It didn’t working Nun two good. Betimes the human touch alone canst make aright the twist of haste.

At this milestone in his presidency, it was not inappropriate to ask a personal-interest question. Surprised, troubled, enchanted, humbled. Insight into Obama’s impressions of the office from a number of perspectives. Granted, “enchanted” was the most unconventional part, but good journalists need creativity, something that differentiates them from the pack.

I was more interested in Obama’s answer than the question. I thought he would mention the Easter egg roll, or meeting the Queen. His visits to schoolchildren, or planting the garden. Getting the dog, or putting a kid’s playground on the White House grounds. Something apolitical. Nope, he went a different way. And that tells us something, too.

In front of a mic, I would probably do worse than Joe. I’d be too tongue-tied. ;-)

In this culture, the determination of the beginnings of life, and the ability to end life lie not with the hypothetical “woman,” rather they lie with the makers of the laws. And the more power is abdicated to our law-makers on earth, the more these relativistic laws can control us, the less power the woman really has.

You make an excellent pro-choice argument.

As for your example, the “boyfriend” should be locked up for statutory rape, not out trying to intimidate the girl. Who is the slave? In both situations, the girl is the slave to the interests of others. The difference is that, in a pro-choice environment, she would not have to defy the law to defy the “boyfriend”.

not all laws are just; not all laws are for the good of all.

A fair description of laws written to placate the religious beliefs of a vocal minority.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Laws must be Just, and they must support the whole, not special interests alone.

While we are in the Bible: Leviticus 12 implies that giving birth is a sin. I’m more of a New Testament/love thy neighbor kind of guy.

In my opinion, the moment of conception is when the fertilized egg adheres to the womb. Equating fertilization with conception has consequences ranging from supreme hypocrisy to the absolutely ridiculous. The imperfections of the reproductive system you noted would instantly become the leading cause of death. Would we criminalize women’s health problems, or ignore the deaths of millions for the sake of convenience? It would also pretty much shut down fertility clinics.

From a religious standpoint, I do not believe that a fertilized egg is sufficiently complex to anchor a human soul.

Morally, I think that a fetus that is mature enough to survive outside the womb has a right to be born. The time from conception to viability is a gray area that cannot be legislated. It is too personal and too individual.

Deciding this issue based on religious beliefs would be an unconstitutional endorsement of one religious belief over another.

I hope she finally finds her love.