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The 8th amendment(Mod warning in op)

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 754 ✭✭✭Andrew Beef


    But nobody is contending that an unborn child’s right to life is equal to that of an adult woman; the salient point is that the unborn child’s right to life trumps the adult woman’s right to kill it.

    For those who were asking why my moral code should trump theirs, I’m not contending that it does; there is a concept of objective morality; some things are morally wrong irrespective of what you or I think.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,618 ✭✭✭erica74


    Why do you think yours should top theirs?

    That poster doesn't actually think that their belief tops anyone else's, they believe that everyone should have a choice, therefore enabling us all to uphold our beliefs.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,279 ✭✭✭NuMarvel


    But nobody is contending that an unborn child’s right to life is equal to that of an adult woman...

    That's exactly what the 8th says:

    The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right

    If you're going to oppose repeal of the 8th, you should at least read it first.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,615 ✭✭✭swampgas


    2wsxcde3 wrote: »
    Yes it can. If a child stumbles on a cliff edge and is hanging over the edge, the state requires you to pull him up before he falls. You can't just sit back and continue eating your ice cream while he's screaming for your help.

    They are called "Duty To Rescue" laws. You can't claim bodily autonomy and just do nothing.

    A duty to rescue is a concept in tort law that arises in a number of cases, describing a circumstance in which a party can be held liable for failing to come to the rescue of another party in peril.
    (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue )

    It feels like you're working through a list of "arguments to use when debating abortionists" but what the hell.

    Here's an alternative (and IMO more accurate) hypothetical for you.

    You see a child of about 14 years of age standing on a cliff edge, crying. You approach and ask what the problem is. She says she was raped by her father and is pregnant, and can't face being pregnant, so she's going to jump. You offer to help and explain all the reasons why she should go ahead with the pregnancy. None of your arguments make any sense to her. She asks if you would lend her the money to buy some abortion pills, as she is only 6 weeks pregnant. You refuse. She says never mind, she has just remembered someone she can ask for money instead. As she heads away you decide that you must act on behalf of the 6-week old life, so you abduct her and lock her in a bedroom in your home. She refuses to eat so you force feed her. She doesn't understand why you are treating her in such an awful way, but then she doesn't understand that LIFE must prevail, no matter the consequences. 6 weeks later she miscarries, as you knew she might. You now release her, she goes straight to the Gárdaí, and you are arrested. You protest your moral superiority.

    Sound about right? Is this the moral framework you have signed up to?

    This is the moral framework of the 8th amendment. It allows strangers to insist that a girl or woman be forced to continue a pregnancy no matter the circumstances. Own it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 754 ✭✭✭Andrew Beef


    NuMarvel wrote: »
    But nobody is contending that an unborn child’s right to life is equal to that of an adult woman...

    That's exactly what the 8th says:

    The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right

    If you're going to oppose repeal of the 8th, you should at least read it first.

    I have read it. I have no issue with Stage 1 (repeal); my issue is with what replaces it (12 weeks etc).


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,282 ✭✭✭pitifulgod


    I have read it. I have no issue with Stage 1 (repeal); my issue is with what replaces it (12 weeks etc).

    You want to convict women for abortions, you would be considered to be on the extreme side of things...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 531 ✭✭✭Candamir


    2wsxcde3 wrote: »
    Yes it can. If a child stumbles on a cliff edge and is hanging over the edge, the state requires you to pull him up before he falls. You can't just sit back and continue eating your ice cream while he's screaming for your help.

    They are called "Duty To Rescue" laws. You can't claim bodily autonomy and just do nothing.

    A duty to rescue is a concept in tort law that arises in a number of cases, describing a circumstance in which a party can be held liable for failing to come to the rescue of another party in peril.
    (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue )

    In countries with duty to rescue laws (and I believe Ireland is not one of them), the duty to rescue does not apply if it potentially puts the rescuer or others in danger. Given that carrying a pregnancy is more dangerous than terminating one, duty to rescue does not apply here. Even in your poor analogy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,436 ✭✭✭circadian


    So I got some Save the 8th literature in the door over the weekend.

    There is a lot of misinformation and comparisons that don't really make sense.

    Do they just expect people to not check the sources they use?

    "In Denmark there is a goal to make it a Down Syndrome free country by 2030"

    http://cphpost.dk/news/down-syndrome-heading-for-extinction-in-denmark.html

    Nowhere in that article does it mention "a goal" to do this.

