in your hypothetical scenario, are there perhaps thousands of individuals and couples waiting in the wings to donate a liver to you should I refuse?  Oh my, how inconvenient when our metaphor falls flat.  In the case of abortion, of course, there are literally thousands of folks waiting around the block to adopt the little human being in question, so the bio mother's decision to not be involved in it's raising would not condemn it to death.

Really Scott, no bobbing and weaving is required to defend the right to life of innocent babies, just a modicum of sensitivity and vision.  

Best,  -T
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Scott Dredge 
  To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 10:03 PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Compassion for All Life


  Tony,

  You can oppose abortion all you want.  The fact is that whether or not abortion remains legalized or whether it is completely banned will not directily impact you.  You personally gain no rights nor lose any rights as abortion restrictions ebb and flow.

  But would your position on "compassion for all life" change at all if you were affected?  For instance, let's say that I need half of your liver to survive because for [insert any reason] my own liver is failing.  Let's say that an operation to split your liver carries no more risk of death to you than that of a woman in child birth.  Let's also say that the recovery time from this operation is no more burdensome than what women typically go through from late term pregnancies through child birth.  Your liver will regenerate back to full size 6 months after the operation.  The question then I have for you is this: should you be allowed to make the choice of whether or not to donate half of your liver to save my life or should the government be allowed to strap you to a gurney against your will and take half of your liver to save me in the name of "compassion for all life"?

  Looking forward to your bobbing and weaving response - if you have any response at all.

  -Scott


  ----- Original Message ----
  From: Tony <tonytime at clearwire.net>
  To: Nick Gier <ngier at uidaho.edu>
  Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com
  Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 5:42:19 PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Compassion for All Life


  Nick, your revered logic would dictate to me that the ONLY species out of how many millions on this planet that is capable of sending space probes beyond the solar system, composing great works of literature or carving David from solid marble, is reasonably viewed as superior to the other lesser endowed species.  Is our existence no more remarkable than a muskrat when we can compose poetry or construct the Twin Towers?

  Yes, human being is a biological category, but one of extraordinary uniqueness, endowed over and above the others in a myriad of ways.  They are also, according to our Declaration, deserving of and endowed with, certain unalienable rights, one of which is the right to life.  And therein your dilemma.  You can cling tenaciously to an irrelevancy, are they persons or non persons, but you cannot deny their humanity.  It seems Nick, that you pick and choose which written declarations you will adhere to.  I suppose we all must.  Is the Supreme Court the entity I most trust in deciding these matters, or do I rely on the wisdom of those who drafted the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution?  Guess I'll stick with the latter.  You apparently prefer the former, as is your right.  I will continue to oppose the premeditated killing of innocent human beings, but I am willing to agree to disagree with you if you choose a different path.

  Sincerely,   -Tony




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