The Nebraska legislature is currently debating a bill to protect the womb once a heartbeat is detected. Almost daily there have been articles and letters to the editor both pro and con concerning this possible law. On Tuesday, a letter was published arguing against the passage of the law. I found it frightening!
Some thoughts:
- First the title: “LB626 is a political ‘camel’ that Nebraskans do not need.” The author cites this saying, “A camel is a horse designed by committee.” That saying might be a truism as to it being a saying but it is indicative of the argument being made in the article. A camel is NOT a horse – ever! Some of the arguments made against the bill are as illogical.
- The bill has this statement within: “Unborn child means an individual living member of the species homo sapiens, throughout the embryonic and fetal stages of development to the full gestation and childbirth.” I take no issue with that statement. I believe that aligns with the Bible.
Psalm 139:13-16, For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
- That statement is followed with this statement: “While that seems clear enough, aren’t adult women also ‘individual living members of the species homo sapien’?” Sure – and what is the point? Why is that question raised? Because a statement about the personhood of a child in the womb does not mean that the personhood of the mother is in question. There is the making of a camel from a horse.
- Then the quote that is frightening: “Part of being a member of the species homo sapiens is the ability to make intelligent, rational decisions based on a level of wisdom that is beyond that of any other living creature. Without that ability, hom sapiens would simply be another species in the animal world.”
WOW! A human is one who can make “intelligent, rational decisions.” A human being is one who has a level of wisdom beyond any other living creature.” A human has “ability.”
So, a human is not an animal because of the ability to make wise, rational decisions?
If that is the case, then the child in the womb, the infant just born or the child up to say age 8 or 12, the person mentally slow or handicapped, the one in a coma, someone after a stroke, or someone slowed by age (say age 75) does not qualify as being human? Seriously?
Amazing! and FRIGHTENING! I thought we had gotten past this “camel” idea.
What was Hitler’s rationale about the Jews? Not human!
What about the Dred Scott case? What about slavery?
Common thoughts about slaves a century ago: Slavery, a condition in which one human being was owned by another. A slave was considered by law as property, or chattel, and was deprived of most of the rights ordinarily held by free persons. (Britannica)
Blackpast.org: Article I, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution of 1787, in fact declared that for purposes of representation in Congress, enslaved blacks in a state would be counted as three-fifths of the number of white inhabitants of that state.
- But, there is a deeper issue looming. What about those who don’t believe in vaccinations or in climate change or aren’t accepting of gay marriages? Are they thus not “intelligent or rational”? Are they deemed not “wise” – void of the ability to make good decisions? Thus, those who don’t accept society’s values will no longer be human but just another of the “animal world.” Christians, not embracing evolution and a one world order, will not qualify as being human!
We are Human Beings! Not Human Doings! Genesis 1:28
a PK Musing 
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