-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
Richard Mourdock, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from Indiana, made the following statement during a debate: “but I came to realize that life is that gift from God. And I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.” Mourdock later explained that he doesn’t believe that God “pre-ordains” rape.
Mourdock’s view of God attempts to deal with the conflicting concepts of the goodness of pregnancy and the evil of rape. His view is incoherent.
The conflicting concepts of evil and an omnipotent God have been noted by Epicurus (circa 300 BC):
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
Mourdock believes the pregnancy is preordained even if the rape was not the intention of God. How does Mourdock account for the rape and still maintain a belief in God’s omnipotence? Today, a Sophisticated Theologian™ would claim that the rape was an expression of the rapist’s free will. While that argument may let God off the hook as far as the preordination of rape, it raises other problems.
The vicim, by her own free will, may decide to take an emergency contraceptive preventing fertilization or implantation. If the rape was not preordained by God due to the free will of the rapist, then the pregnancy could not have been preordained due to free will of the victim.
The Republican Party’s solution to that problem is to remove all forms of contraception so that women have no other choice but to carry to term. When there are no choices, there is no free will.
While many view the passing of genes to their offspring as a gift, it also fulfills a biological imperative to perpetuate their existence. If a rape victim exercises her free will and decides to reward her rapist by passing along his genes to the next generation, that is her choice. However, the state has no business rewarding the rapist with the gift of a child.
H/T: Mike LaBossiere, Jerry Coyne, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Sally Quinn.
Slow news day?
Graet article David. It is sad that the Right wants to take women back to the middle of the last century.
I have been watching the weather closely, and it looks as if the remnants of Hurricane Sandy will be well past by the time the official election day of Tuesday, Nov. 6 rolls around. I am sure early voting in the northeast will be disrupted, but the cleanup should be well under way by Nov. 6. My concern is that marginally motivated voters, or the poor with limited resources, might be impacted.
Blouise,
Since I do read other people’s conversations here, can you help me value the supposed threat to vote falsiying in Ohio, as Romney’s hold on the voting machine company Diebol there was alleged to be such a threat?
Elaine,
Sounds like the conditions in a 3rd world country doesn’t it?! Well, I suppose there’s some similarity to a despot stuffing all the money for his country’s infrastructure into his own pockets and greedy American corporations. Neither care about the people they are supposed to be serving.
Blouise,
Getting out the vote may be difficult if thousands of trees are felled by the storm and block roads and streets and we are without electricity and possibly telephone service. Many years ago my husband was an electrical lineman for a local municipality. Many towns and cities in this area used to have their own light departments and line crews. Few do these days. We have big companies/corporations that provide electricity. There are fewer crews around–it takes money to train and keep lineman on the payroll and that’s not good for profits. After one storm in the not too distant past, some communities in western Massachusetts were without electricity for more than a week.
SwM,
He’s a typical party hack but the Feds are watching him closely because of his past actions and the fact that he was called in front of the Judge because he had refused to obey a ruling. Like many Republicans in other states, he over-played his hand.
Blouise, No way would I trust your secretary of state.
SwM,
The problem with playing games here is that republicans need to get out the vote as badly as the democrats do … they can’t afford to play games as it impacts their own efforts to get their people to the polls.
Besides, the Courts have already handed them a huge setback in this election and everybody is watching everybody else like a hawk. Republicans think Democrats are going to steal the vote and Democrats think Republicans are planning too. Paranoia has given everybody an eagle ey.
Elaine,
That’s a legitimate fear. Newspapers here are speculating on that very subject.
The women I mentioned in my above post weren’t just blowing smoke though … I purposely questioned them about the cost of mailing in their absentee ballots and they all knew it was $1.50 because they had all gone to the post office to mail them. I knew that was so as it had cost Tex $3.00 to mail our ballots.
It will be up to the party structures in each of the blue states to get their people out to vote. Thus far it seems those structures are doing a good job.
Elaine, I have been thinking about that. Blouise’s part of Ohio might be affected more than the southern part of the state. The governors could play games with poll closures.
SwM,
That’s a given.
I was at a luncheon the other day (last week) seated at a table of 8 and the 7 other women seated with me were republican-leaning until the subject of Romney came up. Whoa … I didn’t have to say a word as they were all quite vocal in stating their intentions (read the kicker) to vote for Obama. The reasons given had nothing to do with the economy, or foreign policy, or race but were all, every single one, about reproductive rights, birth control, and rape. The Republican Party has alienated their own women with this crazy talk about birth control, rape, etc.
Here’s the kicker … everyone of these women had already sent in their absentee ballots and marked them for Obama. They weren’t happy about it but it was the only way they knew to send a message to their own party.
Blouise & Swarthmore,
I have a real fear that Hurricane Sandy/Frankenstorm could do such damage in the Northeast that it could impact voter turnout in many Blue States. If it does, I’m sure Pat Roberson and others of his ilk will claim it was a sign from God.
Blouise, Not with Romney as president.
Elaine & SwM,
Things are indeed looking up. I hate to pin so much hope on one, lone person but she has the ability to lead and inspire others … this could be a real chance to bring about reform.
Hooray for Warren. It can’t be Palin, she got lost and is still looking for a purpose in life. Maybe Mitt’s moose hunting guide?
Echoing Nal and GeneH.
For those curious like I am, what CA is, is explained by Wiki (sort of). No plot summary was attempted.
With at least 5 subplots and almost 3 hours, I must ask Nal what/how he felt afterwards. Confused is a legitimate state, even or especiallly here.
Had you raad the book first? Is that a good help in keeping the threads clear. Must you be a lawyer to keep the threads clear (only the talented may buy tickets?!). You did beat Blouise to the bio, what prize do you win.
All in good cheer.
PS
Is it proof that even we butterfly wings are important?
And we are all entangled just like quantum particles?
Swarthmore mom,
I certainly hope so!
Here comes the activist again.
Can those who can do printouts (enlarged?) of the GOP coat hanger, and give’m out to friends to use as yard signs when pasted on cardboard?
Do you suppose Clear Channel with Romney money ownership will accept political ads.
Does the Devil grill Republicans for breakfast, each on a separate coat hanger?
Elaine, She is going to win !!!!