Anti-Life

There is lots of talk about the idea of ‘Life’ and I wonder: “What is all this talk about?”

I think in my own naïveté philosophy is that this ‘life’ that we wake up to every morning and experience everyday is just that?

We didn’t ask for it. We just arrived and there it was.  

Then there is Pro-Life

Anti-abortion movements, also referred to as ‘pro-life’ movements, are involved in the abortion debate advocating against the practice of abortion and its legality. Many anti-abortion movements began as countermovement in response to the legalization of elective abortions.

Abortion is the intentional termination of a human pregnancy. Life?

By some the terms used in the debate are seen as political framing. The terms used to validate one stance while invalidating the opposition’s. For example, the labels “pro-choice” and “pro-life” imply endorsement of widely held values such as liberty and freedom, while suggesting that the opposition must be “anti-choice” or “anti-life” (alternatively ‘pro-coercion’ or ‘pro-death’).

The Associated Press favors the terms “abortion rights” and "anti-abortion" instead.

However, some in the “pro-life” movement view the term “anti-abortion” as an inaccurate media label as well. For example, not all who would describe themselves as “pro-life” are opposed to abortion if the life of the mother is in certain danger? Also, for many in the “pro-life” movement, the word “life” reflects the core value and truth for which they sincerely believe their causes represents. According to some beliefs, human ‘life’ begins before birth (i.e., at fertilization, when the genetic material which will develop into a fetus first assumes zygote form and acquires unique DNA), and many feel that human ‘life’ is valuable and worthy of protection at all stages. This view is heavily influenced by religious belief in many, but not all cases.

There is significant philosophical debate regarding whether human embryos acquire personhood and human rights upon genetic formation or upon fetal viability.

The ‘right to life’ is a moral principle based on the belief that a human being has the right to live and, in particular, should not be killed by another human being. The concept of a ‘right to life’ arises in debates on issues of capital punishment, war, abortion, euthanasia, and justifiable homicide and, by extension, public health care.

In human history, there has not been a general acceptance of the concept of a ‘right to life’ that is innate to individuals rather than granted as a privilege by those holding social and political power. The evolution of human rights as a concept took place slowly in multiple areas in many different ways, with the ‘right to life’ being no exception to this trend, and the past millennia in particular has seen a large set of national and international legal documents (examples being the Magna Carta and the UN Declaration of Human Rights) codifying the general ideal into specifically worded principles.

Opponents of capital punishment argue that it is a violation of the ‘right to life’ while its supporters argue that the death penalty is not a violation of the ‘right to life’ because the ‘right to life’ should apply with deference to a sense of justice. The opponents believe that capital punishment is the worst violation of human rights, because the ‘right to life’ is the most important, and capital punishment violates it without necessity and inflicts to the condemned a psychological torture.

Human rights activists oppose the death penalty, calling it “cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment”, and Amnesty International considers it to be “the ultimate, irreversible denial of Human Rights”.

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted, in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014 non-binding resolutions calling for a global moratorium on executions, with a view to eventual abolition.

International law only allows law enforcement officers to deliberately take life (“shooting to kill”) where absolutely necessary to defend themselves and others against an imminent threat to life.

The entitlement of a person to make the decision to end their own life through euthanasia is commonly called a ‘right to choose’, while people who oppose the legalization of euthanasia are commonly referred to as the ‘right-to-lifers’.

The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law guidebook (2000) listing of abortion specifies the publication use of “anti-abortion” instead of “pro-life” and “abortion rights” instead of “pro-abortion” or “pro-choice”, and advises avoiding the use of “abortionist” which “connotes a person who performs clandestine abortions”, in favor of using a term such as “abortion doctor” or “abortion practitioner”.

The term ‘right to life’ is used in the abortion debate by those who wish to reduce the use of abortions and in the context of pregnancy; the term ‘right to life’ was advanced by Pope Pius XII during a 1951 papal encyclical:

“Every human being, even the child in the womb, has the ‘right to life’ directly from God and not from his parents, not from any society or human authority. Therefore, there is no man, no society, no human authority, no science, no “indication” at all whether it be medical, eugenic, social, economic, or moral that may offer or give a valid judicial title for a direct deliberate disposal of an innocent human life…”

--- Pope Pius XII,

Address to Midwives on the Nature of Their Profession Papal Encyclical,

October 29, 1951.

Life must really be precious. It is the only one we have (as far as we know) and it is not easy. We have thoughts of living forever and not only that; we want to stay young in the process.

We take concoctions and potions and pills and lotions to sward off aging all the while not exercising and abusing ourselves with substances to ease our pains and woes. Institutions are fueled with the promise of extending life but it is inevitable. No one gets out alive.

Fathers and mothers give life to their children and vicariously relive their lives through their offspring hoping for a better life and they do the same and the cycle continues. In the end, life is taken away and only the date of birth and the date of death remember the final chapter.

If life is to be cherished shouldn’t we respect ALL LIFE in all species that inhabit this planet with us? If life is so redeemed why do we constantly murder each other for a myriad of reasons?

Are we so hypocritical to preach ‘pro-life’ one minute then barrage ourselves with books, movies, video games, television shows, news reports of maiming, destroying and otherwise removing life from all living species? Does the Good Book not tell us to respect this gift of life and then we crucify the prophet who we worship? Is our ‘pro-life’ philosophy flawed in the creation of our Gods and then taking their lives?

If all our laws and beliefs and rules have exceptions then are they not just a waste of time and paper for another law or belief or rule will come along while we continue to live our lives doing the best we can and hoping for a safe landing.

I certainly have no answers to ‘pro-life’ vs ‘anti-life’ question than the man who seeds a woman in unfavorable circumstances or conclusions or the one that fires the bullet at a brother or sister or the one who cannot coop with the pain and confusion or the one who sticks the needle in while a selected few are chosen to watch. My life is different than your life and his life and her life. We are dealt a hand and have to make our decisions on how to play this game.

Our best imaginative theories no nothing of what came before or what happens after so all we got is a this time in the sunshine and rain to enjoy every breathe and every step and appreciate what goes on around us. LFPHDY.

The ‘Anti-Life Equation’ is a fictional mathematical equation appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

In Jack Kirby's Fourth World setting, the Anti-Life Equation is a formula for total control over the minds of sentient beings, which is sought by Darkseid, who, for this reason, sends his forces to Earth, as he believes part of the equation exists in the subconscious.

Various comics have defined the equation in different ways, but a common interpretation is that the equation is a mathematical proof of the futility of living.

The formula is:

Loneliness + alienation + fear + despair + self-worth ÷ mockery ÷ condemnation ÷ misunderstanding × guilt × shame × failure × judgment n=y where y=hope and n=folly, love=lies, life=death, self=dark side