I almost didn’t post this because I don’t want to contribute to it in any way. But I decided that since part of purpose of SHS is to be a running, real time history of bioethical and human exceptionalism issues of our era, I must.
A Minnesota couple has established a Web site to allow the public to decide whether they will give birth to their healthy unborn son. From the story:
A married couple have sparked fury by setting up a website to let the public vote on whether or not they should have an abortion. Pete and Alisha Arnold, both 30, say they launched [URL deleted] because they are unsure if they want to be parents. They believe the controversial poll so the public could ‘make a difference in the real world’. The couple, from Minneapolis, have uploaded regular scan images of the foetus, which is a perfectly-healthy boy they have nicknamed ‘Wiggles’.
The subject matter is so provocative that some are questioning whether the site has been set up deliberately to upset anti-abortionists. However, the couple strenuously deny this. Alisha is now 17 weeks pregnant and web users have until December 7 to cast their vote - just two days before the 20-week cut-off line for a state-legal abortion. The latest results shows a fairly split opinion, with 46.27 per cent voting to keep the baby and 53.73 per cent wanting the couple to have an abortion.
This reminds me of Internet suicide sites.
I don’t know about you, but whether true or not, whether “performance art” or hoax, the casualness of this is sickening (even if it seeks to make an ironic pro life point). And I hope no SHSer will give credence to this by voting.
If they give birth, may their son never learn about the crass way in which his parents thought of him. If they abort their son based on a poll...I am speechless.
Still, the way things are today, I am sure the movie and book offers will be pouring in. Hey, I know! A new reality show.
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
