Friday, April 17, 2015

RIGHT TO LIFE

Life is a condition, not an age. If we allow ourselves to define life by how old it is, then the definition can fluctuate for social needs. For example, if we decided we could balance our national budget by refusing medical care for EVERYONE over 70 years old, would that be OK with you?  I'm certain it would not but we set a precedent when we decide that WE can decide a life which is an instant old has no value. The life's age or condition which we decide is less valuable than others allows for selective termination of life or "benevolent neglect".

A new life is the same and has equal value as life at any other age.  A new life has no responsibility in its origin and bears no blame or guilt. No matter what the circumstances of its origin, since it itself is blameless, each has the same rights.  To treat them any differently would be discriminatory. The irresponsible parents who conceive a life they do not want are guilty on all counts.  Our society has decided that the ones who are guilty can punish the innocent by depriving it of life while they themselves escape any blame or punishment. This defies common sense and, for that matter, sanity.

What would be a suitable punishment for for the carelessness of the parents? Not life in prison without parole but nine months of their time, followed by an adoption.  That is a pretty insignificant punishment for the guilty, especially when we compare it to the capital punishment of the innocent.


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