Wednesday, August 8, 2007

They too were "personally opposed"

Here's an interesting research that compares the debate over abortion today and the debate slavery during the last years before the Civil War. Surprisingly, the arguments are all the same. "You can't legislate morality" - we hear that all the time in the abortion debate. "If you don't want a slave - don't own one", reverberates well with "if you don't want abortion - don't have one".

Just as we have politicians that are "personally opposed" to abortions, there used to be plenty of politicians, including president James Buchanan himself that were "personally opposed" to slavery but, as public officials, felt bound to sustain it where sanctioned by law. Just as some of our gutless politicians today, those "personally opposed to slavery" were more comfortable with someone else making the decision on their behalf.

So in 1857, when the Supreme court ruled on the Dred Scott case, president Buchanan (one that was "personally" against slavery) argued that the issue is settled and suggested concentrating on issues he believed are more important, like building roads. Today's pro-abortionists too argue that Roe versus Wade (in US) and Trudeau's "omnibus bill" (in Canada) are set in stone, so we better address other issues like taxes or healthcare.

Nobody says those issues are unimportant. But road construction couldn't proceed without figuring out who was going to do the job - workers or slaves. And when you discuss healthcare and taxes you can't avoid a question whether or not abortions on demand should be performed public hospitals, let alone - if they should be paid for by the taxpayers.

And another thing: what's not mentioned in the research is that by 1850s, the South was already losing the demographic battle and it was clear to everyone that slavery was its the way out. With accession of the new Northern and Pacific states (Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Oregon), slave states lost their majority in the Senate.

There wasn't much space left south of the 36o30' line where new slave states could be formed to balance out the new free states. But repeated attempts to expand slavery north of 36o30' (Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 as well as an attempt to force a pro-slavery constitution in Kansas), led to more anti-slavery sentiment in the North and the raise of the Republican party. This in turn sparkled the secession movement, leading to the Civil War and the subsequent abolition of slavery.

Same thing may eventually happen with abortions. Pro-abortion side is already losing the demographic battle. Immigration too contributes to the change of the balance of power - just as it did 150 yeas ago in US. And, just as it was with the supporters of slavery, pro-abortion activists that keep defending "partial birth abortions" or those who insist that fetus is a "blob of tissue" despite the overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, end up contributing to their own demise.

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