Agreed, Bill. Abortion as a medical necessity is quite a different issue. That
I don't condemn. But, IMHO abortion as a means of birth control is a crime
against nature and our society's willingness to accept or tolerate it "is" a
sign of moral slippage. (YMMV) Education might help a few, but the educated
seem to be a large part of the problem. Stupidity has little to do with
education and it goes bone deep. Look at the results of our last two
presidential elections. ;o)
BTW--I still have 2-OM4's, 2-OM1s, an OM2, and an OM10, plus more OM lenses and
accessories than anyone not inflicted with Olympusitis or Zuikoholism would
possibly own or keep. I also have an E-500 backup and an E-510 plus a nice
array of lenses for same: 50-200, 14-54, 50mm macro. Gets the job done. See
little or no need to upgrade.
(Mandatory OM content) ;o)
Robert
---- Bill Pearce <billcpearce@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> Quite simply, morals can exist quite well without religion. It is easy to
> accept that the police may need, on occasion, shoot people. Abortion is not
> moral decay. In many cases, it saves mothers lives, or protects her from
> carrying to term a fetus that couldn't survive outside the womb. In the case
> of abortion as birth control, that's just an example of stupidity and a poor
> education, religion couldn't do any good there.
> The gun control issue is one deep in the fibre of many Americans. I suppose
> that our relatively recent background as a country with a wild frontier
> started it, but is has become just a political tool. Politicians from all
> sides try to inflame voters to one side of an issue. Bad, bad, bad. Same
> goes for Fox News commentators. Screaming at people equals ratings.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: r.burnette@xxxxxxx
> Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2013 3:34 PM
> To: Olympus Camera Discussion
> Cc: Mike Lazzari
> Subject: Re: [OM] Too close to home
>
> Moral philosophy = the study of human conduct and values (Merriam-Webster
> dictionary)
>
> Mike, why are sanctity of life values limited to a religious tradition or
> conviction? Is not respect for life a common philosophical issue? A survival
> issue? Not all human values have a religious base. But in our nation this
> had been the traditional values base until around the 1960's. Law and
> religion brought order, moral values, and expectations which shaped our
> nation and "tamed" the anarchic Old West. Since the 1960's we have seen our
> society become more profane, more narcissistic, more greedy. Our moral base
> has eroded. As an 80 year old, I have watched this creeping "decay" with
> deep sorrow.
>
> Personal and group morals are critical elements of social order. Morals
> shape our lives and guide our behaviors. Don't we classify amoral people as
> sociopaths?
>
> My abortion point was that we tend to pick and choose when it comes to which
> killings are, or are not, acceptable to us and to the society at large. If
> abortion on demand is not an example of moral decay in our society, then
> what is it? Over 53,000,000 deaths! I wonder if China, with their one child
> policy, comes close to that number. And we are supposed to be a civilized
> country?
>
> I firmly believe that the entire gun control issue is a diversion to
> distract the populace from more important issues.
>
> ---- Mike Lazzari <watershed@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > it is a "woman's choice" whether to kill or not kill a living human
> > > being
> > Second time this has been brought up as an example of "moral decay". The
> > morals thing is a religious conviction. To each their own. Just don't
> > inflict it on me. Besides, it isn't germaine to the gun issue.
>
> Isn't germaine? Supposedly, concern for needlessly and wantonly taking
> another person's life is at the heart of the gun control issue.
>
> "To each their own" taken literally and universally suggests a world without
> common agreements, laws, or prohibitions. No civilization can survive that
> way. Respect for life and others is necessary for societal health and
> safety.
>
> Don't "inflict" one's opinion on someone else. (That is exactly my point
> concerning the gun control issue.)
>
> But people have to take a stand on some things or surrender to those who are
> willing to push their own agenda. (Recall the Third Reich, Cambodia, the
> Chinese, French, and Russian revolutions.) As the old adage says, "The
> squeaky wheel gets the grease." Moral decay occurs when those who have more
> positive values stay silent and inactive while those with lesser values
> speak out and act. Which are the more positive values? Those which enhance a
> society and make it a better and safer place to live, embrace freedom, raise
> families, and enjoy a more productive life.
> >
> > > Which is why this whole discussion is utterly pointless.
>
> I thought I cited a few points. ;o)
> >
> > And I do agree with some of your other points.
> >
> Thanks.
> >
> Robert
> --
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