    The leaflet was littered with things like this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,420 ✭✭✭splinter65


    circadian wrote: »
    So I got some Save the 8th literature in the door over the weekend.

    There is a lot of misinformation and comparisons that don't really make sense.

    Do they just expect people to not check the sources they use?

    "In Denmark there is a goal to make it a Down Syndrome free country by 2030"

    http://cphpost.dk/news/down-syndrome-heading-for-extinction-in-denmark.html

    Nowhere in that article does it mention "a goal" to do this.

    The leaflet was littered with things like this.

    Tell us some more misinformation and inaccurate comparisons that you read in the leaflet.
    It’s Iceland as far as I can see that’s aiming for the “no imperfections please” scenario.
    https://www.google.com/amp/www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/iceland-downs-syndrome-no-children-born-first-country-world-screening-a7895996.html?amp


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,686 ✭✭✭✭Zubeneschamali


    But nobody is contending that an unborn child’s right to life is equal to that of an adult woman;

    Then you'd better repeal the 8th, because that's exactly what it contends.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,686 ✭✭✭✭Zubeneschamali


    I have read it. I have no issue with Stage 1 (repeal); my issue is with what replaces it

    In that case, your comment would be better phrased as "I am not contending that an unborn child’s right to life is equal to that of an adult woman", because in case it is news to you, hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland ARE contending exactly that.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,223 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    AnneFrank wrote: »
    I think you're missing the point,

    Its a clever tactic. Make out that people are being are being bullied and silenced. Its untrue though.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,916 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    circadian wrote: »
    So I got some Save the 8th literature in the door over the weekend.

    There is a lot of misinformation and comparisons that don't really make sense.

    Do they just expect people to not check the sources they use?

    "In Denmark there is a goal to make it a Down Syndrome free country by 2030"

    http://cphpost.dk/news/down-syndrome-heading-for-extinction-in-denmark.html

    Nowhere in that article does it mention "a goal" to do this.

    The leaflet was littered with things like this.

    They do. and unfortunately a lot of people won't.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,279 ✭✭✭NuMarvel


    I have read it. I have no issue with Stage 1 (repeal); my issue is with what replaces it (12 weeks etc).

    What would you like to see happen after repeal?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,223 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    so, it is a distinct human entity. which should afford it some rights, or some consideration from society as a whole,

    It foesnt exist as a human so how can it have human rights?

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,223 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    nobody is contending that an unborn child’s right to life is equal to that of an adult woman;

    You seem to be missing the entire point. The 8th amendment contends this.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    splinter65 wrote: »
    Tell us some more misinformation and inaccurate comparisons that you read in the leaflet.
    It’s Iceland as far as I can see that’s aiming for the “no imperfections please” scenario.
    https://www.google.com/amp/www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/iceland-downs-syndrome-no-children-born-first-country-world-screening-a7895996.html%3famp

    That's not true either.

    https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/2017/08/16/doctor_says_cbs_news_claims_on_iceland_downs_and_ab/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,347 ✭✭✭Wombatman


    2wsxcde3 wrote: »
    Yes it can. If a child stumbles on a cliff edge and is hanging over the edge, the state requires you to pull him up before he falls. You can't just sit back and continue eating your ice cream while he's screaming for your help.

    They are called "Duty To Rescue" laws. You can't claim bodily autonomy and just do nothing.

    A duty to rescue is a concept in tort law that arises in a number of cases, describing a circumstance in which a party can be held liable for failing to come to the rescue of another party in peril.
    (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue )

    These laws apply to a real living child, a citizen of the county. Children can become wards of the state because the state can physically care for them.

    There are practical reasons why these laws shouldn't apply to embryos. Embryos can't become wards of the state because they are wholly dependent on the woman carrying them. Therefore the dominion governing the health of the embryos is totally with the carrying woman. In very rare cases embryos have been born and survived without the birth mother after 21 week.

    Can you sit back and think about this for a while rather than going through your arsenal of trite rebuttals for a counter post.

    Considering my point above, would you be happy with abortion up to 12 weeks even though logically the state shouldn't have a say until around 21 weeks?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,165 ✭✭✭Captain Obvious


    It foesnt exist as a human

    By what standard? Isn't this the fundamental point that's being disagreed on?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,190 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    By what standard? Isn't this the fundamental point that's being disagreed on?
    It's the bit that's being debated by some, but by international standards the foetus is not human. There's not really any disagreement about it.

