Federal government site refers poor moms to Planned Parenthood

By see-dubya  •  July 24, 2008 09:14 AM

Dawn Eden finds an interesting link on the Department of Agriculture’s WIC page–that’s right, WIC, which stands for the Women, Infants, and Children program. Apparently not only do they hand out huge wheels of commodity cheese to the deserving poor, but they also are referring women to Planned Parenthood, where they can do something about those pesky “I” and “C” portions of the acronym:

Considering that some 61 percent of WIC recipients are nonwhites, the government’s efforts to steer them towards Planned Parenthood dovetails neatly with the nation’ No. 1 abortion provider’s efforts to prevent births in the black and Latino communities.

Granted, the federal money that pays Planned Parenthood to serve WIC clients technically does not go towards abortions. But any money given to Planned Parenthood by the federal government keeps the organization’s lights on and its paychecks coming, enabling it to spend its $115 million surplus on expanding its abortion business.

If you follow Dawn’s link through to the WIC page, note the USDA’s has coded the page to display in the cheerful, non-threatening Comic Sans font. I find that detail rather chilling.

___________________

{Post by See-Dubya}

Posted in: Abortion

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Trackbacks

Trackback URL

Comments


  1. #385333
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:43 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    Disagree.

    Slippery…… slope….. enjoy

  2. #385335
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:44 pm, zeroangel said:

    So a single celled bacteria is “life” because it can survive on it’s own but a cingle celled zygote isn’t “life” because it needs an incubator for 9 months

    That’s about right, though I don’t really shed any tears about “murdering” bacteria either.

  3. #385337
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:45 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    But you just admitted that the cingle celled zygot is “life” that just needs an incubator. Interesting how much you must dance to rationalize murder.

  4. #385346
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:47 pm, zeroangel said:

    alaskangrizzly:

    No I didn’t, I said it isn’t life. Can we not play the tiresome semantics games?

  5. #385347
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:48 pm, HDFOB said:

    #93 Zeroangel:

    You’ve made your stand on when life begins on the vague concept of when the “point fetal pain is possible”?

    Why is the ability to abort so important that those kind of rhetorical contortions are necessary?

  6. #385349
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:48 pm, purplepeep said:

    zeroangel said:
    purplepeep:

    I guess I don’t consider it a “life” as such.

    Either a person is alive or dead, there’s no in-between, ZA. To be able to have a valid opinion you really need to inform yourself beyond the guessing stage.

    But to clarify one irrefutable point: since we all know humans can only reproduce humans, there is no doubt any life they produce will be human.

  7. #385351
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:49 pm, Yashmak said:

    Exactly, and Hitler didn’t consider Jews to be worth living either so you are in good company

    – alaskangrizzly

    Yes, invoking Hitler. A true sign you’re winning the debate. /sarc

    you’re all going to look like glaring hypocrites if you take Rusty, lgm, or the other MM resident liberals to task on issues of abortion and life.

    – englishqueen

    Except that’s not what you said. You said I shouldn’t ever post my opinion on this topic again. I don’t take those guys to task for their views on abortion, any more than I took you to task for yours. I simply stated mine. I realized long ago that it’s the hubris to believe I can change anyone’s mind on this issue, or that anyone can change mine.

  8. #385355
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:50 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    Whatever makes you feel better boss, your slippery slope will catch up with you further and further the more medicine develops. Then you won’t have any excuses left except to say “yeah, I favor murder”

  9. #385358
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:51 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    - alaskangrizzly

    Yes, invoking Hitler. A true sign you’re winning the debate. /sarc

    I can’t help it if you are just like him, that’s your problem.

  10. #385360
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:51 pm, zeroangel said:

    You’ve made your stand on when life begins on the vague concept of when the “point fetal pain is possible”?

    Yes.

    Why is the ability to abort so important that those kind of rhetorical contortions are necessary?

    I guess you should ask a woman that wants an abortion.

    Either a person is alive or dead

    Or it is not a person.

  11. #385361
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:52 pm, abstractmind said:

    If we’re going to try and determine what life is, and where it starts, how about using an accepted version of what science shows the definition, something like this.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition_of_life

    I’ve made the argument in posts here at other times that human embryos do in fact meet all of the qualifications listed. If there is some other fact as to why they wouldn’t be considered alive, i’m listening.

    Likewise, living matter just doesnt “spring up”…living beings are not created from inert matter, that i’ve seen so far.

  12. #385364
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:54 pm, Yashmak said:

    I can’t help it if you are just like him, that’s your problem.

    – alaskangrizzly

    Except that I’m nothing like him. You must realize how silly you sound.

  13. #385366
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:55 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    You both advocate the murder of millions… what am I missing?

  14. #385372
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:58 pm, zeroangel said:

    abstractmind:

    From your page:

    There is no universal definition of life; there are a variety of definitions proposed by different scientists. To define life in unequivocal terms is still a challenge for scientists.[5][6]

    So, these definitions aren’t agreed upon.

    Conventional definition: Often scientists say that life is a characteristic of organisms that exhibit the following phenomena:

    Further, these definitions seem to apply to a set of organisms or one organism over the course of it’s life, they aren’t meant to define when “life’ begins.

  15. #385373
    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:58 pm, jellibean said:

    I can’t wait until I get pregnant and get to tell people that I’m having a baby, but until it’s born (or can feel pain or whatever), they should refer to it as a litter of kittens.

  16. #385378
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:00 pm, purplepeep said:

    zeroangel said:

    With the most obvious being that one of the two has not been killed never been alive.

