Hardcore Civility
Commenter Josh writes in to tell us about an innovative technique at the intersection of law and reproductive rights, and about how we handle such controversy.
Of Goose and Gander and Hard-Core Civility
I think that Americans have a strong sense of fairness, that we (for the most part) see it as an important value. In sports, for example, we expect referees and umpires to officiate games even-handedly. If X act is a foul or other violation, it must be enforced against both teams. We do not abide one set of rules for one and another for the other. This has been the basis for equal rights arguments, whether about race, religion or sex. Equal pay is a good example.
Another is free speech. Free speech for me but not for thee just doesn't really work here, nor should it. I would protest at any Nazi rally, but I would support their right to hold an event. I must, if I want my group to have the same right. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, as the saying goes.
Politico recently published an article that I found to be fascinating, as it is about the goose using the same legal argument as the gander, though I doubt anyone saw it coming, least of all the gander who originally took the lead with this tactic.
Before I give you the link, I want to note that I am not, AM NOT, trying to open a discussion on the issue of abortion. We, the members of the CSLF family, certainly do not all hold the same positions on that topic, which is fine. But, two of the things that make us a unique group, I believe, are that we are a pretty intelligent group and we are hard core civil. Our collective commitment to civility (never declared but always evident) and our ability to engage in good discussion leads me to think we can, as a group, appreciate the distinction here of a strategy from an issue.
So, with that all said, I recommend this piece in Politico. It is about people using religion and the protections afforded to religions to argue against state-imposed limits on abortion. Once again, the fascinating element to me is the fact of the same strategy used by some to argue against abortion is not being employed by some to argue for abortion access. It is the strategy, and its chances of success or failure, that strikes me as being of interest here and I thought some of you would find it interesting, too. If nothing else, it is a story of what is good for the goose....
In the meanwhile, I deeply appreciate the hard core civility found here. Power to the People!
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/21/legal-strategy-that-could-topple-abortion-bans-00102468
We thank Josh for the kind words as well as for his contribution to the blog and to the civil spirit of the comment section.
Placido Domingo, everyone. Jake was sitting outside on the window ledge wailing when I came downstairs at 7:00 a.m. He told me he'd been out all night, and I was suitably apologetic and blamed Son E. Then I found a note from Son D next to my computer, saying that he'd let Jake out at 6:40 when he left for work.
The sun is shining, and the sky is blue this morning. I can hear the zucchini growing!
Raining again.