Lynn……you’re good!! But life begins at the time when the egg gets fertilized by the soul entering it…..otherwise it can not grow!! Growing means life!! At least that is my understanding.
It does seem to me that Life has become very much “cheap” lately. There are so many people and even governments that don’t value a man, a woman, or even a fetus’ right to exist.
Life doesn’t begin at 40. My wife and I are in our 60s with five adults and three (grand)children in our house we bought for the two of us. Medical problems have forced the pulling-in for two of our three adult children. If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans!
Funny, this is the comic I remember most clearly from reading it as a kid, and I didn’t understand it back then. Also funny that we’re still debating this so long afterwards.
Can’t believe Lynn entered this discussion in a toon but this is Lynn’s NoteThis was, and likely still is, a contentious issue. By opening the door to conversation on the topic of “when does life begin?” I was rattling a few cages. Knowing I was treading on thin ice, I made sure the punch line was innocuous, but I got the angry mail anyway. In the end, I was glad I had drawn this strip. It was something we were talking to our kids about and I knew other parents were struggling with this question as well. This shows you how much freedom I was given by my syndicate and many editors to write and say things that were sensitive and not easily mentioned in a comic strip.
“Body rights”?Where in the Constitution is there any mention of “body rights”?The Declaration of Independence lists certain God given rights. The first and foremost of these unalienable rights is LIFE.Thus, once life begins, it is to be protected.Not when the living human “becomes” a person, not when the mother decides it is alive, not “[o]nce [the living human is] a way [sic] from the mother”, but when life begins. Which happens to be at conception.Anyone who believes otherwise is denying science.
Well, until the 20th century, Christians generally used “quickening” as the standard for when they believed ensouled life began (the moment that the woman can feel movement in her uterus).
If you’re a strongly anti-abortion Christian, go read the history of Christian thought and ask yourself why, all of a sudden, in the 1970s, someone decided to make abortion one of the major foci of the church (when in 1971, even the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution stating that abortion should be legal and available for the physical and emotional health of the mother).
The issue is not about when human life BEGINS but when human LIFE becomes a human PERSON. Human life DOES NOT begin at fertilization. The human egg cell and sperm cell were already alive and of the human species (ergo: human life) long before that. Clinical cessation of human LIFE is when measurable EEG brain waves cease, at which point organs and tissue can be removed and donated (not sold). The inverse of that — the onset of measurable brain waves, which does not occur until about 24-25 weeks, middle of the second trimester —cannot be considered a living human person. According to the CDC, fewer than 1% of abortions occur after that point, and ALL of them for reasons of severe medical emergency. http://emerald7tfb.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/moral-issues-life-vs-personhood/
To quote the late, great George Carlin: “I say life began about a billion years ago and it’s a continuous process. Continuous, just keeps rolling along. Rolling, rolling, rolling along.”
S MontgomeryThat is also the traditional view in Judaism and Islam (among others) a well. It was changed, as you said, by theocrats to use as another wedge to divide and rule the world. Especially those who refuse to study history and are thus susceptible to the lies of would-be rulers.
First kid’s mom is absolutely correct. Even science uncompromised by leftist ideology knows that. And “science” that is compromised by leftist ideology has to invent all kinds of logic and ethic twists and turns to deny the truth.
Anyone who thinks pre- and transpubescent males don’t talk about such things was never in that category. OTOH, my time in that stage was before anyone had heard of the Gabblers and their campaign of ultrafundamentalist censorship of Texas (and indirectly because of textbook publisher cowardice) the nation’s school materials.
Well this topic certainly makes it easy to spot the fundamentalist nut jobs reading this comic…
It is nice to see a few rational folks mixed in there. Almost gives me hope for the future of the human race. Really is a shame we seem to be outnumbered by the nut jobs but we can always hope for change.
Things like Roe vrs Wade prove there is some hope for mankind, despite what the irrational have to say about it.
Sperm and ova are indeed living cells, but they are not alive in and of them selves. That is a fake argument I have seen repeated in these comments over and over – left wing talking point, obviously. I believe life begins when the fetus is capable of surviving outside the womb, and with medical science advancements that would place it at 24 weeks. I support a woman’s right to choose in the first trimester, if she cannot figure it out before then, too bad.
Templo S.U.D. almost 8 years ago
What an interesting discussion amongst males.
Can't Sleep almost 8 years ago
And let the rants begin…
alviebird almost 8 years ago
I don’t believe in abortion. Therefore, I shouldn’t have one.
harry_bowl almost 8 years ago
Lynn……you’re good!! But life begins at the time when the egg gets fertilized by the soul entering it…..otherwise it can not grow!! Growing means life!! At least that is my understanding.
Katsuro Premium Member almost 8 years ago
Play nice now, commenters!
