Abortion proponents grant personhood only to human beings who have been born.  To have only partially passed through the birth canal is not enough; one must be fully out.  Then and only then will they consider that being “human” and confer upon them the rights that go with being human.

Abortion proponents do not consider human DNA or even the stage of development as evidence of personhood, they seek a narrower definition:  having passed through the birth canal, or not?

So, by this narrow definition,  couldn’t babies born caesarian be considered “unborn” because they did not pass through the birth canal?

And being classed as “unborn,” would the caesarian born be in danger of having their rights stripped away, including, like those of their brothers and sisters still inside the womb, their right to life?

They did not choose to be delivered caesarian, they did not choose to be, they just are, like us.

Dickens' own Preface to the 1867 Edition described how Pickwick got its start; great anecdote about the illustrator  -- I'm sure he thought it was his name we'd be remembering now, not Dickens'!  For me, the book's charm was precisely this process of the author discovering Mr. Pickwick's real character.  I also liked reading a book written in installments; he could not go back and edit or revise. It would make a the best sitcom. 

Just finished The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickins. It was so delightful that I finished it and started over again. At first Pickwick seemed to be a silly, foolish fellow, and by the end I knew him to be the best sort of person one would ever want to meet.I want to read the beginning again, knowing what I know now.I read Pickwick on the heels of Nicholas Nickleby and loved them both.

Liberals love big government. Big gov = bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is cruel, because bureaucracy is heartless.

The house is quiet, decorated, all ready for the big family party tomorrow. I just sat down after a day of putting the leaves in the table, getting out the tablecloth (crocheted by our 89-yr-old mom who is still healthy and blessing us daily), setting up the punchbowl, etc., etc. etc. Am grabbing a bite to eat, and punched up Ricochet on my phone for company to be serenaded by Andrea Bocelli, thanks to you Dave. For a moment I felt like I was standing in the field with the shepherds!Merry Christmas Dave! And to your dad. May God's infinite blessings be yours in the coming year.

Oh, so wonderful, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you for posting.

Yes, yes yes. We're in.

check this out from the Ace of Spades.

Western Chauvinist

My sentiments exactly.

And mine as well.  God has been asking me to not be so slack in one category of my life, and I have had a tough time obeying, and I mean for years.  When I saw the way the election was going, a cold fear of what is to come crept over me.   At the same time I had a strong sense that He was saying, “Fear not, fear nothing.  I Am here.  If you must fear, fear God…fear the consequences of not listening to or obeying me.”  Ever since Tuesday I have had zero trouble with discipline in the area in question.  This is not short term. It is a new era.

My cousin has lived near the Jersey Shore for all of her 60 years and told me this morning, "I've never been through anything like that and never want to again!"

We have dear cousins on the Jersey shore, eastern PA, Boston and the Cape. We're keeping them and their big trees in prayer as well as all Ricochetti (and your trees) in the path of the storm. He is the one with the power to calm the wind and the waves.

I had a very stressful day, now am winding down with some chamomile tea and a check- in at Wick-o-shay.Therefore the rolling belly laugh that began with Wob Wong and Petuh Wobinson and picked up speed from there was most welcome and, I think, improved my blood chemistry. Fank you vewy much.

liberal jim

I don't think it is and never said it was.   As I said every club gets to make up their on rules, the people who like rules join the club.  The genesis of any given rule in any of the clubs is obscure at best and  generally the rules are trivial.

This sounds like a perspective of one looking in from the outside  with no understanding or knowledge of the genesis of the doctrine or how it practically works.

During my formative years in the 70s I embraced “women’s lib” and the popular culture’s liberal mindset.  I began my 20s as a secular liberal, and finished them as a conservative Christian.  It’s a long story. I began then to get to know God, a process like any close relationship that takes years. As we became closer,  I learned over and over again to let go of “my way” because His way makes better sense, is kinder, more constructive and powerful and not fear-based.

I know Him now as vastly more wise and loving than I am.  Usually I come to comprehend His reasons, through a “long obedience in the same direction,” gathering and assimilating information until His truths sparkle into clarity. There has never been a disagreement between us when I turned out to be right! Sometimes, I can't understand His stance on an issue.  But I trust Him now, and because we have a track record of friendship and working together, I have learned to follow His way whether or not I “get it.”

These are the “mysteries” the faithful live with, which you describe so beautifully and well, Helen. 

I love him. I want him to be president. I would so much rather listen to him for the foreseeable future than the filibusterer-in-chief we have now. A few similar one liners, delivered expertly yet casually with that little smile would be just the thing for Monday night.

Dan you are very welcome here!

I just read Dave Carter's A Letter to Joe Biden and cannot resist the urge to quote him here --   "Watching Congressman Ryan try to respectfully engage you in thoughtful discourse was like watching Emily Post try to take a gorilla to tea."