Whose Rights Trump Whose?

You are a human being. You have rights inherent in that reality. You have dignity and worth that exists prior to law.
~Lyn Beth Neylon~

I don't believe in women's rights, gay rights, minority rights or any other group rights.  I believe in HUMAN rights.  Whatever right one human being has, then every other human being has the same right.  I also believe, however, that the rights of one individual end when they interfere with the rights of another.

In the history of our country, we have used skin color as a reason to enslave other human beings.  While I find that absolutely abhorrent, I also recognize that it's part of our history and can't be changed - nor should it be forgotten.  But neither should it be a reason to continue hatred and discrimination.

In the history of our country, women were considered property - daughters were property of their fathers and wives were property of their husbands.  Did you know that in the first two hundred years our country existed, if a man died and left children under the age of 21, their mother could not be their guardian?  A child under the age of 21 was classified as an infant and had to have a male guardian.  Should we as women hate all men because of the way it used to be?

In the history of our country, religious beliefs were a reason to separate people and to discriminate against them.  When the Pilgrims and Puritans (protestants) came to the New World, they did so for freedom of religion.  They weren't so accommodating to other religions, however. Catholics were banned from settling in the Colonies.  When our government was first formed, only Christians could hold public office.

In the history of our country, no group was ever more discriminated against than the American Indian. We came into HIS land, took it from him and then treated him worse than we treated our slaves.

So what prompted this blog?  A conversation about abortion was the catalyst.  I have never made a secret of the fact that I'm pro-life and believe abortions should be banned except in certain cases.  My belief is that it's morally wrong to take a human life - even if that life hasn't seen the light of day yet.  To choose to end the life of an unborn child because he's not wanted, because she's not a he or because he may have Down's Syndrome or some other genetic defect is vile and despicable.

Not only does abortion take away the right of the child to live, it also denies the father his rights.  Yes, I know - it's a woman's body and her right to do with as she pleases... blah blah blah...  Suppose we took that attitude with everything that affects a person's body?   Why do we prosecute someone who has AIDS if he or she chooses to have unprotected sex and spreads the virus?  Doesn't the infected person have the right to treat his or her body as he or she chooses?  Why is being the victim of that person any worse than a baby being the victim of abortion?

I know that one of the arguments in favor of abortion is that of when the fetus is actually a living being.  Some people say it's when they're born, others say it's the moment of conception and still others say it's when the life is viable outside the womb. Fact is, no one knows for sure exactly when life begins.  We all have opinions but it's like defining outer space - no one really knows.  It may have a legal definition but that doesn't make it fact.  Personally, I believe life begins when the body contains a soul.  Again, no one but God knows when that is.

And one final thought, if a pregnant women is murdered, why is the murderer charged with two counts of murder even in the earlist stages of the pregnancy if the fertilized egg growing inside of her isn't a human life?  Just asking...