Guest... my bad- I hope I didn't make too many eyeballs sore with that last one. I looked at the post and saw precisely what you meant.   I shall try to improve.

I'm new to this whole online politico scene. Thanks for the advice. I cut, respaced and resubmitted my post.

Fred- Talk about combative. You said:
"   It's a weak argument, Beccy, the question isn't life but particularly human life, personhood, and you know it. A goddamn sperm is alive. I'm not going to counter-argue it, because I'm just so tired of people insisting the questions are simple and clear when they damn well know better. It's cynical and dishonest. I'm also tired of people pretending you can get morals out of science, or hey, maybe a friggin dictionary. Why don't you admit you believe something, have a faith in regard to it, and try to be honestly persuasive, instead of bullying the question with b.s.? It makes me feel there's something wrong behind your whole take on it, and I suspect it has that effect on others too. "

I DID admit that I have a faith in regard to it. I was attempting to illustrate how my faith jives with it. I don't think it's always enough to have a belief unless you can explain your belief. I get the impression that the only thing I could say that would be "honestly persuasive" to you is something with which you could agree.

To me, this is unequivocal and I am passionate about it. Is there any dispassionate way to explain my passion about when "personhood" -as stated by several posters to this thread- begins? Maybe by someone who is more erudite and eloquent than I...

Of course you think there's something wrong with my take on it if you disagree with me on the subject in general. I don't expect for you to instantly change my mind because of my persuasiveness or lack thereof. Would I like it if you agreed with me? You betcha! Do I expect that you will? No. Does that mean that my conclusions are invalid? Not by a long shot.

I harbour no illusions that my passion will sway people. This is, however, a thread that I started to try to discuss issues with people of like and un-like mind. Keyword: DISCUSS... not inflame or namecall.

I never said I refer to American Heritage Dictionary as a benchmark of morality. However, I think it is a fairly accurate source of precise language usage. I argue that life should be protected. I quoted the AHD to show precisely what I mean by life. And I DO believe that life, when discussing a human egg fertilized by a human sperm, is to be protected AS a HUMAN BEING. The fact that it is not able to survive outside of its mothers womb does not make a difference to me. It is a baby. I have had 3 babies. Does that affect my opinion on the subject of abortion? Probably. Do I think that it affects me to the detriment of my humanity and ability to reason? Absolutely not. I think it enhances my humanity and ability to reason on this subject.

Again, I have loads of anecdotal evidence on either side... but most people have pretty firmly made their mind up on the subject. I hold out hope that those who are in favor of legalized abortion will have their hearts changed... but I am not holding my breath.


Rant Over.