Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site whuxk.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!houxm!whuxl!whuxk!orb From: orb@whuxk.UUCP (SEVENER) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Politics, morals and nukes Message-ID: <90@whuxk.UUCP> Date: Fri, 5-Oct-84 12:55:57 EDT Article-I.D.: whuxk.90 Posted: Fri Oct 5 12:55:57 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 6-Oct-84 04:56:08 EDT References: <394@wucs.UUCP> Organization: Bell Labs, Whippany, N.J. Lines: 31 I have to agree that Marianne Means was totally wrong to claim that debate over nuclear arms is not a moral issue. However I also think that there is justification to criticism of Reagan's attempt to ally private morality with public politics. The key distinction there is between moral issues which involve each individual's own choice of lifestyle and proper behavior versus moral issues which involve society in general. Whether individuals decide to go to Church, to pray, to eat meat, or to eat only kosher foods are matters which are between them and their own conscience. If somebody is trying to lead a religious life and part of that religious life is considered to be going to church (as Reagan does NOT do) then it is commendable if they live up to the strictures of their private beliefs. However whether they wish to go to church or pray, or bless their meals is a matter for them to decide. Not for me or anyone to decide for anyone else. Personally I feel that most drug consumption whether of tobacco, alcohol, sleeping pills or other outlawed drugs is also a matter for the individual to decide--to the extent their actions don't directly harm others. (Smokers who force nonsmokers to inhale their noxious fumes are thereby interfering with non-smokers rights to a certain extent) But issues such as nuclear war are eminently public--we are talking not just about the American public but the future of the whole human race. If that is not a moral issue, I don't know what is. I think on that basis I would consider the Reagan administrations plans to fight a protracted nuclear war immoral. There is no justification that I can see for implementing a system to allow nuclear war to be fought for weeks, months or years after an initial allout nuclear exchange-- if there is ANY chance for human survival we should not jeopardize it by continuing to lob nukes at the other side for sheer vengeance sake! Tim Sevener whuxl!orb