    I believe you’ll find OB-GYNs (not to mention Moms) to be somewhat shocked that they’re prescribing all sorts of vitamins to nourish along something that’s dead or “not alive”. Does it make any sense at all to give vitamins to help sustain something that’s dead or “not alive”?

  17. #385384
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:02 pm, zeroangel said:

    Does it make any sense at all to give vitamins to help sustain something that’s dead or “not alive”?

    Yes, considering the thing in question will eventually be alive and the mother in question wants that to happen.

    When the mother does not want that to happen, I support (not applaud) her.

  18. #385385
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:03 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    On July 24th, 2008 at 1:58 pm, jellibean said:
    I can’t wait until I get pregnant and get to tell people that I’m having a baby, but until it’s born (or can feel pain or whatever), they should refer to it as a litter of kittens.

    Actually if you want to stay consistent with Yash and Zero you would say “I plan to have a child in 9 months, right now I just have some unliving biological anomaly in a clump feeding off my body’s resources and in couple months I can then call it my baby since it can feel pain and has progressed from non-living tissue to a living and viable human being.”

    Channeling that was exhausting, must be hard work doing all that dancing.

  19. #385395
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:06 pm, zeroangel said:

    alaskangrizzly:

    Or you could just be a person not trying to make a rhetorical point and say:

    “I am pregnant.”

  20. #385398
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:07 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    “I am pregnant.” with my baby. Because you know that’s what I hear all mother’s tell me even at 1 month and all.

  21. #385399
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:07 pm, purplepeep said:

    zeroangel said:

    Either a person is alive or dead

    Or it is not a person.

    I’m certainly open to new concepts, ZA, but you still haven’t defined which species an unborn human is if it really isn’t human. (As far as I know, people only refer to other humans as “person” or “persons”.)

  22. #385403
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:08 pm, zeroangel said:

    “I am pregnant.” with my baby. Because you know that’s what I hear all mother’s tell me even at 1 month and all.

    Aside from those that don’t want to have thier fetus develop into a baby.

  23. #385406
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:09 pm, Yashmak said:

    You both advocate the murder of millions… what am I missing?

    The ability to carry on a rational debate?

    If there is some other fact as to why they wouldn’t be considered alive, i’m listening.

    -abstractmind

    Alive as in living cells? Yeah, sure a fetus is alive. I just don’t believe it is a person, imbued with whatever it is that makes us whole persons. . .certainly not before 4 weeks, the point at which organs and the central nervous system start to form.

  24. #385407
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:09 pm, whoozit said:

    zeroangel said;

    at which point fetal pain is possible

    When I die, I certainly would perfer to feel no pain, but the inability to feel pain is not the determination of life or death. There was a little girl on Oprah with an ailment that made it impossible for her brain to register pain. She poked out her eyes as a baby because she felt no pain. Now, if someone murdered this same child, I am sure no sane person could deny that this little girl was once alive, simply because she didn’t hurt when it happened.

  25. #385411
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:09 pm, abstractmind said:

    To use your own post, zero:
    You were quick to cut out the LAST sentence of the paste there. What you left off was:
    Conventional definition: Often scientists say that life is a characteristic of organisms that exhibit the following phenomena:

    I’ll take often as something most agree on, or at least something that some sort of majority can at least use as a guideline.

    I didnt say it was the end all, be all. but somehow, it seems a bit more exacting, when its broken down than “well, if it can feel pain, its alive”, or at the least a bit more indepth and descriptive.

    Does that mean that since I have a massive pain tolerance, that i’m less alive than someone else? ;) Granted, its not “fetal pain”, but one could start a case for pain in general.

    I’m sure you have a logical reason for not thinking living humans create other living humans…but i’m not seeing alot of fact or substance. You’re gonna have to give me something else to work with. I prefer to deal with fact, or at least logical reasoning, and would love to hear about this in those regards.

  26. #385413
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:11 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    Aside from those that don’t want to have thier fetus baby develop into a baby.

    Love how you dodge the slippery slope you’re on. Makes for a fun afternoon of watching you squirm. What are you going to say anyhow once medicine keeps dropping the viabilty date down and down and down to closer to conception?

  27. #385417
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:11 pm, zeroangel said:

    purplepeep:

    I thought I was clear. It is not a different species, nor is it “alive”.

    It is a developing part of the mother combined with DNA of the father.

  28. #385421
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:12 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    .certainly not before 4 weeks, the point at which organs and the central nervous system start to form.

    We got Yash at 4 weeks

    at which point fetal pain is possible

    And Zero at a 2 to 3 months

    I love consistency on what and what isn’t human don’t you?

  29. #385422
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:12 pm, purplepeep said:

    alaskangrizzly said:
    Actually if you want to stay consistent with Yash and Zero you would say “I plan to have a child in 9 months, right now I just have some unliving biological anomaly

    Gotta correct you there, AKG – the terms “unliving” & “biological” are contradictory to one another. For something to be biological, it has to living by definition.

    Unless, of course, you’re just pointing out the inherent illogic of Yash & ZA argument there. ;0

  30. #385423
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:13 pm, abstractmind said:

    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:09 pm, Yashmak said:

    and thats fair. People such as myself see it simply in the light that you’re in fact destroying something alive. The fact that its not a -complete- person doesnt remove the fact that you’re destroying something that becomes a person. I dont think thats a logical stretch, given the frame of the debate.

  31. #385425
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:13 pm, zeroangel said:

    alaskangrizzly:

    No one is squirming, and it would be nice if you all dropped the rhetoric, strawman, et al. I don’t expect it to happen, but it would be nice.

