Letters to the editor: Conception argument has flaws; take care of children here
Issues with conception argument
Re: Mike Lawrence’s June 21 letter, “Can’t deny life begins in womb”:
Let me explain to you why I disagree with “life begins at conception.” Let’s get some definitions out of the way. First: life is not merely a mix of cells working together, at least human life isn’t (I don’t discount bacteria and fungi, but I don’t think you are worried about them). Life requires agency. Action, decisions, thoughts, memories, and activities. Without those there is no humanity.
Your definition of life beginning at conception assumes that there is a magical “soul” that is somehow formed or implanted in the single cell that it carries with it forever. But since that cell doesn’t live forever it has to transfer it to the other cells or? Have you really thought about this? But you see, that is a particular religious belief and one that I do not hold. So, you are telling millions of people, like me, that they have to obey the rules of your religion. That used to be wrong in this country and I bet if the beliefs you had to follow weren’t in your religion you would disagree as well.
If you want to see what it’s like to live in a place where everyone has to believe in a single religion look at Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. Is that what you want?
Robert Ginn, Ventura
Worry about children already here
If Pro-Life people were really concerned about innocent babies, start your concern with the children already here. In some states, children live in extreme poverty. Poor women have a higher maternal mortality rate in the U.S. than women in third-world countries.
It's predominantly conservatives that opposed and prevented renewing the Child Care Payments that lifted millions of children out of poverty. They also oppose expansion of SNAP (formerly Good Stamps), adequate and safe housing, adequate and affordable healthcare, day care and even prevention of children being killed by guns. (More children were killed by guns last year than all of law enforcement and military personnel.)
Their answer to caring for future unwanted babies is adoption (there are already thousands of children waiting to be adopted), foster care homes (I survived growing up in foster care and it's awful), and just build lots of orphanages.
Lastly, you and Government officials have no right to dictate or interfere in medical decisions made by any citizens, male or female. So, take care of our precious children already born. Only then, worry about zygotes, embryos and fetuses.
Judith A. Beay, Ventura
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Conception argument has flaws; take care of children here
