When does life begin?

I will not get into the timeless argument over abortion, but this article does hit on something important. Are there no moral absolutes? IMHO this is a common trait for liberals like Senator Obama, Hilliary & Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Harry and others. Rather than moral absolutes they rely on situational ethics. This is what allows them to say things are red in Michigan, then that things are yellow in Massachusetts and believe what they are saying. While Senator Obama is slipping in the polls is a good thing, it remains a mystery to me how this was ever a close race.

That 14PUTT will go down in the history books as one of the finest anomalies ever...There have been others but not in this grandiose a manner...A character of such inordinate non-accumulative abilities has been boosted to such a degree not only in this country but across the ocean...What boggles the mind more would have to be the mass idiocy that has overtaken so many as to offer us, America, up to her enemies gift wrapped in pretty paper and topped with glitzy bows...As far as his answer to "when life begins" that is on level with Obama's keen sense of speaking 'off -the-cuff'...He gave an answer that he assumed would placate everyone without actually putting him in a position of having to take a firm stand...This is typical Obama...All talk, smiles, and some sense whenever he is reading his lines...

When a human egg is fertilized, how often does it grow into something other then a human being? Why do so many find this an irrelevant question? Because a defenseless creature is easy to kill? This is what "pro-choice" is about?

It's easy to be pro-choice when you're not the one being killed. But Be Patient - Liberals will abort themselves out of existence eventually.

Seems like the moral absolutes are dictated by whomever is holding the purse strings. The norms for how society have shifted and will most likely remain for a long period of time. Although I am not pro-abortion, pro-choice is far better than anti-abortion. Women will have abortions no matter what the law. Pro-choice at least give them some thinking space. Many may not remember the back alley abortion clinics that not only eliminated the pregnancy but many time resulted in the death of the woman as well. At least these days women have options. Life does begin at conception. I really wish that it was either the man or the woman that got pregnant. That would change some situations. Of course, then that would be a perfect world.

I'm sure each of the four folks running have different variations on the topic. I didn't see the Chronicle commenting on Palin for differring with McCain on her stance for no abortions for rape or incest victims. McCain is for that. No matter what she or McCain or Obama think about the issue, the law is in place. I do not believe it will change no matter who is in the W.H.

Coalminerpa - that is like saying even though murdering your spouse is illegal people are still going to do it so let's give them a place to do it safely so innocent bystanders won't be hit by a flying bullet. Wrong is wrong no matter what the consequences for not allowing it.

Biden knows enough to separate religion from politics. Each sperm and each egg is alive and are potentials for creating human life, so maybe life pre-dates conception. Uh oh. The Chronicle's argument has more to do with religion than biology. They think somehow a metatphysical "soul" enters the body at conception. What nonsense!

And how do you know that it doesn't grouse?

That is an ignoratio elenchi-- beside the point- irrelevant. The real question is : When does personhood begin.The Supreme Court, in line with science, and not the invinclble ignorance of the forced-pregnancy folks, finds that around 22 weeks, letting the states decide on laws pertaining to abortion then. And there is thus no abortion on demand ! Carl Sagan was ever so right about this. And, comprehensive sex education is in order to prevent pregnancies and diseease.Anit- free will people lie when they say condoms do not work welll enough. They ever lie. Those who sign abstinence rings end up with serious problems many times more than those who know from the comprehensive view. Also, it is ever wrong to try to get gays to go straight. Look how many who purportedly turned straight end up as before! Homosexuality, whether in-born or learned, is fine for those people and the same for the bisexuals. One errs grievouly cherry picking form the writings of those mean-spirited men against homosexuality; one no longer stones children for cheeking their parents or people for working on the sabbath; even Orthodox Jews do no accept all those commandments! The Age of Reason-yes! Duane Gish, Phyllis Schafly and Sarah Palin bathe in invincible ignorance: they know the Truth! Selah! Abaissez l'infame! Yes to Paul Kurtz and Michael Shermer and James Randi! Onward rationalist inquirers!

The Chronicle is promoting a "Religious Test" to be President, how Un-American.

skeptic griggsy: HUH?

Coalminerpa, Roe v Wade was decided by an activist, left leaning court on a lie. The woman that lied has since recanted. Hopefully McCain can put the right Justices on the SCOTUS to do away with the feds intervening where it has no constitutional authority and give it back to the states where it belongs. Perhaps women would again learn to say no and keep their panties on more when Roe is reversed.

Sigraci, like I have said before, you obviously have a readng comprehension problem. Neither Pilosi nor Biden can change church doctrine, no matter how they spin it.

The bickering over abortion is silly. Anyone who has ever bought a condom knows when life begins.

