[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > DEBRA, THIS IS THE ONE COMMENT IN YOUR REPLY THAT I DID FIND > PAINFUL. AND I'LL CONTINUE MY REPLY IN "FRIENDLIER" LOWER CASE. > I said clearly "the catholic or right wing CAMP" i.e. in the context > of abortion the camp that agitates against it.
Oh, I see. Yep, I missed that little word so thanks for pointing that out. I'm not even sure, though, that everyone in the camp thinks exactly the same way, although if you're talking about demonstrators outside an abortion clinic all holding signs that say baby killer, then yeah I guess it could be said they're all thinking the same way and that you would not want to join them. But probably most of those anti-abortion demonstrators wouldn't think that killing doctors who perform abortions is ok, so right away there's some variation in thought even among the camp. I'm not saying all this just to pick apart your words and certainly don't want to cause any pain, and am sorry that my earlier words did. It's just that your words show me how impossible it is to explain one's own thoughts by talking about the (imagined) thoughts of other people or groups. Which doesn't mean it should never be done (and I have a feeling I'm about to do it myself very soon), just that it's a chancey way to get one's ideas across. As far as abortion goes, I doubt that there's any person who would not have mixed feelings, including sadness, at having an abortion. It's one of those issues that's much easier to accept in theory, especially when it's someone else who will be making and living with the actual decision. And, as a generalization, just because someone's not sharing how they feel about something (or at the time not even admitting the feelings to her or himself if they're too painful), that doesn't mean the feelings aren't there. That's what I've experienced myself anyway, not specifically regarding abortion, but with other issues. Thanks for your message, Lieve. I hope I've not muddled it all up too much. I understand what you're saying and it's clear from your tone that you're a kind hearted person who's trying to explain your view, and in response I'm just trying to explain mine. It's always hard to tell from my limited viewpoint if it's been successful. atb to you, Debra Shea
