The American Taliban

Sent the following to the StarNews this afternoon (6/7/09):


Voltaire wrote: "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." He has been proven correct many times since he wrote those words; the holocaust, 9/11 and the cold-blooded assassination of Dr. George Tiller by a Christian terrorist are examples. All three have this in common: They were justified by blind adherence to dogma, which can be defined as a 'point of view put forth as authoritative without adequate grounds,' a point such as: "Abortion is murder!"

All of the zygotes, embryos and fetuses in the world don't add up to a single living, breathing person. That's not just my opinion, that's the law! In this country, we work within the system to facilitate change; we don't use terrorism as a tactic to impose our own views of morality on our fellow citizens, the Taliban does that!

The murder of Dr. Tiller was the moral equivalent of a witch burning, perpetrated by an operative of the anti-choice movement for the express purpose of denying a legal procedure to desperate women who have nowhere else to turn. When absurd dogma "justifies" an atrocity, especially one that some applaud, it's time for reasonable people to say: Enough!

Pete Soderman

Good job Pete!
I liked your point of referring to the anti abortion crowd as the anti choice movement. The tactic of calling the pro-choice supporters pro abortion is one of the ways they demonize and terrorize. In their narrow focus they have the ability to foster fear, shame, guilt and manipulate others through their rhetoric. Choice is the middle ground for everyone. No matter what side of this issue, and many others, the focus on choice is vital. Freedom to participate in many things is completely voluntary. If it's not for you- don't participate- we all have this right.

Personally, I don't participate in organized sports. I view them as big a waste as religions. They sacrifice the education of our entire society so a few boys can play games, people are encouraged to act like sheep and be team players, and the alcohol industry makes a killing. All the while our country falls farther behind on the international scale. A multi-billion $$$$$ FLUSH! Needless to say, I have some "issues" with it. I would never think of harming anyone or anything and deal with my feelings with my wallet by boycotting business that supports something I don't agree with. My point is most of us deal with issues we don't agree with in non-violent ways.

Maybe someday I'll write a book- God, Games and Government The American Trinity

Update. The StarNews has declined to publish my letter. She (Tricia) felt it made too many generalizations about the "pro-life" movement.

Pete-
Great letter! Too many generalizations about pro-life movement? You're kidding! A veiled way to say CENSORSHIP! So much for free speech - Rita