    What are you going to say anyhow once medicine keeps dropping the viabilty date down and down and down to closer to conception?

    I contend that it will only drop so low and I am already well below it.

  32. #385430
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:15 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    It is a developing part of the mother combined with DNA of the father.

    Now this is comedy gold right here… a developing part of the mother lololololol that happens to have totally new DNA of it’s own derived from the mother and father but is so different that the unique human being developing may not even have the same blood type and may not be able to potentially receive organ donations from it’s own mother and yet is a “developing portion of the mother with added DNA from the father” that is just rich. Thank you for the laughs.

  33. #385431
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:19 pm, purplepeep said:

    zeroangel said:

    I thought I was clear. It is not a different species, nor is it “alive”.

    It is a developing part of the mother combined with DNA of the father.

    OK, so we are agree what is “developing” in the mother’s womb is human. Good.

    Now let’s consider how anything that’s not living could ever “develope”?

    e.g. A huge rock can sit by the seashore for a million years and it will not develope or produce anything new. Life – maybe moss – may grow on it, though.

  34. #385432
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:19 pm, abstractmind said:

    I would also point out,l for consistancy sake, the the mitochondria that is present in every cell evolves at about 10 times the rate of human beings, and could be considered alive.

    And mitochondria(which are responsible for cellular respiration, etc) are incredibly important in the forming, shaping, and even death, of living things.

  35. #385438
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:21 pm, zeroangel said:

    Now this is comedy gold right here…

    Oh give it a rest man.

    The fact is, that the defintion of “life” is rather unclear.

    Suffice it to say, I do not consider a fetus a “whole person” and that’s for a variety of reasons among those, the fetal pain arguement, Yashmak’s nervous system arguement, the inability to live outside the womb or at least on its own, etc..

    I am inclined to pay more consideration to the concerns / wants / needs of the woman (someone I KNOW to be “alive”) rather than something which can’t even be clearly defined.

    Comparisons to Hitler are beyond the pale.

  36. #385441
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:22 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    The fact is, that the defintion of “life” is rather unclear.

    Only to certain types of people, you just happen to be one of them.

  37. #385442
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:22 pm, zeroangel said:

    OK, so we are agree what is “developing” in the mother’s womb is human. Good.

    In the sense that it contains human DNA? Yes. In the sense that it is a living person? No.

    Equivocation.

  38. #385447
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:25 pm, abstractmind said:

    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:21 pm, zeroangel said:

    While i respect your view on it, I just dont see it as objective based on the material presented.

    It is what it is, i suppose.

  39. #385448
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:26 pm, zeroangel said:

    abstractmind:

    Likewise, funny thing about opinions. *smile*

  40. #385452
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:28 pm, whoozit said:

    The definition of “life” is not unclear. Even a song on Sesame Street can explain it. The fact that an embryo grows and needs nourishment is clearly simple.

  41. #385455
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:29 pm, abstractmind said:

    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:26 pm, zeroangel said:

    true. and in being civil and agreeing to disagree, is how progress is made.

    I think there’s alot of science that really needs to come to bear in these respects, but from what i’ve read (and spent alot of time doing so, i’m a buff for this kind of thing), i think in time, when technology and research can push forward a bit more, we’ll have a definite answer.

    I just hate not to err on the side of caution, or life (even possible or up and coming life).

  42. #385460
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:32 pm, birdlady79 said:

    I agree 100% that government; i.e., taxpayer, money should never be used for abortions. I also agree 100% that the government should not have ANY say whatsoever in when, where, or how a woman has an abortion. I am a middle-age mother of 2 – raised in Catholic schools. I consider myself a Conservative in the majority of issues – I vote Republican the majority of the time. I was never in the position where I had to make that horrible decision, thank God. I taught both of my children what the consequences would be if they were to get pregnant or impregnate someone else (a son and daughter obviously). Having said that – I have 2 nieces who have each recently given birth to twins – both of the mother’s are 20 years old – neither of the father’s is in the picture. They made the choice to have and keep the children – all of whom were born prematurely – hospital bills over $100K. These baby’s have absolutely and completely been tax-payer funded – and will continue to be until forever. You know why? Because the government; i.e., taxpayers, will provide everything for their mother’s because of these darling babies. Baby food, diapers, milk, cheese, daycare, subsidized housing, food stamps, welfare, doctor visits, immunizations, oh, yes, and if their mother’s want, they can also go to college for next to free. Sounds like a racket to me. I will NEVER listen to a man’s view of abortion – as a man, you will NEVER have to make that decision. In my opinion, this issue is so passionate for many reasons, one of which is as elementary as control of another. A man is incapable of becoming pregnant and will NEVER have that experience. I remember as a teenager, when abortions were all but outlawed, a few of my friends who tried to abort through various means. It was horrible. I will also say that the rich will always have access to abortion in a safe manner – it will only be the poor and middle-class who will resort back to “clothes hangers”. The Deacon sitting next to you in church – his daughter will have an abortion (legally) today, then he’ll be preaching against it tomorrow. This issue brings about so much hypocrisy, it nauseates me. As for me, it is NONE of my business what someone else chooses. The hysteria in this matter allows the media and our “leaders” to stir up the troops, as they always do – while at the same time obfiscating from taking care of the REAL issues that are confronting this nation.

  43. #385464
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:34 pm, jellibean said:

    Well, zero, if I’m not pregnant with a person, what am I pregnant with?

    If someone asks me what I’m having, what should I answer? The whatever-it-is’s sex? Its status as a biological entity?

