I'm not sure yet where I stand myself about the stem cell research. But I know I don't stand with anyone who thinks it's simple (If he said those two words again, I would have thrown something at the tv) or who thinks the unborn have more rights than the living people he is killing.
Hope you don't mind me continuing to talk about this in your journal, but I am trying to work through my thoughts on this. I certainly agree that it's not simple, and I get uneasy with talking about 'rights' for embryos (for the same reason I don't think animals have 'rights' -- rights is a legal concept that doesn't quite apply to non-rational beings IMO). My feelings about it is that *all* life should be respected and treated with compassion -- human, non-human, mountain and tree. I know we have to balance some use of 'life' against each other, but it is a balance. When we are cavalier about it, it coursens us and our (human) life. Don't know if that makes sense -- I agree with your point that it is hypocritical to pretend to be concerned with 'life,' but then acting as if we didn't try for logic, consistency and some discrimination
I *absolutely* don't mind. I don't start up much, but only because I expect my friends and myself to speak freely in here, whether we agree or not, (and I know we won't always) and I know some people take it as hurtfull. That's not my intention. I'm with Ben Franklin when he says in 1776 I've never seen an issue so dangerous it couldn't be talked about.
And you point about the Catholics - exactly what I mean. I am a lapsed Catholic (or, as we say a "practising Fallen-Away Catholic" since you never lose the culture of it) I am, to all intents, on the opposite sie of the issue, but I *can* respect their stand because of its consistancy.
I nearly tore out my hair when people talked about how courageous Nancy Reagan was to buck her party on stem cell when Ron was ill. Thats not courage to me - that's typical selfish behavior. Standing up for something you personally want!
And I personally believe that if the Koreans made a breakthrough and one of the Bush's neededd it - they would go get it, or they would suddenly approve it. I personally believe that if one of the heddonistic Bush twins needed an abortion, they would have one procured for them, no matter what the current law or public policy was.
My problems with this administration nearly all stem from the idea that he wants to legislate what *other people* can or cannot do -- I don't think he believes for a moment the *inner sanctum* of have needs to care what the laws are, since they can afford not to care.
(and the fallen catholic in me was *appaled* that he could not admit to three mistakes. We would never go to confession and say we had no sins!)
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2004-10-09 02:52 pm (UTC)Hope you don't mind me continuing to talk about this in your journal, but I am trying to work through my thoughts on this. I certainly agree that it's not simple, and I get uneasy with talking about 'rights' for embryos (for the same reason I don't think animals have 'rights' -- rights is a legal concept that doesn't quite apply to non-rational beings IMO). My feelings about it is that *all* life should be respected and treated with compassion -- human, non-human, mountain and tree. I know we have to balance some use of 'life' against each other, but it is a balance. When we are cavalier about it, it coursens us and our (human) life. Don't know if that makes sense -- I agree with your point that it is hypocritical to pretend to be concerned with 'life,' but then acting as if we didn't try for logic, consistency and some discrimination
no subject
Date: 2004-10-09 06:33 pm (UTC)And you point about the Catholics - exactly what I mean. I am a lapsed Catholic (or, as we say a "practising Fallen-Away Catholic" since you never lose the culture of it) I am, to all intents, on the opposite sie of the issue, but I *can* respect their stand because of its consistancy.
I nearly tore out my hair when people talked about how courageous Nancy Reagan was to buck her party on stem cell when Ron was ill. Thats not courage to me - that's typical selfish behavior. Standing up for something you personally want!
And I personally believe that if the Koreans made a breakthrough and one of the Bush's neededd it - they would go get it, or they would suddenly approve it. I personally believe that if one of the heddonistic Bush twins needed an abortion, they would have one procured for them, no matter what the current law or public policy was.
My problems with this administration nearly all stem from the idea that he wants to legislate what *other people* can or cannot do -- I don't think he believes for a moment the *inner sanctum* of have needs to care what the laws are, since they can afford not to care.
(and the fallen catholic in me was *appaled* that he could not admit to three mistakes. We would never go to confession and say we had no sins!)