From: lindercs@HYDRA.ROSE-HULMAN.EDU (Galadin (Craig Linderoth))
Subject: abortion
Reply-To: lindercs@HYDRA.ROSE-HULMAN.EDU
Organization: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 17:41:00 GMT

	Well, this is a hot issue and I am hoping for no flames.  Let me first
state that I am morally opposed to abortion, but the same way that I am opposed
to the Death Penalty.  (These are moral considerations only!!, not realistic
yet)  To me, life is sacred in all of its forms.  especially since you never
know what that life can give to the world.  I believe though, that this life
starts at conception.  It is at this point where the most magic happens.  THe
genetic codes from the parents combine and create a genetic code for a new
person.  
	Another reason I believe this to be is that there is no point where we
can point and say there is life, except for the magic of conception.  I have
heard people say that it is only a couple of cells and not a human.  But by
this thinking, someone missing an arm is missing a part that humans should have
and that person is therefore not human.  (Or something like that, it is late
and my logic is not the soundest but I hope my idea gets across.)
	Using these beliefs, it is easily seen how I personally believe that
abortion is morally wrong.  The problem now becomes an economic choice.  Just
as I believe that abortion is wrong, I believe that any killing is wrong.  The
problem is that this is not always the most feasible way to go about things. 
As stated earlier, the Death Penalty is morally wrong, but should soceity be
called upon to support these people that have stepped way out of the bounds of
its norms?  In cases where there is no hope for these people (Should be a
strong argument there against most of the death penalty cases) then the only
reasonable and rational course of action would be the death penalty.  This is
where the economic choice comes in.  What is more important? The moral issue of
the social issue.  This is up to the judge.
	The same holds true for me for wars.  I disagree with killing, but I
will agree that in most of the cases to date, war was a necessary evil.  Yet,
it was an evil.  The soldiers were not evil, they were doing what had to be
done and sometimes against their own choice.  Many of them are stronger in that
than I am, I could never have killed somebody.  Wars are another case of
economic choice.  What is more important?  Killing somebody to keep homes and
independence, or not killing and succumbing to the rule of people with no more
dilemmas?  Since this is not a perfect world, the moral decision can not always
be followed.  This does not mean it should be ignored though.
	This brings me back to abortion.  As stated, abortion, to me, is
morally wrong.  This does not mean I am against abortion.  I have been exposed
to many cases where I would have even chose an abortion if I was in that
position.  I also know that abortion is not an easy decision for most of the
people who choose it, (both female and couples).  I am strongly against the
atmosphere that abortion is performed in nowadays though.  There are cases
where abortion is the best course of action, but I do not believe that this
course is to keep someone in school or things of that nature.  
	The problem in abortion is deciding what is a good case for one.  I
say that anyone who wanted an abortion should be screened and counseled first. 
Their situation should be analyzed and a third party should be able to decide
if it is the only course of action left after the others have been absolved.  I
realize that this is stepping on the right of choice of women on what to do
with their own bodies, but as stated earlier, I believe that the fetus has a
right to life.  Since there is no alternative left to the fetus but its
mother's womb, the choice should be handled by a third party.  This party
should weigh the rights of both the fetus and of the mother.  The
considerations of both situations should come into effect.  Also, if a person
did choose to have an abortion, and whether or not they were found acceptable,
they should also be counseled in contraceptions.  In this case also,
contraceptions should be promoted, along with sex education, by the school
system.  
	Now, I know that I have listed a lot of provisions that seem not to be
realistic, but since we were talking about utopias earlier, I thought I would
place those in here.  I do believe that the way our country handles abortion
should be looked at again.  The way it is now, it is tearing apart the country,
or at least those with definite viewpoints.  I am trying to understand and
present both sides of the issue to either party, both pro-life and pro-choice. 
The way things are now, the two groups are yelling at each other, for different
reasons though.  It is fairly analagous to the CIvil War as was stated earlier. 
Well, that is it for now, please no flames, but I have no problems with
discussions or questions.  Heck, anything to help me understand the issue from
either side can only help to fix the problem that exists today. 


******************************************************************************
*Craig Linderoth                * Reality is for People who Lack Imagination.*
*Lindercs@Rosevc.rose-hulman.edu*   The Callahanian Protector of People from *
*ChemEng, Rose-Hulman           *    Outrageous Pun Throwers    SPLAT :)     *
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