Tough questions to answer Jakes.

I will tell you what I did to Senator Lott from Mississippi (now retired) several years ago when an issue was coming up for vote in the senate that I didn't agree with (Tax increase).  I wrote him a very short letter saying as a taxpayer already paying too much taxes didn't want anymore.  At the bottom of the letter I attached a copy of my voter's registration card and wrote by hand. 

P.S. I vote in every election.  I treasure my right to do so. Feel free to check the voting records to verify.

Tarheel (Dave)

There are only two problems I see in your post, Jakes, one is that you presume that all three of these groups abide by the golden rule...you wrote, Assuming you agree with that rule, as Americans, generally, seem to, I would say that today's American would say something like do unto others whatever you can get away with as long as it will benefit you or yours, if caught, claim extreme prejudice based on race, creed, color, etc.

The other is that people from all these groups are exercising their convictions on the matter of the "others".

I stand with you in the battle for the hearts and intellects of those still trapped in the "blob of cells" and "choice" mentality that allows for the death of an innocent.

In Christ,

There, now you have a couple of little Abe Lincolns from me... Remember, the Sun is always shining!

Jakes,

What would be a rare occurrence is someone being forthright about what lies in one's heart in regards to neighbor. Really, Jakes, would you expect that someone would come out and say - I don't care about neighbor or I don't care about the unborn?

The proof for my observation is in my countless converstaions with averge Americans, who shyfully avoid or outright claim "no comment". Another proof would be in the recent voting that took place in our country and abroad. One state narrowly missed making abortion illegal, while a country that is self professed 95 percent Catholic could not even bring enough voters to the polls in order to make the decision valid.

As to Group 1, they will affirm or deny based entirely on Groups 2 and 3. In all honesty, politicians that make such a career, need to comform to the will of the people they represent, the voters.  

Lukewarm{ness} - should work for every Bible reading Christian.

For every one else, we must appeal to the advancements of science in regards to the status of life from conception to birth, as well as the overwhelming negatives to birth control and abortion. It is not perfectly normal, and we need the media and our education system to embrace the value of life and promote the truth. To this end, group 3 gives us the best hope and I will continue with you in spreading the value of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

In Christ,

There, now you have a couple of little Abe Lincolns from me...

Remember, the Sun is always shining!

Jakes,

In the interest of informative discourse, I would like to state clearly that I believe those that are "no comment" and practice careful avoidance are indeed from groups 1, 2 and 3. Specifically, for my comments in the previous post, I was referring to groups 2 and 3.

You wrote, "The electorate needs to take a meaningful interest in the value achievable through the election process...

I agree, and in the state of South Dakota, the electorate voted against an abortion ban 55 % to 45 % with roughly 225,000 votes. In Portugal, a referendum was put to the people to decriminalise abortion and not enough people voted to make the decision valid. My point is that the "lukewarm" and "gray area" voters may just stay at home.

You wrote, "Often, respectful conversations reveal, not only what is said specifically but also insights into what’s unsaid, implied or avoided and, often, convictions underlying it all."

This is exactly what I said in the previous post when discussing the mindset {do you think people will just come out and say...} of an individual. What is not said does say volumes. My experience, of course.

I live in New York in a community comprised of upper to lower class people, financially speaking, and the convictions run the gambit of these social classes. Some believe the poor should abort, some believe abortion is a solution to failed contraception, some believe we should educate our children in regards to utilizing contraception and abortion, most are confused. The poor in wallet, and in mind, feel their options do not include having the baby. These opinions are held by women as well as men, by Catholics as well as secular. 

The question may not be if you follow the golden rule, but why don't you? Why don't you understand the child in the womb as such and give the child the respect that all of God's people deserve? The question is, how do we help people understand the value and dignity of the human person at conception, as a blastocyst, an embryo, a fetus? The question is, how to appeal across race, creed and socio-economic structures that each have a different reason to support the culture of death?

In Christ,

There, now you have a couple of little Abe Lincolns from me... Remember, the Sun is always shining!

David,

As the Benedictines say: Ora et labora.  A lot of labora among the 50% of non-voters might have glorious results for both themselves and the electoral process.

Peace,     Jakes

David,

Would it be safe for me to comment: "David's a piece of work!"?

Or would you prefer one they used where I grew up: "David's a sketch."

At any rate, you're a riot!

Pieceful labors, old sketch,        Jakes

Hey, David,

How about keeping wide of that "grave" stuff, please - at my age!

And don't give up trying to pin down those politicians (and educate the rest) about life's inviolability! 

Peace,          Jakes