    This is the problem with the “it’s not a human life” fallacy. We name every species’ offspring with a label that helps others connote what the offspring is or looks like. Why do we make that distinction with humans?

    I concede that I am pro-life, but I understand that in certain extreme cases abortion may be allowed–that is, in a literal life-or-death situation for the mother. However, we shouldn’t try to fool ourselves and allay our guilt for aborting fellow human beings by asserting that they aren’t humans/people and that they aren’t alive.

    Are organisms who live in symbiotic relationships less alive than those that don’t because they cannot survive without the other organism?

    Too many people have abortions without full knowledge of what they’re doing–what’s at stake for them mentally and physically–and that is absolutely unacceptable. How does it give women more rights to limit their knowledge of something that could have such a huge effect on their well-beings?

  44. #385466
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:35 pm, zeroangel said:

    birdlady79:

    Right on!

    ALCON:

    I refer to #142 birdlady.

    ZeroA Out.

  45. #385470
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:37 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    Or it is not a person.

    Then what is it?

  46. #385473
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:38 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    I will NEVER listen to a man’s view of abortion

    That’s great, are you also against men from becoming OBGYN’s too, I mean they will never have a period or have the associated body parts to be able to relate 100% to their patient so why limit your bigotry just to abortion?

  47. #385479
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:40 pm, abstractmind said:

    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:32 pm, birdlady79 said:

    I appreciate your view, and i cant force you to listen to a man…but i would point out that some of us MEN were on the bad side of women wanting abortions, and that we werent given a choice.

    We were given a bill for it.

    You might want to bear that in mind, and the feelings of those involved, while you rant.

    Thanks.

  48. #385482
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:42 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    Why does it not surprise me that ZA sides with bigot?

    The Deacon sitting next to you in church – his daughter will have an abortion (legally) today, then he’ll be preaching against it tomorrow.

    Are some people hypocrites? Yes, but don’t lump us all in there sister. I am pro-life today and will be pro-life tomorrow and I will not condone or assist or turn a blind eye to anyone regardless if their in my church or not who chooses murder over life.

  49. #385485
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:42 pm, Barry F. said:

    I will NEVER listen to a man’s view of abortion

    By extension, wouldn’t tha pose a problem for the conception portion too? Jus’ sayin’?

  50. #385486
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:43 pm, birdlady79 said:

    I’ll not even answer your immature and ridiculous question grizzly – I’m sure if you try really, really hard, you can think of a more intelligent response. I’ll sit back and wait for that one, thank you.

  51. #385487
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:43 pm, Barry F. said:

    tha that

  52. #385490
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:46 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:43 pm, birdlady79 said:
    I’ll not even answer your immature and ridiculous question grizzly – I’m sure if you try really, really hard, you can think of a more intelligent response. I’ll sit back and wait for that one, thank you.

    I’m not the one being a bigot, men have shown themselves quite capable and vice versa for the ladies such as female urologists assisting male patients with their reproductive and urinary problems, in understanding the medicine and science in these topics in both OBGYN’s and abortion (aka murder).

    Thanks.

  53. #385499
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:50 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    I will NEVER listen to a man’s view of abortion – as a man, you will NEVER have to make that decision. In my opinion, this issue is so passionate for many reasons, one of which is as elementary as control of another. A man is incapable of becoming pregnant and will NEVER have that experience.

    I’m a woman? What about my view on abortion?

    You and zeroangel need to check out this website. It really debunks the notion that abortion is safe and legal.

  54. #385503
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:51 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    My OB/GYN is male. My husband has a Master’s degree in Medical Science. My father-in-law is a physician. I find their medical advice just as sound as a female doctor’s advice.

    If my husband and I didn’t see eye-to-eye on abortion, children, etc., I doubt very seriously that we would be married. It matters where he stands on issues.

  55. #385505
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:52 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    Sorry – that should be “I’m a woman.” (period).

  56. #385510
    On July 24th, 2008 at 2:55 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    EQ,
    Good catch! I thought perhaps you were trying to add a little levity to the thread. ;-)

  57. #385523
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:03 pm, birdlady79 said:

    I personally abhor abortion; however, it is not my business what another woman, under other circumstances, might choose. If my 13 year old daughter, niece, granddaughter, or any 13 year old, is gang-raped and is impregnated, should this child be forced to carry this fetus to term? englishqueen01 – I am sure you walk the walk as much as you talk the talk – I am sure you have adopted several children from orphanages, and foster parent several children and keep them safe from the monsters who have made the decision to keep these unwanted babies. True?

  58. #385531
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:08 pm, Yashmak said:

    People such as myself see it simply in the light that you’re in fact destroying something alive. – abstractmind

    It’s nice to see that at least someone here can carry on a debate on this issue rationally. But it cannot be simply ‘destroying something alive’, or else eating, warring, using antibiotics, stepping on ants, etc. etc. would also all be just as bad.

    The fact that its not a -complete- person doesnt remove the fact that you’re destroying something that becomes a person.

    That clarifies things a bit. However, I still maintain that destroying something that becomes a person, isn’t the same thing as destroying a person.

    Granted that many here disagree with me. For the record, I think I’ve mentioned before that personally, I don’t favor abortion, and am actually adamantly opposed to 2nd & 3rd trimester abortions. Even so, I don’t believe a fetus qualifies as a person until later in the pregnancy (at least not until it has developed a functioning central nervous system).

  59. #385533
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:09 pm, GaMidnightRider said:

    ok two questions for everyone. Me throwing away a used condem make me a murder ? does a woman taking birth control make her one also ?