Owbama seems to have difficulty getting off the fence and giving a straight answer, especially when it involves actually taking a clear stand. His desire to be liked by everyone, like Jimmy Carter, is not condusive with being a strong leader. Sometimes, you just have to take a stand and let some people not like you for it. His answer about when life actually begins is the vocal equivalent of voting "present." Sorry Owbama, that was spineless behavior when you were in the IL legislature, and its spineless behavior now. Its definitely not change we can believe in!

That is one great piece of totally undisputed truth I have seen in awhile except for what the Bible declares eybir...To all who want to debate the "when's" of life should just simply admit that when condoms are used you are in fact stating that life begins when sperm and egg meet ergo the use of contraception i.e. condom...Makes perfect sense to me...Thanks eybir...

Life begins at birth. Period. This is a yet another blatantly misogynistic editorial from the ACES. I named them as the Worst People of the Month on Thursday. This, along with their other anti-choice, anti-woman editorials are why. This has everything to do with religion and nothing to do with biology. This feminist will call a spade a spade every single time.

willistontownsc go to church tomorrow, get up in the pulpit and preach on that one...Your wrong and always will be wrong... Right along with the rest of the ones who have not one ounce of decency left in your bodies are wrong...The one who gave birth to you willistontown thought so at least....

"This feminist will call a spade a spade every single time."

willistontownsc: By all means, call a spade a spade, but let's also call a baby, a baby every single time!

I do have decency, christian134. I just don't have decency for those who would want to take away women's rights.

hi Williston, i agree w/ all feminists that a woman should be granted as much or perhaps even more power than a man. But, do feminists have to prove themselves more powerful than men by wielding their power of death & destruction?

A grown-up person with decency is one who cares for the life and welfare of the helpless over their own...

Womens rights? That is such horsesh*t! It should not be our right to kill our children because we were too irresponsible to keep from getting pregnant. Dont punish innocent children for the mistakes of thier selfish parents! Bring back back alley abortion clinics. These selfish, inconsiderate women should have to take a chance of dying for having thier babies chopped up & sucked out of them.

We call a plant a living thing and people are praised for saving the whales and saving the trees. However, if you are pro-life you are told that you are moronic. God help you if you are a woman and are pro-life. I am. I have many times been told that I "don't stand up for women's rights." Liberal and pro-choice women's voices are loud and and are heard everyday. I speak for the silenced voices who cannot be heard. I speak for the rights of babies who were not given the chance to speak for themselves. Isn't the opposite of "pro-life"..."pro-death"?

Well some seem to WANT the return of the backyard butchers who will prey upon young girls and women with their lethal methods for performing abortions. Whether anyone likes it or not, it is the woman's choice as to whether she wants to complete a cycle of pregnancy, NOT YOURS. Perhaps if some of the more "religious" individuls would TEACH THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT CREATION AND THE SANCTITY OF PARENTHOOD ALONG WITH PROVIDING EFFECTIVE PARENTING SKILLS CLASSES during Sunday School, the argument of Abortion would not have such an impact on your belief systems. Church is not just about teaching what is in the Bible, it is your opportunity to APPLY those teachings to your young--and in that, religions fail and provide a miserable role model. No wonder the young people walk out of their churches.

I don't know what the answer is, but all I know is that anti-abortion people don't want welfare to increase, don't provide foster or adoptive homes for unwanted children, don't provide free birth control for everyone and don't provide free sterilization for those who want it. The idea that "go down to the Health Dept" is ludicrous. The Health Dept does not receive enough funding to provide free birth control for all. And getting there, when you have no transportation, is difficult, especially if there is no bus transportation. Getting there if you work during the day is a problem. Those are real problems that are never addressed by the anti-abortion people.

hi Corgimom, You are correct. Since we don't do those things, lets just murder the innocents.

willistontownsc... I'm a woman and I don't believe that taking the life of a child is a woman's right. What about that baby's rights? "Life begins at birth"? No it does not. Have you ever seen a sonogram? Have you ever felt a child kick while in a woman's stomach? That baby is alive. It is growing. You cannot say that it is not. A baby has no voice to speak for itself but I can bet you that none of them want to be killed. What if your mother had've aborted you?

"And getting there, when you have no transportation, is difficult, especially if there is no bus transportation. Getting there if you work during the day is a problem. Those are real problems that are never addressed by the anti-abortion people."
Posted by corgimom on Sat Sep 13, 2008 6:04 PM Hmmmmm they seem to find the time and transportation to the abortion clinics though. It's easy to be pro-choice when you're not the one being killed. Be Patient - Liberals will abort themselves out of existence.