I'll start agreeing with the pro-life people when they start lining up at the clinics to claim the unwanted babies.

Mark Twain once observed that humanity is strong on working for the betterment of mankind... with it's collective mouths. If the pro-life people really want to do something they should come up with an effective program of their own, not just shoot down other people's efforts.

Today in class I discussed this discussion with my students. We had a very interesting conversation. I started with an explanation of what was happening in Maine and the argument that it was giving permission to the kids there. I asked them if they would see this as "permission". They didn't. They see it as concerned adults making sure that kids don't make mistakes that would stay with them for life. We had a lively discussion after that.

In the next period one of my students came in with an eye patch. He was not celebrating Halloween. He and his best friend had been out in the bars and he was injured in a mosh pit incident. He was very drunk at the time. They are fifteen years old. I do not believe anyone gave them permission to drink.