Editor:
Responding to some of Diane Diaute’s points in last week’s letter to the editor:
First, I object to lumping all GOP and Christians together. They are not synonymous.
I agree that no religion, including atheism, Islam, or any other should impose its beliefs on the population at large.
In this country at least, this is for individual acceptance or rejection, in our democratic philosophy. We are guaranteed the freedom to choose and practice whatever religion we prefer, or none at all.
But we do have the right to choose, not just to comply.
An objective look at various religions will discover both positive and negative commands that the followers are expected to abide by.
Non-followers are not expected to comply, and should not be compelled to do so on religious grounds.
However, certain principles embodied in various religions (many principles overlap into several religions) are obviously for the good of society as a whole. Why ignore them?
It is not wrong to inform the public of certain values and facets they may not have considered; only the compulsion to comply is wrong.
Yes, in the Old Testament an unborn baby is considered property (as were the wife and children, for that matter). So, property is worth something… it is not valueless, to be dumped as junk.
Leonardo da Vinci was illegitimate. How much we would have missed if his mother had scraped him out because this was an inconvenience to her!
So was Alexander Hamilton, and many others.
How much valuable humanity are we throwing away because we don’t want to accept the consequences of our actions? And I certainly agree that men need to take responsibility for these unwanted pregnancies.
When the egg cells reach a certain point, they fold into a tube, which becomes the inner organs and the brain and spinal cord, about day 20, and the heart begins to beat. Because this happens so early, often before the mother even knows for sure that she is pregnant, it is extremely important not to ingest alcohol or other deleterious substances because these early stages set the pattern for later development. The brain is among the first to begin, long before arms and legs. By day 40 (less than 6 weeks since fertilization) brain waves are apparent.
By the time the baby begins to move about in the womb, around 8 weeks, all organs are in place and developing.
By 10 weeks it can jump repeatedly, suck a thumb, respond to touch. If the baby can move, can we assume it can feel, or it wouldn’t be inspired to move?
And now we know that a baby in utero recognizes the voices of people and sounds in the home before 20 weeks, and music or fighting are understood and reacted to. It can scratch itself with its fingernails and it doesn’t like that pain.
At 22 weeks the feet are complete, with toes, and ½ inch long. It feels pain the most intensely of any time during its development. That brain is functioning. It is called a fetus because it is so recognizable as a human young one.
Why should a baby be considered of no value before 20 or 24 weeks, just because it isn’t “finished” yet? Neither are green apples in May, but we wait for a harvest later.
If some human lives are valuable, why not all of them? Who among mankind is to choose? At least let the babies be born to see what they bring us.
If they become murderers, then that is the time to end that life, not before they have had a chance to show what they are.
Visit the Sweet Home Pregnancy Center at 1344 Main St. to watch a fascinating video of an ultrasound of a very active baby.
I believe in the majority vote. If the majority says “no abortion” then no governmental body truly has the right to subvert that stance, whether federal courts or local city councils.
What gives them the right to trump the will of the majority of people?
Theoretically, in our democracy the people may choose what values and laws they want to live by. Not all people are religious, but even so, many of them agree with what we consider Christian ethics or morality just because it’s the best offering for the benefit of society.
Joan Scofield
Sweet Home