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On "Pay Grades"

In some circles, Barack Obama's statement that he takes the view when human life actually begins and should be protected is above his "pay grade" has been lampooned.

Ouch!

I say "ouch" because that's my view, too.

The otherwise thoughtful Peggy Noonan rhetorically asks: "To put it another way, with conception something begins. What do you think it is? A car? A 1948 Buick?"

OK, I'll answer, Ms. Noonan: Conception begins a potential human life. When that potential human life deserves to be treated with the full rights of an actual human life is beyond my pay grade, too. No, it's not a car, not a 1948 Buick. Are these serious questions, Ms. Noonan, or mere rhetorical flourishes?

Obama demonstrated with this statement a sense of humility, a quality that I value in myself, others, and most especially politicians. Perhaps Ms. Noonan does not. Perhaps she admires those (zealots?) who believe they have all the answers. Good for them, I say, but I am disinclined to vote for someone who posits the perfection of their opinions. Scary!

I do, however, respect the pro-life view. I would say to those that believe that abortion is murder, this:

Is it not obvious that the pre-born are different than the born? If you wish to convince us that the pre-born should have full human rights, please do your best to convince those of us who don't. While I agree with you that Roe v. Wade was inappropriately decided, is it not obvious that the horse is out of the barn? Getting full rights for the pre-born will require you to convince a broader number of people of your position. Snide swipes at open-minded pro-choicers seems to alienate more than persuade.

Noonan goes on to take a swipe at "parsing" on complex issues. I for one had to fight the urge to eyeroll. It seems obvious that complex, complicated issues sometimes require some reflection.

Life, sad to say, is not a comic book.

-RC

Posted by Robert Capozzi on August 23, 2008 06:50 AM |

Free-for-all (frfr-ôl) -- n. A disorderly fight, argument, or competition in which everyone present participates.

from Dictionary.com



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