The Pinnacle of Modern Human Tragedy
by M.F. Alexander aka mrphilosophias aka discerningscholar
The 1973 ruling of Roe v. Wade in the United States Supreme Court is the pinnacle of tragedy in the course of contemporary Human events. Over the years many attempts have been made by opponents of abortion to appeal or weaken this landmark case, but sadly to no avail. By the end of this discourse it is hoped that this unfortunate truth will resonate in the hearts and minds of you the reader. Undoubtedly some have already begun feeling aversion, intense disagreement, and even anger. Perhaps some will consider throwing this aside, and reading no further, as they think in their mind how ignorant, intolerant, and closed minded this author must be. ‘Republican’ some will mutter under their breaths. Nothing can disrupt meaningful discussion and debate more effectively than feelings, as well as undisclosed premises and unfounded preconceptions invoked in argument. The fierce controversy which surrounds the issue of abortion is but one of many contentious intellectual debates, which are undermined in pursuing truth and impartiality, by a total breakdown of communication between the persons involved.
Before attempting to tackle this issue which is among the most fiercely debated of our times, it is important first to prepare our minds for the task. First it is necessary to take some time to reflect on how the issue in question makes one feel, and then to look within and discover what one believes, and lastly to know why this belief is acceptable. With these three things in mind it is possible to delve into any issue, firm in belief, and yet still able to see beyond personal belief to other perspectives and arguments. Furthermore it is also important to draw attention to other obstacles which may obstruct and obscure any possible journey of self-discovery. In many ways the Human Being is influenced by their environments. Additionally sociological forces have a powerful effect on opinion and identity formation. These factors include, but are not limited to: personal perception of peers, social pressure, family, culture & socialization, news & media, advertising, marketing, etc…
Who are your peers? What does your status among them depend upon? What newspapers, journals, and books do you read? What kind of music do you enjoy? Do you watch TV, or read the newspaper? What TV shows do you watch? What kind of advertising are you exposed to? What kind of clothes do you wear? Why? What was it like growing up? Do you vote? Are you a Republican, a Democrat, or are you aware of the false two-party paradigm? What stories are these authors, musicians, politicians, and journalists telling you about the world? Answering these questions is helpful to get a deeper sense and awareness of the powerful influences which are constantly bombarding us. Many of these influences may be false (wrong) in their premises and/or conclusions; these ideas and messages are like echoing whispers. These implicit notions are like seductive sorcery, and sophisticated spells subtly spoken between the lines. Have you ever dared to perceive the world from another perspective? Are you going to let others think for you? Have you ever thought outside of the box?
Are you pro-choice, or pro-life, and are you sure? Now a different question: do you believe abortion is ethically sound and acceptable in principle? In his masterful book 1984 George Orwell describes a future society which is not so very different from the one that we witness and participate in today. In this dystopian society the government controlled media, propaganda, socialization, and education would undermine critical thinking and dissent by arbitrarily changing historical records, convenient omissions in the news stories, and by obscuring ideas with obfuscating verbiage in the vernacular of the citizens of Oceania. This led to confusion, compliance, and complacency, as words and concepts became less precise and more ambiguous, absurd, or contradictory. Saying one thing would convey a notion counterintuitive to the words etymology, only to mean another thing entirely at a later juncture. The means by which this obfuscation of communication accomplished this was with sophisticated psychological conditioning, and social learning tools of the ‘IngSoc’ English Socialists: doublespeak, euphemism, newspeak, tech-speak, legalese, old-speak, good-think, thought-crime, and any healthy imagination can identify others in their own sociopolitical culture and society.
Copyright © 2011 Matthew F. Alexander