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THE LUKE SKYFREEPER ABORTION DOCTRINE
Luke Skyfreeper (vanity) | June 6, 2003 | Luke Skyfreeper

Posted on 06/06/2003 9:46:51 AM PDT by Luke Skyfreeper


Years go by, and the abortion struggle rages on.

I would like to suggest that the following doctrine is a basis for an uneasy resolution to the political conflict; one that may eventually come to be accepted by all.

Abortion should be legal, but only up to a certain date. We need to define, as best as we can, when we are dealing with a human being.

The current definition of the law afford NO recognition that a developing child is a human being until the moment that child leaves his or her mother's womb. Anyone who pays the faintest attention to what we know through medical science can readily recognize that, at full term, this is far, far too late.

If a developing child is old enough to survive outside of the womb, even with medical assistance, then it's a human being. Obviously.

If the developing child is old enough to feel pain, regardless of whether or not an anesthetic is administered, then it is developed enough to be a human being, and destroying the said developing child must be illegal.

Practically, this means that for humane reasons, all abortions after a certain date (somewhere between 8 and 24 weeks) should be made illegal. This is only humane, and even 8 weeks would allow more than a month for decision making and getting an abortion appointment (although I suspect that a medical consensus would put the development of pain later than that).

The vast majority of abortions already take place before 24 weeks now. However, it is currently legal to destroy developing children at any stage of development, as long as at least part of the child is still inside the mother's body.

I believe this is the basis of the solution to the abortion problem. Part B is that accurate information must be provided to women considering an abortion. Potential adverse effects must be covered, and other options, including adoption, must be adequately presented. A waiting period may also be appropriate.

None of these takes away choice. The choice is still there whether to have a baby or have an abortion.

One can therefore be pro-choice and pro-life at the same time.

I also argue for use of the term "developing child" (which is intuitive, completely accurate and fully descriptive) rather than use of the term "fetus."

Political wars are won and lost on the choice of words.




TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: abortion
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To: biblewonk
Answers like this show me how pointless this whole topic is.

It's still a worthwhile debate. What appears to be logic can be revealed to be a moral dead end.

121 posted on 06/06/2003 11:19:03 AM PDT by dirtboy (someone kidnapped dirtboy and replaced him with an exact replica)
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To: small_l_libertarian
I think the Supremes just made sh*t up in that ruling.)

They're good at that.

122 posted on 06/06/2003 11:19:41 AM PDT by dirtboy (someone kidnapped dirtboy and replaced him with an exact replica)
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To: Poohbah
I don't know who they are, but I'm voting for the person it was addressed to. The truth is, it fired on liberals. The poster must have recognised something there. I wonder what,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
123 posted on 06/06/2003 11:20:18 AM PDT by Protagoras (Putting government in charge of morality is like putting pedophiles in charge of children.)
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To: MEGoody
Absolutely, the point being that the reasoning for abortions is the same, it's just a lot safer for the mothers now.
124 posted on 06/06/2003 11:21:06 AM PDT by stuartcr
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To: Alberta's Child
Take any human zygote comprised of 16 cells

Is a microscopic human whose mother has no idea about worthy of legal protection? If so, as much as a later term fetus? As much as a newborn?

125 posted on 06/06/2003 11:21:57 AM PDT by palmer (Hitch your wagon to a star, and fill it with phlegm)
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To: stuartcr
"Absolutely, the point being that the reasoning for abortions is the same, it's just a lot safer for the mothers now."

And it has made the womb the most dangerous place for a baby.

126 posted on 06/06/2003 11:22:27 AM PDT by MEGoody
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To: syriacus
That's true, but it doesn't change the fact that mothers will always make the choice.
127 posted on 06/06/2003 11:22:51 AM PDT by stuartcr
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To: palmer
Is a microscopic human whose mother has no idea about worthy of legal protection? If so, as much as a later term fetus? As much as a newborn?

