X-Envelope-to: CHRISTIA@ASUACAD.BITNET
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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Tue, 7 Apr 1992 12:57:00 CST
From:         "Darryl (The Other Brother) Johnson" <DJOHNSON@TCUCVMS.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Abortion & Don't

From: Kerry Stephenson <KSTE@PURCCVM.BITNET>
"When in doubt, don't" does not apply in the case of public policy.  It is
an advisable course for the individual, but....."
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I agree with you, Kerry.

But Jeff Shirton DID say it was valid in the case of public
policy.  He said that because we have doubts about the morality of
abortion, we should NOT permit any abortions (the "don't" clause).
I countered that one could just as easily say that because we have
doubts (except Marty! :-)) about the act of making abortion illegal,
we should leave it legal (again, the "don't" clause).

I agree that what works for the individual MAY not work for the
masses (although I also have doubts that what is sinful for the
individual is sinful for the masses.  Vox populi, vox Dei, and
all that).  My purpose was simply to show that the phrase "When
in doubt, _don't_" is a multi-purpose tool, so to speak, and can
be used on EITHER side of the abortion debate, contributing little
validity either way.  Personally, I don't think it is a very wise
saying.  But my purpose HERE is simply to show why it is not a
wise saying for the ABORTION issue, which I feel I have done.

Two final things.  Kerry, I cannot stop using CAPITAL letters in
my messages.  I have been using them for too long, many many years.
However, for future reference for all readers, they are NOT
instances of shouting.  They simply mark the words that I stress
in my head as I am writing, and if you heard my voice, you would
be able to closely replicate it by stressing the allcap words.
Another way of thinking about it would be that if I was delivering
a speech, at the allcap word I would perform some fervent hand
gesture to indicate my sincerity (like Jerry Brown).  Or think
of them as italics rather than caps.

And I was criticized by someone for using the word "feel", with
the point being that it indicated I might be unsure of my
position.  I usually use the words "think" and "feel" inter-
changeably.  They both indicate my opinions, but perhaps "feel"
indicates opinions on issues where myriad positions can be taken,
and "think" indicates opinions where the positions are usually
well-defined.  Beats me.  But I also FEEL that if I were to
NOT use "feel", "think", "opinion", IMO, or any other qualifier,
I would be criticized for that, too, as being too dogmatic and
unrelenting and egotistical.  When people say to me "That's
just your opinion", I say "Yes, it is.  Whose opinion was what
YOU just said about the issue, if it wasn't yours?"  All of my
posts could be stamped IMO after every sentence, and it wouldn't
bother me a bit.  I place great stock in my opinions: they were
not created sloppily, and one doesn't lightly discard things one
has spent time crafting.  Even so, I have no problem with "feel". I
don't feel that dogmatic, fanatical egotism makes one's opinions
any more right than thoughtful hesitancy.

This post wouldn't have been so long but for all the words in
it! :-)    :-)  So just read every OTHER word!

Darryl at TCU    (Long posts = short signature)
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