FR Columnists Corner - "The Pro Life Movements Problem with Morality" by Cathryn Crawford

Free Republic Newtork ^ | 7-31-03 | Cathryn Crawford

[exDemMom]

I can make many a logical argument in favor of abortion.

Is it logical for a young girl to have a baby that she can not afford?

Is it logical to populate the planet with unwanted children?

Actually, there are logical responses to these arguments.

Is it logical for a young girl who doesn't want a baby to not use contraceptives (or abstinence)?

Is it logical to promote abortion, not contraceptives, as a primary means of reducing population growth?

For your next "logical pro-abortion" argument, Is it logical to give birth to a less than perfect child when logic and statistics tell you the next one will be better? it is a little more difficult to come up with a logical counter-argument. That's the one where I have to fall back on morality. What was it that Jesus said, something like "As you treat the least among you, so do you treat me"? That applies here.

[Tired of Taxes]

I agree with you that appealing to someone's self-interests (i.e. "You'll feel bad afterward," or "the procedure is risky and may hurt you," and so on) can be an effective tactic.

But, imho, the "logical" (or "scientific") argument that we don't hear enough is how far the unborn progresses in such a short period of time: 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and so on. The information is out there, but it needs to be the first thing out of a pro-lifer's mouth: "Your baby's heart is beating at such and such a time period, and he has little arms and legs... etc." Yes, this argument appeals to one's emotions, but it also points to facts.

And, of course, as you said, the concepts of "right" and "wrong" are a necessary part of the discussion, too. Those concepts are what distinguish us as human, and they are what really appeal to people.

Here are some articles using nonreligious arguments for pro-life.

P.S. LOL at the "Sixth Sense" cartoon on your homepage. I love that one.

[TBP]

Morality and logic support the pro-life position.

How does one get involved in "Columnists Corner"?

[Bob J]

Send me a sample of your work!

[Cathryn Crawford]

But, imho, the "logical" (or "scientific") argument that we don't hear enough is how far the unborn progresses in such a short period of time: 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and so on. The information is out there, but it needs to be the first thing out of a pro-lifer's mouth: "Your baby's heart is beating at such and such a time period, and he has little arms and legs... etc." Yes, this argument appeals to one's emotions, but it also points to facts.

I agree with you one hundred percent. It does need to be the very first argument.

[hocndoc]

http://www.plagal.org/
Pro-Life Gay and Lesbians

http://www.democratsforlife.org/

http://www.godlessprolifers.org/

But, the very best, most informative site - more along the lines that Cathryn is calling for - is

Libertarians for Life
http://www.l4l.org/index.html
The Library for Libertarians for Life has some of the best logic and comments available on line.
http://www.l4l.org/library/index.html

[Taxbilly]

How can one be pro-life and belong or support the Libertarian party?

From their platform:

Women's Rights and Abortion

We hold that individual rights should not be denied or abridged on the basis of sex. We call for repeal of all laws discriminating against women, such as protective labor laws and marriage or divorce laws which deny the full rights of men and women. We oppose all laws likely to impose restrictions on free choice and private property or to widen tyranny through reverse discrimination.

Recognizing that abortion is a very sensitive issue and that people, including libertarians, can hold good-faith views on both sides, we believe the government should be kept out of the question.

We condemn state-funded and state-mandated abortions. It is particularly harsh to force someone who believes that abortion is murder to pay for another's abortion.

It is the right and obligation of the pregnant woman, not the state, to decide the desirability or appropriateness of prenatal testing, Caesarean births, fetal surgery, voluntary surrogacy arrangements, and/or home births.

[hocndoc]

The pro-life Libertarians, led by Libertarians for Life helped change the Platform in 2000, and they have hopes for more in the future. For more information,
http://www.l4l.org/library/conv2000.html

However, the official Libertarian opinion on abortion is one reason I'm not a Libertarian, but a small-government Republican.

[Taxbilly]

Nice to see someone from the libertarian crowd with some kind of consistency in their thinking.

[hocndoc]

I have learned so much from Doris Gordon's website - not counting the hard lesson about what I didn't know 4 years ago about logical argument.

[TBP]

I sent a sample to your FReepmail box. Did you get it?

What do we do now?