    There is no legal basis, and not even any historical precedent for affording human rights (or part thereof) to a foetus, especially one before 12 weeks.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,165 ✭✭✭Captain Obvious


    seamus wrote: »
    It's the bit that's being debated by some, but by international standards the foetus is not human. There's not really any disagreement about it.

    There is no legal basis, and not even any historical precedent for affording human rights (or part thereof) to a foetus, especially one before 12 weeks.

    I presume you mean except for our constitution?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 437 ✭✭Charmeleon


    It foesnt exist as a human so how can it have human rights?

    What is it then? Maybe the mother will give birth to a fish, or a tree, or an armchair?

    Go into a lab with embryos from lots of different animals, are they all identical? There is no inherent difference between the embryo of a cow and a giraffe?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 437 ✭✭Charmeleon


    seamus wrote: »
    It's the bit that's being debated by some, but by international standards the foetus is not human. There's not really any disagreement about it.

    There is no legal basis, and not even any historical precedent for affording human rights (or part thereof) to a foetus, especially one before 12 weeks.

    Isn’t that only due to it benefiting from being inside a person who does have fundemental human rights? It only becomes an issue when that person wants to evict it, otherwise the rights of the mother affords protection to both.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,190 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    I presume you mean except for our constitution?
    Our constitution doesn't even recognise the foetus as human. Just recognises a right to life.

    The constitution is at odds with itself; a foetus miscarried before 24 weeks is medical waste, recorded in the mother's medical history, and is not given any kind of individual recognition that it ever existed.

    Because it is not legally recognised as a human.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 437 ✭✭Charmeleon


    seamus wrote: »
    Our constitution doesn't even recognise the foetus as human. Just recognises a right to life.

    The constitution is at odds with itself; a foetus miscarried before 24 weeks is medical waste, recorded in the mother's medical history, and is not given any kind of individual recognition that it ever existed.

    Because it is not legally recognised as a human.

    The same pretty much applied to unbaptised babies in a historical context. It doesn’t make any difference to how an objective evaluation should approach the problem.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 754 ✭✭✭Andrew Beef


    NuMarvel wrote: »
    I have read it. I have no issue with Stage 1 (repeal); my issue is with what replaces it (12 weeks etc).

    What would you like to see happen after repeal?

    Abortion illegal except in medical cases, incest cases, and rape cases.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,739 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    Abortion illegal except in medical cases, incest cases, and rape cases.

    Allowing it in rape cases raises difficulties. Do you wait for conviction? That can take years. Would it require just a Garda report? The rate of false reporting would skyrocket. Do you take the woman’s word that she was raped and allow it without formal reporting? What’s the difference between that and allowing it on request?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 605 ✭✭✭zedhead


    Abortion illegal except in medical cases, incest cases, and rape cases.

    Is the foetus any less if it is the result of rape. Why is it ok to kill these if you truly believe that a foetus deserves these rights?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,218 ✭✭✭✭Bannasidhe


    Charmeleon wrote: »
    The same pretty much applied to unbaptised babies in a historical context. It doesn’t make any difference to how an objective evaluation should approach the problem.

    You are conflating two very different things and frankly speaking utter nonsense.

    Baptism has no legal standing nor does it confer 'personhood'. Not being baptised meant a child/adult could not be buried in ground that was deemed consecrated to a Christian faith not that a child/adult wasn't a human.
    It just so happened that most of the cemeteries in Ireland were controlled by the Roman Catholic Church and with their usual empathy they refused to allow proper burial. As we have seen, some parts of that particular organisation preferred septic tanks - even when disposing of baptised children.
    ALL children born in Ireland since the enactment of the Registration of Births Act 1863 are required by law to be registered - once this is done they are legally a person - baptism or no baptism.

    For example the Goldberg family of Harcourt St in Dublin appear in the census of 1911 as they are recognised as living human beings - they were not, however, baptised. http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Fitzwilliam/Harcourt_Street/73041/

    There were 3 Jewish cemeteries in Dublin alone, the oldest dating back to 1660. If unbaptised people - such as Jews - were not recognised as human why would they need cemeteries? According to your statement they would have been 'medical waste'.

    You didn't really think that through did you?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,165 ✭✭✭Captain Obvious


    Abortion illegal except in medical cases, incest cases, and rape cases.

    Why incest and rape cases?


This discussion has been closed.
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