Wednesday, July 26, 2017

When a Professor Justifies Infanticide




When a Professor Justifies Infanticide
By Michael Brown , CP Op-Ed Contributor
Jul 24, 2017 | 4:37 PM
For years pro-lifers have argued that if it's acceptable to kill a baby in the womb, it's acceptable to kill a baby outside the womb. And because it's clearly not acceptable to kill a baby outside the womb, we shouldn't kill a baby inside the womb. Now a university professor has turned this argument on its head, arguing that since it is acceptable to kill a baby inside the womb, it's acceptable to kill one outside the womb.

Such is the cold, deadly logic of Prof. Jerry Coyne, who teaches in the department of ecology and human evolution at the University of Chicago. In his words, "If you are allowed to abort a fetus that has a severe genetic defect, microcephaly, spina bifida, or so on, then why aren't you able to euthanize that same fetus just after it's born?"

But why stop there, Prof. Coyne? If you are allowed to kill a baby in the womb because you didn't plan to have it or because it's not the gender of your choosing or because you don't think you can adequately care for it, then why not kill it once it's born? Where is the moral divide?

Surely Dr. Kermit Gosnell would agree with this kind of logic. And surely a strict application of Darwinian naturalism would agree with this too. Doesn't it all come down to survival of the fittest?

Some humans are just more fit than others, and if the least fit have to be eliminated, so be it. And did I mention that Coyne published these thoughts on his blogsite "Why Evolution Is True"?

But Prof. Coyne feels he has strong reasons to support infanticide: "After all, newborn babies aren't aware of death, aren't nearly as sentient as an older child or adult, and have no rational faculties to make judgments (and if there's severe mental disability, would never develop such faculties). It makes little sense to keep alive a suffering child who is doomed to die or suffer life in a vegetative or horribly painful state."

This is moral madness, and it is chilling to imagine where this kind of thinking leads.

Let me paraphrase the professor's argument: "Since newborn babies are the picture of innocence and dependence, since they can't figure out anything for themselves, and since they might suffer a lot in the days or months or years they have, let's slaughter them now. The sooner the better. After all, once they're a little older, they might be frightened when they see us take a knife to their throats."

Note also Coyne's reference to a baby with a "severe mental disability" who "would never develop [rational] faculties." Perhaps such a baby could be killed as a child? Or maybe as a teen or an adult? Really now, how much can they really understand?

As for his reference to "a suffering child who is doomed to die," note that he speaks here of a child rather than a baby, reminding us of how easy it is to extend his timeframe for euthanasia. How old is too old? As for being doomed to die, that is the fate of every human being who enters this world. Why kill a newborn if it might live only six months? Again, who draws the line?

Prof. Coyne, however, is sensitive to the inevitable charge of eugenics, and he tries to parry off the criticism before it is lodged. He writes, "As for the 'slippery slope' argument — that this will lead to Nazi-like eugenics — well, this hasn't come to pass in places where assisted suicide or euthanasia of adults is legal."

But once again it is his own words that damn him.

First, the moment you start killing babies outside the womb you have already taken a deep plunge down that slope.

Second, Coyne's kind of logic did lead to Nazi-like eugenics in Nazi Germany, where some were deemed more fit to live than others. Exterminate the rest!

Third, Coyne's strict evolutionary paradigm does not provide him with an adequate framework for morality. (Ultimately, what makes something right or wrong, ethical or unethical?)

Fourth, countries like Holland are seeing lots of abuses in their pro-euthanasia system, while, "Politicians in the Netherlands are discussing the possibility of legalizing euthanasia for healthy people." ("The proposed 'Completed Life Bill' would allow any person age 75 or over who decides their life is 'complete' to receive euthanasia. It doesn't matter if they are otherwise perfectly healthy.")

The bottom line is that when you take God out of the picture and deny that humans are created in his image, the human race becomes little different than the animal kingdom. And if it's OK to kill an animal, it's OK to kill a human. (For more on this, see the chapters, "Created in the Image of God" and "From the Walking Dead to a Culture of Life" in Saving a Sick America.)

To quote Coyne once more, "The reason we don't allow euthanasia of newborns is because humans are seen as special, and I think this comes from religion — in particular, the view that humans, unlike animals, are endowed with a soul."

Endowed with a soul we are, endowed by the One who created us, and endowed by the One who gave us life. Leaving Him out, we quickly destroy ourselves, beginning with the most vulnerable and innocent.

May Prof. Jerry Coyne have a life-changing encounter with the God He does not know, and may his deadly ideas be exposed for what they are.