    The question is not about life and death and it should not be. It is about persoal responsibility. The rest is between you and your God. If you beleive in God. GWB signed a law saying if you kill a woman and she is pregant and fetus dies you get charged with murder on 2 counts not one.
    I think the article was about how you feel about your tax dollars going to fund phony programs and organazations.

  60. #385535
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:12 pm, abstractmind said:

    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:03 pm, birdlady79 said:

    Granted, there should be some allowance. but using it for personal contraception measure is the bulk of the process. abortions due to rape/incest and so on….check the %’s. Its statistically just not normal. Depending on who is reporting the stats, i’ve seen the numbers waver between .1 and 1.2% (my firewall here at work prevents me from alot of things, including searching for stuff now that i’d provide as evidence, so my apologies…i’m usually all about the stats. i’ll see if there’s a way around it so i can post those.

    However, the rest of your argument is an appeal that because someone hasn’t done something, that they can’t discuss it or hold a view.

    For instance, i’m sure you and i agree that killing people (and for this example, we’ll use adults in general) in cold blood is wrong. Neither of us have to walk down the street and garrote every person we meet in order to know that. If the ability for people to agree, disagree, or state a point of view were limited to the exact amount of experiences we had on the subject, we’d be a narrowminded and boring species.

    Just food for thought.

  61. #385546
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:17 pm, abstractmind said:

    Yashmak,

    True. And yes, i try to keep it civil :)

    I see your point. Humans, by nature, normally find killing other people (at least for no reason) as an abhorant, and avoid it. Leeway here to argue, but generally, and like i referenced with birdlady, we dont need to kill to know its wrong.

    The example of eating meat, however, is cold blooded to members of PETA. Persons of certain eastern philosophies believe killing anything on purpose, including ants, is wrong. It all depends on the view of the person involved. But those things pale, methinks, against the backdrop of detroying life when its the case of human beings.

    I would equate it in some basic way to the same way plants develop. The seed of a pumpkin, for example, itself contains the means of becoming a full grown plant, but if you placed it in the ground, and then after a week when the shell cracks and the sprout comes out…if you crush the seed between your fingers, you destroyed life in development. Again just my thought, and as i mentioned with zero, there’s still alot of science left to do with this. And one day, i hope we have a definitive answer.

  62. #385555
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:26 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    englishqueen01 – I am sure you walk the walk as much as you talk the talk – I am sure you have adopted several children from orphanages, and foster parent several children and keep them safe from the monsters who have made the decision to keep these unwanted babies. True?

    That’s such a tired canard. It’s no different than liberals who say only veterans can comment on war or women can comment on feminism.

    My opinions on abortion are not contingent on whether or not I’ve adopted. I want to, and I will. We are researching becoming foster parents (not a simple process, mind you). Know someone who’s pregnant? Send her my way. I’ll give her a loving, supportive home and help her decide to raise the child or put him up for adoption.

    I certainly won’t sell her up the river and let her deal with the aftermath of an abortion. For, indeed, most rape/incest victims who have abortions report it didn’t lessen the trauma, but increased it. (More about the study here).

    But, quite frankly, this is the last ditch argument of a person who cannot win otherwise.

    Please, explain this to me: How in the world is it preferable to rip an unborn child limb-from-limb, burn him with saline, or stick a scissors in her skull and suck out her brain than to bring them into existence?

    Because they won’t remember it or know?

    In that case, that argument might as well be drawn to its logical conclusion: let’s take all children in foster care and orphanages and shoot them. After all, being dead is better than living in an orphanage, right?

  63. #385559
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:27 pm, Yashmak said:

    And one day, i hope we have a definitive answer.

    – abstractmind

    I share your hope. Until that day arrives, however, I don’t think my views on this are likely to change. . .nor do I expect to change anyone else’s views on the matter. I wouldn’t even try.

    As for your pumpkin seed analogy. . .it’s an interesting take. But the take I read on abortion from its foes here is that the pumpkin seed is in fact a pumpkin. But you can’t make pumpkin pie or carve a jack-o-lantern out of seeds. There’s obviously a difference. Why make the literary distinction if there’s no difference?

  64. #385562
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:30 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    Yashmak:

    Here’s a better analogy. In America, we have laws protecting Bald Eagle eggs not because they eggs themselves do anything, but because we recognize that the organism developing in those eggs will become a Bald Eagle.

    Yet we twist the definition of what is/isn’t human and – as a nation – fail to recognize we give more rights and protections to animals (and, in some nations, plants) than we do our fellow man.

  65. #385568
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:34 pm, Yashmak said:

    Here’s a better analogy. In America, we have laws protecting Bald Eagle eggs not because they eggs themselves do anything, but because we recognize that the organism developing in those eggs will become a Bald Eagle.

    – englishqueen

    So you recognize that the organism developing in those eggs is not a bald eagle yet.

    It’s also important to note that while Bald Eagles are endangered species, the same cannot be said of humans (although that’s not entirely relevant to this discussion).

  66. #385573
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:37 pm, abstractmind said:

    Well, the distinction is made, at least on my end, because of the prospect. Because eventually, those single cells do form something we do recognize. I have trouble believe something isnt alive because of its current structure. Growth indicates life, in my book. if the difference between it being a blob and being alive is 4 weeks, as we’ve seen in earlier posts, i’m not sure why the 4 weeks is a huge deal breaker.

