I’m glad to hear that the real world description of the D&E abortion procedure has given you pause. It is a gruesome procedure and a moral outrage.

I could say much, but will address two specific points. You said:

In the end, I recognize the ugliness and moral repugnance of the procedure, and I’ll concede it to my opponents, just as I hope they would concede to me that war and starvation is ugly. But just as war and starvation are tolerated because they serve some larger moral goal, I’m gonna tolerate abortion because it serves a larger moral goal: ensuring that when a baby is born, it’s wanted and loved. I’ve seen too many reports of babies being left in toilets or dumpsters. I’ve witnessed too many kids born into abusive families. Or born with developmental disabilities because mom was an alcoholic…

First, what about adoption? Why not ban partial-birth abortion and ease the way for those women who do not want and/or cannot properly care for their children to put them up for adoption to be cared for by parents who would love and provide for them? Since you recognize the moral tragedy that is partial-birth abortion, why not seek an alternative? After all, we seek peace talks, negotiations, etc. as alternatives to war. Why stick with the morally repugnant partial-birth abortion option?

Second, I share your desire that every child born into this world be wanted and loved. It’s tragic when children are not cared for and not loved. Along those lines, is it really loving to end the life of a child (in the womb–or partly in the woman and partly outside of the womb)? Is it a good justification to say that the child would have a developmental disability and therefore is a “life not worth living?” A good friend of mine works with the mentally handicapped (young adults and adults) in New York City (as a teacher/life helper). He’s told me many heart-warming stories of the people he works with. What a tragedy to say that their disability would have justified ending their lives in the womb.

I hope your new son is doing well. I’ll see ya around the Law School.

Regards,
UVA 2L

It’s also like talking to Professor Fartsworth about grammar and diction: mim no understand. hehe

What a load of bullshit. No fetus asks to be born. And if those engaging in sex aren’t able to want of love a child, then they need to make sure pregnancy will not happen. It’s quite interesting to see you refer to a baby as “it”…that says everything about your political stance.

hehe — that’s like talking to me about santa claus. both fictional.