“Morality: Moral quality or character; rightness or wrongness, as of an action.” Webster’s Forth Edition.
In other words, ‘morality,’ is a matter of opinion. The world is full of ’rightness,’ or ‘wrongness,’ and millions of opinions about everything. We, in America, are of the opinion that we are the greatest nation on Earth. There are hundreds of varieties of everything, and also millions who think their preferential brand of food, restaurants, cars, colors, neighborhoods, states, counties, beer, soda pop, tires, and everything they believe in, is the best. Most, generally will espouse their opinions of individual likes and dislikes, or if they strongly feel about these things, will deem them to be ‘moral.’
But very few will so strongly believe in something, that they will attempt to legislate their strong opinion or moral value, into law, there by offending those of contrary belief or opinion, and even classifying non -believers, as immoral or even evil.
Legislating morality, has long been a habit of Republicans on various subjects, but especially on abortion. Those anti-abortion believers, say that life begins at conception, and non-believers usually say life begins at birth. I am not about to get into such differences, other than to point out that baby birds, elephants, dogs, and I suspect any life, to me seems to begin at birth. Only my opinion, however humans are so large and caring, that un-born babies do move about in the womb.
The word or similar word meaning abortion, does not appear in the Bible, as it was probably unknown in Biblical times. Exodus 20: 13 says these four words: “Thou shall not kill.” Does this mean not killing anything, such as cockroaches or mosquitos? How about murderers or rapists, who I think deserve capital punishment?
I am a Christian, and can’t have an abortion, since I am male. I would not attempt to legislate compulsory Christianity. I feel that our freedoms, which were hard earned, entitle us to decide what we should do with our minds and bodies, as long as they do no harm to others, which is where the argument begins about abortion.
My point is this. Republican’s continued efforts to legislate anti-abortion laws, have, and will continue to offend, voters who believe that a woman’s body is hers, not the government’s. Most Christians are against abortion. Fine! Don’t have one. Many Christians are ‘pro-gun,’ as am I. The NRA has taken care of that, with legislation. I am also a Republican, and I want Republicans to win elections, and far too many times, they lose, because of their vocal efforts to legislate their own idea of ‘morality,’ and it costs Republicans election after election, time after time. Republican efforts to try to sway elections, or see to it that anti-abortion legislation is written and passed, far too often spells defeat at the polls.
Wy can’t Republicans realize how they are harming elections and their own reputations even, when abortion clinics are bombed, and picketed? What is wrong with a woman having control over her own body? Let her decide, not a law or the courts. I personally hate tattoos drunkenness, careless driving, loud mufflers, and won’t buy anything made in China, if I can avoid it. I rarely go into a fast-food outfit, as I think it is bad for your health, but I am not going to try to pass legislation against any of those. When the Supremes decided that Roe vs Wade was unconstitutional, I cheered, because it was. If this a nation of liberty and individual choice, why not leave it at that, and start winning elections?
Have silly laws ever stopped what people want to do? Did 55 mph speed limits, stop speeding? Have prostitution or gambling laws stopped two of the oldest professions? Have various silly un-enforceable laws, ever had any effect on human conduct? I’m against lots of things, including ‘right to carry’ laws. I’ll carry a gun without such a silly permit, because if I got one, ‘they’ would know who has a gun. Get smart Republicans! If you don’t like abortions, preach it in your churches, and pass it on to your kids and everyone you know, but stop losing elections, because of legislating your beliefs, which don’t seem to jive with what seems to be the majority of voters!
Don Stott- don@coloradogold.com 970-249-4646