From: HADCRJAM@admin.uh.edu (MILLER, JIMMY A.)
Subject: Re: Who is this reference?
Organization: University of Houston Administrative Computing
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 21:14:17 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20

In <14kenaINNb11@hpsdde.sdd.hp.com> regard@sdd.hp.com writes:

[lots deleted that basically comes to this:
[  Jim--you imply x
[  Adreinne--no, I didn't
[  Jim--yes, you did
[  Adreinne--no, I didn't
[  etc.

> Here's another question, Jim.  No discussion of rights or anything else.
> Here, specifically, I'm asking why you would feel like you were forsaking
> your beliefs by not speaking about abortion (say in the four frameworks you
> mentioned, but I deleted for space.  Perfectly good frameworks.) but you would
> NOT be forsaking your beliefs by NOT speaking about, say, alcoholism, AIDS,
> sexual gratification, the economy, you name it.

  I think a lot of things are "bad".  No doubt you do as well.  If I held a
strong opinion on something and did not speak on it within the context of
those 4 frameworks, then I would be violating MY belief.  Now there's a point
of silliness, obviously.  If somebody says "I like the color blue," and I
proceed to argue why blue is a bad color, well you get the idea.  Then there's
the question of time.  MY time is finite.  I've only got so much of it.  You
have to pick and choose.  I chose abortion as one, for purposes of the net.  I
do make my commentary on other topics as the occasion allows.  I've held
forth on my opinions on sex in alt.sex, the gulf war in alt.desert-storm, war
in alt.war, and of course, on other topics elsewhere.  I'm not exactly silent.

> I'm still for digging in to why you figure abortion is 'bad'.  Particularly
> when speaking of abortion as it relates to someone *else*.

  Down below, near the bottom.

> (about someone commiting suicide: would I try to talk 'em out of it.)
> >  Let me be more specific.  Assume said person also has no health problems,
> >is not likely to in the forseeable future.  They're just hurting emotionally.
> >And let's also say that you just happened to stumble upon them--You were
> >walking on a bridge or something...
> 
> I think it would be a fascinating conversation, and I'd probably say some
> things that could be interpreted a number of different ways, but frankly, it
> would be none of my business....  I might even grab 'em by the ankle, but it
> would STILL be none of my business....

  But you might well interfere anyway.  Uh-huh.  So whether its any of our
business or not MIGHT (under certain circumstance) have nothing to do with
"it", whatever "it" may be.

> >> One question, Jim.  Are you planning on persuading women who have decided
> >> to bear children?  That's more risky and more expensive, both.
> To have an abortion, of course.  It's FAR more risky to bear a child.  It's
> FAR more expensive to bear a child.  Arguably, we have more than enough
> children as it is.
> 
> See, I want to know which ax you are grinding, and why.  If abortion is
> *safer* than childbearing, I'd expect you to be out there stumping for the
> safer alternative, were 'safety' the goal, that is.     

  Safety here being for whom.  For the mother, abortion is safer.  For the
z/e/f, well now, that's a different story.

> You talked earlier of how magical life was, and I asked you some further
> questions about that, but I didn't see much analysis.  Of course, if it's
> private, or you don't want to answer, I'll remind you that once again you
> are free to speak as you see fit.

  I don't generally analyze magic, but I'm having to hurry this up before
going home.  Try me again tommorow.

> Why?  Why do you feel abortion is wrong, Jim?  Take that paragraph you wrote
> about two weeks ago, and insert a why after every sentence.  Then try to answer
> them.  That would make more interesting reading.
> Adrienne Regard

  Hey ho!  The crux of the matter.  I'll leave out the religion, as you're not
a believer (that *was* you wasn't it?).  Let's keep it real simple for time.
A fetus represents, at the very least, a potential human being.  I feel said
potential deserves a shot at life, be it accidental or not.  Destroying that
potential is wrong, unless to preserve an actual in reasonably proximate
danger.

  Enough for a start?

semper fi,

Jammer Jim Miller 
Texas A&M University '89 and '91
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Newsgroups: talk.abortion