ZACH Theatre
Against Death Penalty and Abortion
RECEIVED Thu., Aug. 7, 2008
Dear Editor,
I couldn't help but notice that while reading your otherwise excellent article on capital punishment (“Those Who Are About to Die") [News, Aug. 1], there was an advertisement for abortion services on the previous page describing its practice as “compassionate.” Does anyone else out there grasp the extreme irony in this? Where is the rationale for protesting the death of a human being who was once part of our society and chose to violate it, only to condone the death of another human being who is never even given a chance to participate in it? The reverse argument holds true as well – we cannot defend the death penalty while advocating a stop to abortion. If we are going to take a stand for the sanctity of life, we need to apply it universally. Anything less would be hypocritical.
I couldn't help but notice that while reading your otherwise excellent article on capital punishment (“Those Who Are About to Die") [News, Aug. 1], there was an advertisement for abortion services on the previous page describing its practice as “compassionate.” Does anyone else out there grasp the extreme irony in this? Where is the rationale for protesting the death of a human being who was once part of our society and chose to violate it, only to condone the death of another human being who is never even given a chance to participate in it? The reverse argument holds true as well – we cannot defend the death penalty while advocating a stop to abortion. If we are going to take a stand for the sanctity of life, we need to apply it universally. Anything less would be hypocritical.
Hans Falk
[Editor's response: We imagine there are quite a few people out there who grasp the irony. Obviously, there are a number of very different positions on abortion, including one held by many that abortion is not murder. But it would be great if with one voice, anti-choice groups and activists came out against the death penalty.]