It has been a week of incredible busyness, from morning til night, no time to journal, no time to research and think about anything other than making it through each day. This lovely Sunday is a chance to take it slow, so we are, and we're about to go out into this world of spring for a beach walk and some birding. I just wanted to say here, however, how utterly beholden to Duane (SottoVoce) I am for this comment that he left in my entry titled "Culture of Life." It exactly expresses my deepest feelings, the reason I am an environmentalist, the reason I am so amazed that more people aren't.
Duane's comment:
Here's something from T. A. Barron, writing in the NRDC's blog...
"Today, though, I'd like to propose a new meaning for the term 'pro-life.' Even before the Terry Schiavo case, the term had become more politically charged than Tom Delay's cell phone. But the word 'life' is far too big, complex and wondrous a term to be reduced to political shorthand. Life on our lonely planet is truly a miracle, whose diversity and beauty is simply stunning to behold. Whether or not life exists elsewhere in the universe, all we know now is that here on Earth, life is both utterly amazing -- and utterly endangered. That is why I believe that nobody is really more pro-life than an environmentalist."
http://blog.nrdcactionfund.org/
4 comments:
I have to say that there is nothing as meaningless to me as this culture of life stuff -- this term gets used to provide an umbrella of approval for all sorts of things, and is a short-cut for Americans who are too lazy to think things through.
It is all about a religious/dogmatic approach to life that opposes the situational pragmatism, openness and innovation that used to be important in our culture. It tends to support group-think as opposed to individual liberty and independent thought.
The term "culture of life" is stretched to the point where its adherents oppose the use of condoms in AIDS-stricken Africa, leading to many needless deaths. And how many "culture of lifers" are opposed to the continuing war in Iraq?
The "culture of life" language is the worst kind of cynical double-speak and should be regarded with as much derision and contempt as that empty platitude about "compassionate conservatism".
Neil
I just loving reading Neil's comments. And Duane, too. Such wonderful commenters. J-land is a better place because of them.
dave
http://journals.aol.com/ibspiccoli4life/RandomThoughtsfromaProgressiveMi
ahhhhhhh. judi
Thanks for the kind comments about my comments.
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