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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