Newsgroups: bit.listserv.fnord-l
Date:         Tue, 29 Sep 1992 18:32:45 -0400
From:         "Glenn C. Lasher" <GL8574@BROCK1P.BITNET>
Subject:      Beliefs

Yes, I realise that my explanation was only on the legalities,
however, there were two major points:

1.  No, Personal and religious beliefs are not the same thing,
however, it is difficult to separate the two without a definition of
either.  If anyone can provide a viable definition, then I would
drop that part of my argument because it would not be logical any
more.

2.  Yes, these are *only* the legalities of the situation, but the
legalities were based upon laws, which in turn were based upon
somebody's belief.

There are good, solid, logical conclusions discussing both sides of
the issue, but logic is not perfect.  Logic requires that you have
absolutely determined something to be true before you proceed.  This
has not been the case.  It all centers around what you use for a
premise:  If you presume that the life of the fetus is more
important than the convenience of the mother, then the logical
conclusion is that abortion is wrong.  If on the other hand, you
presume that the mother's convenience is more important, then you
can logically conclude that it is up to the mother.

I would also like to adress semantics here for a moment.  Note that
one side of the issue is addressed as both pro-choice and
pro-abortion, depending on your stance on the issue, and that the
other side is pro-life or anti-abortion.  Since the issue here is
not really abortion (who is advocating that all should get an
abortion?!?) but rather the choice of having one or not, the wording
should probably center on choice.  I feel offended that the
anti-choice have taken "life" to be their own.  I am pro-life in the
literal sense--that is I support that nobody who is determined to be
alive should be killed.  It has not been sufficiently proven to me
that an unborn fetus is alive, and precedent indicates otherwise.  I
am therefore also pro-choice.

I would like to finish by saying that I believe strongly in the
first ammendment.  I feel that nobody should be told what to say or
do, especially for religious reasons, unless they themselves have
*chosen* of their *free will* to subject themselves to that
religion.

A lot of you probably disagree with at least part of what I am
saying... I am open to debate... it is possible that I may change my
mind given  good reason.

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Glenn C. Lasher, Jr.
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