My foot is just a clump of cells. I guess my mom could have whacked off my foot if it were her choice as my mother and not faced prosecution for abuse.

128 posted on 06/06/2003 11:23:04 AM PDT by dirtboy (someone kidnapped dirtboy and replaced him with an exact replica)
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To: small_l_libertarian
My belief is that sometimes, a woman just doesn't have an acceptable choice other than abortion. It sucks, but, there it is. (If you require specific examples, just ask.)

I'm asking, too. When, except in defense of your own life or the life of others, is it permissible to kill another?

SD

129 posted on 06/06/2003 11:23:19 AM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: dirtboy; Luke Skyfreeper
You are right...just because most of us disagree with the poster, doens't give us any right to give him a shakedown.

I distictly remember the flaming I got the first few days I got on here...I was called troll, disrupter and all kinds of names, even had hate mail sent to me!

Sorry Luke, when you put up a lightning rod, expect lightning. - Freinds?

130 posted on 06/06/2003 11:23:43 AM PDT by Zavien Doombringer (Private 1st Class - 101st Viking Kitty.....Valhalla.....All the Way!)
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To: amused
I think she was "The Lady OF the Lake," but "The Lady in the Lake" was much funnier.
131 posted on 06/06/2003 11:24:01 AM PDT by small_l_libertarian
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To: palmer
Is a microscopic human whose mother has no idea about worthy of legal protection?

Of course. Though it is hard to provide "legal protection" to someone whose existence hasn't even been detected. But this is not a valid point anyway, because if this person's existence hadn't even been detected then there is no imminent outside threat to it.

If so, as much as a later term fetus? As much as a newborn?

Yes, and yes.

132 posted on 06/06/2003 11:25:10 AM PDT by Alberta's Child
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To: dirtboy
Should she be charged with murder if she cuts off your foot?
133 posted on 06/06/2003 11:25:10 AM PDT by palmer (Hitch your wagon to a star, and fill it with phlegm)
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To: Zavien Doombringer
I distictly remember the flaming I got the first few days I got on here...I was called troll, disrupter and all kinds of names, even had hate mail sent to me!

I've still got grill marks on my rump from my first few days.

134 posted on 06/06/2003 11:25:29 AM PDT by dirtboy (someone kidnapped dirtboy and replaced him with an exact replica)
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To: small_l_libertarian
I think she was "The Lady OF the Lake," but "The Lady in the Lake" was much funnier.

Details, details ;-)

135 posted on 06/06/2003 11:26:16 AM PDT by amused (Republicans for Sharpton!)
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To: Alberta's Child
Then we disagree. I believe yours is a religious position.
136 posted on 06/06/2003 11:26:24 AM PDT by palmer (Hitch your wagon to a star, and fill it with phlegm)
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To: dirtboy
You are correct, I'll move along. I'm starting to feel ill anyway.
137 posted on 06/06/2003 11:26:26 AM PDT by Protagoras (Putting government in charge of morality is like putting pedophiles in charge of children.)
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To: MEGoody
For those that are in jeopardy, yes.
138 posted on 06/06/2003 11:26:30 AM PDT by stuartcr
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To: palmer
Should she be charged with murder if she cuts off your foot?

Can my foot be rooted like a plant cutting? No (a certain Twilight Zone episode excepted). Can a fetus continue to develop if left alone? Yes. Key difference.

139 posted on 06/06/2003 11:26:56 AM PDT by dirtboy (someone kidnapped dirtboy and replaced him with an exact replica)
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To: biblewonk; dirtboy
Answers like this show me how pointless this whole topic is.

I thought dirtboy's reply was appropriate and well-reasoned, especially considering the apparent spiritual state of the person to whom he replied.

I was once dead, too, and would have been quite proud to have devised such a reasoned solution to what I viewed as little more than a perpetual irritant to the otherwise wonderful and united Republican Party.

140 posted on 06/06/2003 11:27:51 AM PDT by newgeezer (fundamentalist, regarding the Constitution AND the Holy Bible)
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