Egrayjames almost 8 years ago
It does seem to me that Life has become very much “cheap” lately. There are so many people and even governments that don’t value a man, a woman, or even a fetus’ right to exist.
npublici almost 8 years ago
Unless you believe in God.
flagmichael almost 8 years ago
Life doesn’t begin at 40. My wife and I are in our 60s with five adults and three (grand)children in our house we bought for the two of us. Medical problems have forced the pulling-in for two of our three adult children. If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans!
genghis.shaman almost 8 years ago
Funny, this is the comic I remember most clearly from reading it as a kid, and I didn’t understand it back then. Also funny that we’re still debating this so long afterwards.
h.v.greenman almost 8 years ago
According to Erma Bombeck, “Life begins when the last of the kids leaves home, and takes the dog with them”
eelee almost 8 years ago
Can’t believe Lynn entered this discussion in a toon but this is Lynn’s NoteThis was, and likely still is, a contentious issue. By opening the door to conversation on the topic of “when does life begin?” I was rattling a few cages. Knowing I was treading on thin ice, I made sure the punch line was innocuous, but I got the angry mail anyway. In the end, I was glad I had drawn this strip. It was something we were talking to our kids about and I knew other parents were struggling with this question as well. This shows you how much freedom I was given by my syndicate and many editors to write and say things that were sensitive and not easily mentioned in a comic strip.
zippykatz almost 8 years ago
Have a baby; carry it 9 months. Abort a baby; carry it forever.
stephen.l_42 almost 8 years ago
“Body rights”?Where in the Constitution is there any mention of “body rights”?The Declaration of Independence lists certain God given rights. The first and foremost of these unalienable rights is LIFE.Thus, once life begins, it is to be protected.Not when the living human “becomes” a person, not when the mother decides it is alive, not “[o]nce [the living human is] a way [sic] from the mother”, but when life begins. Which happens to be at conception.Anyone who believes otherwise is denying science.
Alphaomega almost 8 years ago
Life began with the BIG BANG! …. In more ways than one.
57-Don almost 8 years ago
I must have left my 10 foot pole in my other suit
1953Baby almost 8 years ago
Depends on whether you’re speaking scientifically or religiously. . .
ProfMontgomery almost 8 years ago
Well, until the 20th century, Christians generally used “quickening” as the standard for when they believed ensouled life began (the moment that the woman can feel movement in her uterus).
If you’re a strongly anti-abortion Christian, go read the history of Christian thought and ask yourself why, all of a sudden, in the 1970s, someone decided to make abortion one of the major foci of the church (when in 1971, even the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution stating that abortion should be legal and available for the physical and emotional health of the mother).
gammaguy almost 8 years ago
Life — the magazine — began in 1883.
John Klinge Premium Member almost 8 years ago
Life, the cereal, began in 1961.
DD Wiz Premium Member almost 8 years ago
The issue is not about when human life BEGINS but when human LIFE becomes a human PERSON. Human life DOES NOT begin at fertilization. The human egg cell and sperm cell were already alive and of the human species (ergo: human life) long before that. Clinical cessation of human LIFE is when measurable EEG brain waves cease, at which point organs and tissue can be removed and donated (not sold). The inverse of that — the onset of measurable brain waves, which does not occur until about 24-25 weeks, middle of the second trimester —cannot be considered a living human person. According to the CDC, fewer than 1% of abortions occur after that point, and ALL of them for reasons of severe medical emergency. http://emerald7tfb.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/moral-issues-life-vs-personhood/
Alphaomega almost 8 years ago
@comicsssfan. Nope! Quantity over quality.At least according to the Catholic faith… Ducking now!
bookworm0812 almost 8 years ago
It definitely begins at conception.
awelcruiz almost 8 years ago
To quote the late, great George Carlin: “I say life began about a billion years ago and it’s a continuous process. Continuous, just keeps rolling along. Rolling, rolling, rolling along.”
hippogriff almost 8 years ago
S MontgomeryThat is also the traditional view in Judaism and Islam (among others) a well. It was changed, as you said, by theocrats to use as another wedge to divide and rule the world. Especially those who refuse to study history and are thus susceptible to the lies of would-be rulers.
K M almost 8 years ago
First kid’s mom is absolutely correct. Even science uncompromised by leftist ideology knows that. And “science” that is compromised by leftist ideology has to invent all kinds of logic and ethic twists and turns to deny the truth.
hippogriff almost 8 years ago
Anyone who thinks pre- and transpubescent males don’t talk about such things was never in that category. OTOH, my time in that stage was before anyone had heard of the Gabblers and their campaign of ultrafundamentalist censorship of Texas (and indirectly because of textbook publisher cowardice) the nation’s school materials.
sml7291 Premium Member almost 8 years ago
Well this topic certainly makes it easy to spot the fundamentalist nut jobs reading this comic…
It is nice to see a few rational folks mixed in there. Almost gives me hope for the future of the human race. Really is a shame we seem to be outnumbered by the nut jobs but we can always hope for change.
Things like Roe vrs Wade prove there is some hope for mankind, despite what the irrational have to say about it.
Snoopy_Fan almost 8 years ago
Funny how the only ones commenting on this are those who were NOT aborted…
omglorraine almost 8 years ago
I personally would never get an abortion, but it’s only my decision to make if it’s my baby.
YokohamaMama almost 8 years ago
If people didn’t believe in god, we would all be atheists.
Squirrelchaser almost 8 years ago
Sperm and ova are indeed living cells, but they are not alive in and of them selves. That is a fake argument I have seen repeated in these comments over and over – left wing talking point, obviously. I believe life begins when the fetus is capable of surviving outside the womb, and with medical science advancements that would place it at 24 weeks. I support a woman’s right to choose in the first trimester, if she cannot figure it out before then, too bad.