Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!harpo!decvax!ittvax!ittral!pellegri From: pellegri@ittral.UUCP (Dan Pellegrino) Newsgroups: net.abortion Subject: Re: Who cares? (moral) Message-ID: <384@ittral.UUCP> Date: Wed, 14-Mar-84 14:47:46 EST Article-I.D.: ittral.384 Posted: Wed Mar 14 14:47:46 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 15-Mar-84 07:18:08 EST Lines: 58 The fact that abortion was or may have been outlawed by the Nazis during their rule in Europe is not, necessarily, indicative of a trace of humanity in their hearts. I would sooner believe that the only motive that they had in making such a law was that they wanted to control every single life that existed in their domain. Exactly who should live and who should die was to be their decision, and their's alone. The birth of each person had to take place before the decision could be made. Okay, so abortion was outlawed - but what happened to each baby after they were born? I believe that the relationship between Nazism and abortion is not so superficial. This does not only pertain to abortion but to any taking of human life (I know - that's a separate debate) especially that which is done on a categorical basis. The concern for this particualr argument is not the motives for abortion in each, individual case. The concern is over the acceptance, by the general public, of abortion as a readily available option. This acceptance is sanctioned by the government in the form of law. The parallel to Nazism is this: The acceptance of the elimination of "undesirables". It is for this reason - this general and, actually, casual acceptance - that laws must not exist that allow abortion to be openly permissible. The very existence of the law aids in the generation and perpetuation of an "if I don't want it, I'll just eliminate it" attitude. The potential danger exists of this attitude gradually seeping into other areas concerning other cases of human life that is undesirable in the "public eye". It could eventually manifest in the form of infanticide, euthanasia and so on. Eventually, laws could exist legalizing and specifying when one can eliminate an infant or an elderly person or a sick person an emotionally disturbed person or any socially or otherwise undesirable person. Many of these groups were, previously, of great concern to the public; to be cared for by us that are more fortunate. An in-depth study of Hitler's rise to power and his methods of dealing with the populace might reveal what causes some people get concerned enough to vow "never again". This is not an example of something that couldn't happen today. It's onset can be very gradual, subtle and deceptive. Dave's statement - "I had my head stuck in the sand, then one day I pulled it out, and was appalled at what I saw in the world...(etc.)..." - is very appropriate and worth much consideration (it's Article 57). Thanks, Dave. It is not only the life of the individual fetus that concerns me here (although that concerns me greatly) but also the phenomenon of casual, general public acceptance, which represents potentially great danger. It is very easy for us, who have been born and live relatively normal lives, to have a disregard for the lives of others that don't fit into our plans. Highly recommended reading: "Whatever Happened to the Human Race?" by Francis Shaeffer (sp?) -------------------------------------- Dan Pellegrino ittvax!ittral!pellegri