Killing for the Mind's Sake

Just came across this in the news:

Abortion was decriminalised in Spain in 1985 for certain cases: after rape, in the case of malformation of the foetus and if the pregnancy represents a threat to the physical or mental health of the woman.

The report said 95.7 percent of abortions were carried out for the last reason.

I would say this startling fact needs no commentary, but since I found it on the front page of a major news outlet, there are obviously enough human beings who need the obvious pointed out. Let's ask ourselves 3 questions:

Question #1: Who gets to decide what constitutes a malformed foetus? Abortion rights advocates will share with you extreme cases of children born without internal organs or vital life signs. But any honest study of abortion will admit many, many abortions based on a number of prenatal tests, including tests for gender (see China's dilemma) and genetic defects. So now we add ethical complexity to the already frightening role of playing God--now we can choose to end a life on the basis of our own limited knowledge and in the process declare all handicapped people worthless (I'd kill you if given the choice).

Question #2: Who gets to decide a physical threat? The authority placed in the hands of a doctor and a woman is immense, not to mention the fact that a child's life is suddenly put on the same level as a virus.

Question #3: What is mental health? Many parents' mental health is put on the line because of their teenage children; does this constitute a right to take their lives away? "Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, I know that Timmy has been giving you grief. So we're going to bathe him in a powerful salt solution until his skin is eaten away; that, or we could just take a scalpel and dismember him, it's really up to you."

I am disgusted at both the moral pragmatism and senselessness of our society.

  • posted on 28 December 2005
  • by Jesse


YourThoughts?



(Minutia)

This entry was written by Jesse on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 at 9:28 AM and appears in the World chapter. The previous article was entitled, "Belated Tidings", and the next entry is called, "The Smoking Flax". Bookmark the permalink, save it to del.icio.us or Digg it.

GetUpdated

ElseWhere

Find me on aim Find me on delicious Find me on digg Find me on linkedin Find me on pownce Find me on twitter Find me on youtube Find me on skype Find me on facebook Find me on livejournal Find me on msn Find me on vox Find me on technorati Find me on yahoo Find me on dopplr

ActionStream

  • Jesse said, "@challies » Only if you have fun." Jesse said, “@challies » Only if you have fun.” 2008-08-27T18:59:09Z 2008-08-27T18:59:09Z
  • Jesse said, "@daveTHERIOcom » Yep, @ethanscott" Jesse said, “@daveTHERIOcom » Yep, @ethanscott” 2008-08-27T18:57:25Z 2008-08-27T18:57:25Z
  • Jesse said, "Just got a beautiful Excer-saucer for @ethanscott from @lilia_photo!" Jesse said, “Just got a beautiful Excer-saucer for @ethanscott from @lilia_photo!” 2008-08-27T16:10:15Z 2008-08-27T16:10:15Z
  • Jesse said, "Ok MT smarties, a question: Large blog network trying to set up system-level image asset fields so global templates work too. Possible? How?" Jesse said, “Ok MT smarties, a question: Large blog network trying to set up system-level image asset fields so global templates work too. Possible? How?” 2008-08-27T15:42:19Z 2008-08-27T15:42:19Z
  • Jesse said, "I'm tired. The past two nights Ethan has cried non-stop (literally) from 11pm until 3am despite being fed, burped, held or changed." Jesse said, “I’m tired. The past two nights Ethan has cried non-stop (literally) from 11pm until 3am despite being fed, burped, held or changed.” 2008-08-27T12:47:10Z 2008-08-27T12:47:10Z