Well, Beccy, I was combative, because I feel your position is weighted with unspoken other issues, and merely pretends to explain your belief. But no, it's not something I've made up my mind about, not something I've had to make up my mind about, or ever will have to make up my mind about the way a pregnant woman might. I sweated bullets over the issue of circumcision, with my son, and still have mixed feelings. No, you can't sway me with something I agree with, because I'm not sure I'd know it if I saw it. But I sometimes know misdirection and evasiveness when I see it. I was completely justified in calling out your definition of life, because it doesn't go to the matter of your belief. Still doesn't.

It must be nice to have certain knowledge of what human life is, and when it begins. The best explanation of what constitutes human life that I've ever seen is Being aware of being aware of living. It's a lot to think about. Seems to neatly separate human life from other life, but doesn't clear up this question for me. How do you?

So abortion is "murder". Of babies. But even with murder we qualify degrees and moral uncertainties. Intent, the understanding that it is wrong, mental distress, uncertainties. Calling abortion murder is to posit not only that one knows for certain when human life begins, but that everyone else does, simply because you say you do.

Where is this explanation of when human life starts that you say you believe, unequivocally, and say you feel the need to explain? How do you know it? It's not a matter of eloquence, just plain direct sense on the topic. Or innate enlightenment if that's the case. But what is it, honestly?

   To me it is not unequivocal and yet I feel strongly about it. What bothers me is that organised opponents of abortion hurt their own case, and don't seem to mind much, they are needlessly, pointlessly cruel even when they aren't terrorists outright. They make me fear to judge as they do. As a political force they would rather be unequivocally righteous, than kind. If you know something I don't, I'd love to hear it. It needn't be science or poetry, just whatever it happens to be.