University of Chicago
Byron D. Trott is a trustee at the University of Chicago, a friend of Warren E. Buffett, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Note: Warren E. Buffett is a friend of Byron D. Trott, an adviser for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), a life trustee at the Urban Institute (think tank), and Howard G. Buffett & Susan A. Buffett’s father.
Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), and a friend of George Soros.
Jessica Tuchman Mathews is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), was the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).
Ed Griffin’s interview with Norman Dodd in 1982
(The investigation into the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace uncovered the plans for population control by involving the United States in war)
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a friend of Michael Douglas, and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society. 
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Urban Institute (think tank), the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), Brookings Institution (think tank), the International Rescue Committee, the Aspen Institute (think tank), the Millennium Promise, and the Robin Hood Foundation.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank). 
Ted Turner is a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the chairman for the Turner Foundation, and the founder of CNN.
Cecile Richards was a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, and is the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Howard G. Buffett is Warren E. Buffett’s son, and a director at the ONE Campaign.
ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.
Condoleezza Rice is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), was a director at the ONE Campaign, and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).
Susan A. Buffett is Warren E. Buffett’s daughter, and a director at the ONE Campaign.
Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign, a VP for the University of Chicago, a VO for the University of Chicago Medical Center, and a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.
Thomas A. Cole is a trustee at the University of Chicago, a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.           
Newton N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Commercial Club of Chicago, Members Directory A-Z (Past Research)
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Newton N. Minow is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.
Sidley Austin LLP is the lobby firm for Israel.
William C. Harrop was a U.S. ambassador for Israel, and a director for the Population Services International.
Dora Hughes is a senior policy adviser for Sidley Austin LLP, and was a counselor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Kathleen Sebelius.
Office of Population Affairs is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Margaret A. Hamburg was an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a VP for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), and is a trustee at the Urban Institute (think tank).
Warren E. Buffett is an adviser for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), a life trustee at the Urban Institute (think tank), Howard G. Buffett & Susan A. Buffett’s father, and a friend of Byron D. Trott.
Byron D. Trott is a friend of Warren E. Buffett, a trustee at the University of Chicago, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Lester Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).   
James S. Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, a trustee at the University of Chicago, and the vice chairman for the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, a co-chair for the Risky Business Project, and was an advocate for the ONE Campaign.
Henry M. Paulson Jr. is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, a co-chair for the Risky Business Project, and the founder & chairman for the Paulson Institute (think tank).
Paulson Institute (think tank) is a partner with the Risky Business Project, and an affiliated think tank for the University of Chicago.
Walter Isaacson is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank), and was the chairman & CEO for CNN.
Ted Turner is the founder of CNN, a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), and the chairman for the Turner Foundation,
Warren E. Buffett is an adviser for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), a friend of Byron D. Trott, a life trustee at the Urban Institute (think tank), and Howard G. Buffett & Susan A. Buffett’s father.
Byron D. Trott is a friend of Warren E. Buffett, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a trustee at the University of Chicago.  
Cecile Richards was a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, the founder & president for America Votes, is the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a national partner with America Votes.
NARAL Pro-Choice America is a national partner with America Votes.
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is a national partner with America Votes & a Gun Control group.
Americans for Responsible Solutions is a national partner with America Votes, & a Gun Control PAC.
Michael R. Bloomberg was a contributor for the Americans for Responsible Solutions, an advocate for the ONE Campaign, is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and a co-chair for the Risky Business Project.
Henry M. Paulson Jr. is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, a co-chair for the Risky Business Project, and the founder & chairman for the Paulson Institute (think tank).
Paulson Institute (think tank) is a partner with the Risky Business Project, and an affiliated think tank for the University of Chicago.
ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.
John C. Whitehead was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and an advisory board member for Christie's Inc.
Clifford M. Sobel is an advisory board member for Christie's Inc., was a director at the Millennium Promise, and a Netherlands ambassador.
Amy Robbins Towers was a director at the Millennium Promise, married to Larry Robbins, and a board member for the CDC Foundation.
Larry Robbins was married to Amy Robbins Towers, and is the chairman for the Robin Hood Foundation.
Emma Bloomberg was the chief of staff for the Robin Hood Foundation, is a director at the Robin Hood Foundation, a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and Michael R. Bloomberg’s daughter.
Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the CDC Foundation, and the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, Emma Bloomberg’s father, a co-chair for the Risky Business Project, was a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation, an advocate for the ONE Campaign, and a contributor for the Americans for Responsible Solutions.
Henry M. Paulson Jr. is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, a co-chair for the Risky Business Project, and the founder & chairman for the Paulson Institute (think tank).
Paulson Institute (think tank) is a partner with the Risky Business Project, and an affiliated think tank for the University of Chicago.
Americans for Responsible Solutions is a national partner with America Votes, & a Gun Control PAC.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a national partner with America Votes.
Cecile Richards was the founder & president for America Votes, a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, is the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the CDC Foundation, and the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Cory A. Booker was a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and an Oxford University Rhodes scholar.
Ruth Padel is a professor at Oxford University, and Charles Darwin’s great-great-granddaughter.
David L. Boren was an Oxford University Rhodes scholar, is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and an advisory board member for Everytown for Gun Safety.
Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and the founder of Everytown for Gun Safety.
Everytown for Gun Safety is a Gun Control group.
Warren E. Buffett is an advisory board member for Everytown for Gun Safety, a friend of Byron D. Trott, and an adviser for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Byron D. Trott is a friend of Warren E. Buffett, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a trustee at the University of Chicago.
Ted Turner is a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the founder of CNN, and the chairman for the Turner Foundation.
Walter Isaacson was the chairman & CEO for CNN, an Oxford University Rhodes scholar, is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Ruth Padel is a professor at Oxford University, and Charles Darwin’s great-great-granddaughter.
Richard N. Haass was an Oxford University Rhodes scholar, and a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).
William W. Bradley was an Oxford University Rhodes scholar, and is a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank). 
Ted Turner is a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the chairman for the Turner Foundation, and the founder of CNN.
Cecile Richards was a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, and is the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

No comments: