My Two Favorite Subjects AGAIN

It really blows my mind to say “it really blows my mind” again, but I guess that is what happens to me when I hear the Republicans putting the subject of abortion at the head of everything else on any governmental agenda.

At the same time, it really blows my mind again that I can’t remember a Republican EVER mentioning the subject of over-population.

And I must admit that I haven’t heard either the Republicans OR the Democrats talking about over-population. HOW CAN THAT BE?! Doesn’t it occur to humans that wars are fought over territory, that plants large and small are disappearing, that water – even the ocean water – is being polluted, that many animals are disappearing for whatever purpose, eating, using for shoes, or shooting just for fun.

As towns are started on what used to be animal land, then grow to large towns, and thus to cities, does anyone notice what this does to animals and animal habitat? Oh, and highways and airports. A strip of highway doesn’t look as though it hurts much of anything or takes much room, but when your mind tries to encompass all the roadways, airports, and city streets IN THE WORLD, THAT WILL BE HARD TO DO.

Try thinking how much living land is thus lost to the animals of the world. And you can also think of how many dead animal bodies lie on the roads themselves, and how many birds end their lives on windshields and/or radiators of cars because they cannot adapt to the speeds of manmade toys and conveniences. But that’s OK. I can’t remember how many times I have heard human males assert their masculinity by saying, well, it should have known enough to get out of the way.

But, since my greatest interest and greatest fear lie with overpopulation, I often get waylaid on the subject of abortion. This is, first of all, a matter of the survival of the Earth and everything on it. If humans go on perpetuating the race at the present rate, there can be no salutary end to human history, and we will take the rest of the planet with us. China has seen where it was heading and has taken steps to try to curb what it was doing.

It seems to me, as an atheist (you know – one of those pariahs who don’t believe in God and therefore have no morals), we should realize that God, or whatever created us also created everything else on earth. Somehow, it seems that since we were created with such capable minds, we should be doing all we can to preserve what God created rather than destroying it for our own gratification.

Abortion is a very serious matter, to be considered entirely by the people involved. It is the responsibility of those people alone to make the decision, not for Christians, or anyone else to decide. It’s none of our business, no matter what our feelings on the subject may be.
Among other things to be considered when a woman thinks of abortion is the world and circumstances into which it will be born. First of all, if the child is terribly deformed, there may be nothing but anguish. For other children, if their mothers are forced to have a baby they don’t want, think of how it is the child who will pay the emotional price. It is my guess that most abortions occur among impoverished and uneducated people, and consider what that burden heaps upon the child. The dreadful possibilities are awful to consider. At the same time, the same sorrows and pressures will press upon the child’s family, which will put even more unforgiven blame upon the child, especially in cases of rape.

And the most important thing is that abortion should never have been considered as a tenet to be denied by the United States Constitution. This is all involved with religion, specifically Christianity. I am sure I speak for at least some of those of other religions, and undoubtedly for many of those of either pagan or non-religions, when I say, leave us alone. We have our values too, and we consider many of your values unworthy, snoopy, and inadequate. So far as I know, all you know about non-believers is that they don’t believe in God, PERIOD. You don’t have any knowledge about our value systems or our contribution to society, and you wouldn’t recognize us on the street or even in your neighborhood without foreknowledge. That, however, doesn’t prevent us, whether any of us approve of abortion or not, from keeping our views to ourselves.

ARW
12/19/09