    But you’re right. people hold their views, and that’s how it is. When i discuss something, the best i can do is lay out what i know, what i can show or prove, and how i interpret the data. how someone else takes it, well..thats up to them. If they change as a result, then thats fine. if not, then thats how it is. if they have conflicting information, then those facts should likewise be explored.

    for our pumpkin, though…

    Everything starts out as the small version of itself. pumpkins dont just jump up on their own, they have to grow and develop like everything else. such is the way of life. Is the seed a full grown pumpkin? of course not :) But give it some water and a place to grow, and soon…you’ll have a wonderful pumpkin pie ;)

    OK, so i’m not advocating killing pumpkin seeds. But i’d carve up a pumpkin for some pie in a heartbeat ;)

    Wish i had more time to go indepth…but yay work :(

  67. #385584
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:42 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    So you recognize that the organism developing in those eggs is not a bald eagle yet.

    Yes it is. It isn’t a fish, or a frog, or a cat.

    It’s a Bald Eagle. Granted, it’s developing, but it’s genetic make up is no different from a full-grown Bald Eagle.

    The notion of viability is also alarming. My 17-month-old son could not survive without someone feeding, clothing, diapering and caring for him. Indeed, studies showed infants deprived of human contact suffered great trauma and even died.

    So the notion that a baby isn’t human until it can live outside the womb is shaky logic at best.

    They may breathe on their own, but without the care and nurturing of another human being (ideally their mother or an adoptive parent), they can’t survive.

    Which means children aren’t “human” until they can take care of themselves. Which means there are some adults out there who aren’t fully human.

  68. #385587
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:43 pm, purplepeep said:

    zeroangel said:

    OK, so we are agree what is “developing” in the mother’s womb is human. Good.
    In the sense that it contains human DNA? Yes. In the sense that it is a living person? No.

    Equivocation.

    I assume you’re refering to equivication on your part there, ZA.

    I’ve very specifically used your terminology as much as possible, not to pick on you – though I do like to have some fun :) – but to underscore Confucius’ observation “The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names”.

    I once thought along your line of something like “it’s just at best a blob” – something that could be interchanable with cancer. That was even long after I became one of them thar born-aginner Christian-types. I was even active with a pro-abortion group, being the tres PC sensitive modern male, ala Phil Donahue/Alan Alda, that I was.

    But then I looked at this issue logically, accepting into my thinking process only the terms that have solid & tangible meaning, sans equivacation. In so doing, I could not escape the fact what I was dealing with nothing less than human life. I could have denied it, but I would have been intellectually dishonest with myself.

    You sound like an intelligent person who is capable of evaluating the issue logically even if it challenges your preconceptions. I’d suggest you do so.

    We all have the tendency to try to justify our views – whether they be right or wrong. It’s only upon taking on those views with a willingness to sacrifice ego for intellectual honesty and consistency that a person can reach the point of surety and non-equivication.

    I mentioned Charlie Manson above. In his own mind he can easily justify he and his “family’s” actions in taking innocent human life.(Though some of his gang have since come to realize they were justifying something very evil. I suspect spending a life behimd bars gives one time to re-evaluate their worldview).

    Socrates noted well that an “unexamined life is not worth living”. I would just add what I think is a good corollary, “an unchallanged opinion is not worth keeping”.

  69. #385593
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:47 pm, Yashmak said:

    Yes it is. It isn’t a fish, or a frog, or a cat.

    It’s a Bald Eagle. Granted, it’s developing, but it’s genetic make up is no different from a full-grown Bald Eagle.

    – englishqueen

    No, you said it BECOMES a bald eagle, indicating it’s not one yet.

    You’re right though. It’s not a fish, frog, or cat. It’s an egg.

  70. #385595
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:49 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    Pro-life: It’s a baby, we agree, the end.
    ***********************************
    Pro-death: Innumerous excuses and definitions on when life begins (let alone when that life can be called a “baby”) and none of them can never agree.

    Some say it must “feel” pain.

    Some say it must be viable outside the womb (like a baby can still live outside the womb unless taken care of – much like being in the womb).

    Barbara Boxer went so far as to say “it is not a baby until you bring it home from the hospital.”

    On and on and on and…
    ************************************

    So, a living cell (sperm) makes it inside another living cell (ova), a process so extremely involved most people could never grasp the chemical process that takes place by these two living cells, and creates another extremely complex life form, a human being. All of the complexities of these processes can be ignored as “not a living thing” by those of you who can cheapen life and, yet, accept an amoeba as living – that is fine. The rest of us have a basic grasp of living.

  71. #385603
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:54 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    No, you said it BECOMES a bald eagle, indicating it’s not one yet.

    Fine – let me refine that so you don’t get caught up in semantics.

    We recognize it is a developing Bald Eagle, but a Bald Eagle nonetheless.

    Everything starts out as the small version of itself. pumpkins dont just jump up on their own, they have to grow and develop like everything else. such is the way of life. Is the seed a full grown pumpkin? of course not But give it some water and a place to grow, and soon…you’ll have a wonderful pumpkin pie

    That says it best.

  72. #385606
    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:56 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    P.S. most of the pro-death supporters (Rusty comes to mind) abhor the idea of putting a murder to death. They are opposed to the death penalty unless it is a baby in a womb.

  73. #385614
    On July 24th, 2008 at 4:00 pm, abstractmind said:

    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:54 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    That says it best.

    AND! It involves pie! What could be better?

    Except cheesecake…but i dont think there are seeds anywhere for that…but if there were….mmmmmm :)

  74. #385620
    On July 24th, 2008 at 4:03 pm, alaskangrizzly said:

    On July 24th, 2008 at 3:49 pm, On-my-soap-box said:
    Pro-life: It’s a baby, we agree, the end.
    ***********************************
    Pro-death: Innumerous excuses and definitions on when life begins (let alone when that life can be called a “baby”) and none of them can never agree.

    Some say it must “feel” pain.

    Some say it must be viable outside the womb (like a baby can still live outside the womb unless taken care of – much like being in the womb).

    Barbara Boxer went so far as to say “it is not a baby until you bring it home from the hospital.”

    Very well put, the slippery slope continues on their end.

  75. #385624
    On July 24th, 2008 at 4:06 pm, governmentdrone said:

    Which means there are some adults out there who aren’t fully human.

    This is the only INDISPUTED fact that’s been stated in this thread!

  76. #385628
    On July 24th, 2008 at 4:07 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    Except cheesecake…but i dont think there are seeds anywhere for that…but if there were….mmmmmm

    Oh – what about pumpkin-pie flavored cheesecake? Best of both worlds!

    Now I want pumpkin pie…and cheesecake. Darn you, abstractmind. ;)

  77. #385629
    On July 24th, 2008 at 4:07 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    :Note to self – invent cheesecake seeds and get rich! :)

  78. #385631
    On July 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    This is the only INDISPUTED fact that’s been stated in this thread!

    Oh. My. Sides. :lol:

  79. #385632
    On July 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm, Yashmak said:

    But give it some water and a place to grow, and soon…you’ll have a wonderful pumpkin pie

    Right, and give a fetus a place to grow and some time, and one day you might have a wonderful firefighter, or accountant, etc. etc. But that’s alot different than saying it’s a person from the moment of conception.

  80. #385633
    On July 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm, birdlady79 said:

    The only thing I can positively, unequivacally say on the matter is that I will never have an abortion. However; I will not stop you from having one if that is what you choose. I won’t bring you to the clinic – but I’ll be there to hold you while you cry afterwards. Yes, it breaks my heart that people choose to abort; however, I will not judge them for doing so. That is for God to do, and perhaps he’s a little more forgiving than those of us on earth.

    If you don’t want your tax dollars going to pay for an abortion; well, I agree. But I also don’t think the government should be involved in this matter at all. Period.

    And, by the way, englishqueen, I have “fostered” 3 different children – all of whom came from mother’s who chose to have numerous children, none of which were taken care of. Not one of whom I would have wanted to die in foster care or in an orphanage. In fact, I believe that I ultimately saved them from that very result.

  81. #385636
    On July 24th, 2008 at 4:10 pm, Leatherneck said:

    This is sick. More murder of children, adding Homo marriage, abuse of anykind, no love for others etc…

    There will be greater storms, earthquakes, and volcanos because of this. Climate change is manmade after all.

  82. #385651
    On July 24th, 2008 at 4:17 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    Not one of whom I would have wanted to die in foster care or in an orphanage. In fact, I believe that I ultimately saved them from that very result.

    But then how can you argue it would be better if their mother aborted them? How can anyone argue that?

    I stand by my assertion that the logical conclusion of “abortion’s better than a life in foster care/orphanages” is to eliminate the kids currently living in such situations.

    It’s not fun. I don’t doubt that.

    But, please, I emplore you, visit this website. The effects of abortion are far deeper and longer-lasting than crying for a while after the fact.

    I believe we need to create a culture where women and their unborn children are treated better – which includes encouraging marriage, holding fathers responsible, and getting people off welfare.

  83. #385691
    On July 24th, 2008 at 4:41 pm, birdlady79 said:

    “I believe we need to create a culture where women and their unborn children are treated better – which includes encouraging marriage, holding fathers responsible, and getting people off welfare.”

    On this, we can certainly agree.

  84. #385693
    On July 24th, 2008 at 4:43 pm, abstractmind said:

    I believe we need to create a culture where women and their unborn children are treated better – which includes encouraging marriage, holding fathers responsible, and getting people off welfare.

    completely agree. the fairness men receive in court…well, thats another long discussion and one of which i am crushingly familiar.

    But yes, with that statement, i completely agree.

  85. #385718
    On July 24th, 2008 at 5:01 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    the fairness men receive in court…well, thats another long discussion and one of which i am crushingly familiar.

    Yep. For that, I blame radical feminism. I blame radical feminism for the breakdown of the family, quite frankly.

    They said men were pigs, unnecessary, unwanted, etc., and then act surprised when some men don’t stick around or own up to their children and their mothers.

    But, that’s another long discussion.

  86. #385721
    On July 24th, 2008 at 5:04 pm, purplepeep said:

    EQ sez:
    Oh – what about pumpkin-pie flavored cheesecake? Best of both worlds!

    Now I want pumpkin pie…and cheesecake. Darn you, abstractmind.

    That does sounds good! Has anybody here tried it?

  87. #385726
    On July 24th, 2008 at 5:09 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    That does sounds good! Has anybody here tried it?

    Yep. That’s why I suggested it.

    One word: YUM. :P

  88. #385757
    On July 24th, 2008 at 5:31 pm, purplepeep said:

    englishqueen01 said:
    That does sounds good! Has anybody here tried it?
    Yep. That’s why I suggested it.

    The recipe even looks reasonably dummy-proof so that I could handle it.

    The goodness of pumpkin and cheesecake in one dish. And here I sit with nary a thing in the cupboard for a sweet-tooth fix (not even sugar)! Ah well, a bro’s out picking up stuff at the store. Somehow I will survive til then as I wipe the drool off the monitor.

    Usually my quick-fix is to take some Bisquick and whomp up a coffeecake. Can’t get much simpler and faster than that!

  89. #385772
    On July 24th, 2008 at 5:42 pm, zeroangel said:

    purplepeep:

    We all have the tendency to try to justify our views – whether they be right or wrong. It’s only upon taking on those views with a willingness to sacrifice ego for intellectual honesty and consistency that a person can reach the point of surety and non-equivication.

    You don’t think you are being a tad bit patronizing? Do you think I just came to my decisions lightly and haven’t reflected on these things over the course of years?

    I could turn the whole thing around and say the exact same thing back to you. I won’t though, because I know I can’t change your mind, and vice-versa.

    Yashmak put it best in #107:

    Hubris.

  90. #385804
    On July 24th, 2008 at 6:25 pm, purplepeep said:

    “We all have the tendency to try to justify our views – whether they be right or wrong. It’s only upon taking on those views with a willingness to sacrifice ego for intellectual honesty and consistency that a person can reach the point of surety and non-equivication.”

    zeroangel said:
    You don’t think you are being a tad bit patronizing?

    Nope, ZA – I doubt anyone can or will contracdict that as a universal human trait/truth. But you’re certainly welcome to give it a shot.

    To my thinking, that such observations may cause you to feel “inferior” or whatever (i.e. “people talk down to me”) would seem to suggest you’re working from an emotionally-based position than an intellectual one. (How a person reacts to aemotional neutral statements and what they read into them is somewhat of an interest of mine.)

    I could turn the whole thing around and say the exact same thing back to you,

    .

    You’d be too late – since as noted, I’ve already “turned it around” on myself and tackled assumptions with logic to see if they were true or false.

    I won’t though, because I know I can’t change your mind, and vice-versa.

    I agree that one person cannot change another person’s mind. And that’s quite exactly the point I stressed; coming to valid conclusions comes as, and has value, when it’s the result of self-challenge.

    You may be satisfied with having an “equivicating opinion” and that’s fine. But you’ll have to accept that – for me – it wouldn’t be satisfactory. But when it there is something I am not sure or feel equivocal about, I’m very used to offering up more than a good heaping of “I dunnos”.

  91. #385817
    On July 24th, 2008 at 6:33 pm, zeroangel said:

    purplepeep:

    that such observations may cause you to feel “inferior” or whatever (i.e. “people talk down to me”) would seem to suggest…

    You are over-analyzing.

    You’d be too late – since as noted, I’ve already “turned it around” on myself and tackled assumptions with logic to see if they were true or false

    I doubt your impartiality.

    I think you misunderstood my use of the word equivocation.

  92. #385945
    On July 24th, 2008 at 8:46 pm, corona said:

    glad I skipped these comments

  93. #385981
    On July 24th, 2008 at 9:33 pm, Rob said:

    Jasmine Sanders, 8, a black child, was fatally shot in the chest at 249 E. 76th St. in South-Central Los Angeles about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 23.

    According to witnesses, Jasmine was playing outside with her little brother and other children behind an iron gate.

    Witnesses told police that two teenage boys approached a group of male youths sitting on a porch behind a stairway. One of them, dressed in a white shirt and dark pants, fired a round at the group, but missed and struck Jasmine in the chest instead.

  94. #386003
    On July 24th, 2008 at 10:22 pm, Prince Consort said:

    Rob:

    Are you suggesting that poor little Jasmine Sanders would have been better off never being born?

  95. #386007
    On July 24th, 2008 at 10:27 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    And Rob, once again, I ask you:

    If 50 million abortions in the past 35 years have reduced neither welfare nor crime, don’t you think the solution lies not in murdering more innocent unborn children but cracking down on the attitudes in the culture that breed violence and entitlement?

    Are you suggesting that poor little Jasmine Sanders would have been better off never being born?

    It would seem so. I bet that notion would be really comforting to Jasmine’s family.

    Being 25, I have little memory of the 1980s. I’m not surprised to learn, however, that prior to Ronald Reagan, Republicans supported abortion for eugenic purposes.

    That attitude clearly has not died out.

  96. #386057
    On July 25th, 2008 at 1:02 am, atheling said:

    Rob is unhinged.

    zeroangel:

    You and I have debated before, and I agree with purplepeep. You do not debate logically or with reason. Your information is often unfactual.

    I don’t know why, but you seem to have a blind spot in some areas, and you are unaware of it. Perhaps you need to take a class in logic and rhetorical analysis in order to clarify your thinking skills.

    I am not insulting or degrading you, however I have noticed this tendency in your thought patterns.

  97. #386126
    On July 25th, 2008 at 8:04 am, abstractmind said:

    On July 25th, 2008 at 1:02 am, atheling said:

    I will though…he has a thought pattern????

    Whuddathunkit.

  98. #386130
    On July 25th, 2008 at 8:15 am, zeroangel said:

    atheling:

    I feel the same way about you.

  99. #386135
    On July 25th, 2008 at 8:32 am, zeroangel said:

    abstractmind:

    To use your own post, zero:
    You were quick to cut out the LAST sentence of the paste there. What you left off was:
    Conventional definition: Often scientists say that life is a characteristic of organisms that exhibit the following phenomena:

    Please reread my comment in #114.

    I’d appreciate it if you please read my posts before you question my thought processes. I used that quote exactly.

  100. #386322
    On July 25th, 2008 at 11:21 am, atheling said:

    On July 25th, 2008 at 8:15 am, zeroangel said:

    atheling:

    I feel the same way about you. (emphasis mine)

    Great response, zeroangel, and it proves my point.

    Secondly, I think, rather than feel when I debate.

You must be logged in to post a comment.



JustOneMinute

» The Topless Ann Althouse
Follow me on Twitter Follow me on Facebook