File spoon-archives/marxism-feminism.archive/marxism-feminism_1997/marxism-feminism.9710, message 23


From: cbcox-AT-rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Carrol Cox)
Subject: Re: Re: M-FEM: Re: Another View of PK (fwd). Respect for "Life"?
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 1997 10:14:11 -0500 (CDT)


David,

	O.K. So my fears were not borne out in respect to you. 
Good.
Carrol


> 
> 
> In a message dated 97/10/18 6:38:40 PM, cbcox-AT-rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu wrote:
> 
> >I think  the concept of "respect for all life" is an essentially
> >anti-human perspective. (I think Hannah Arendt argued this point years
> >ago.) It is to be begin with too vague: 
> 
> Respect for life as opposed to exploitation.  Recognition of interdependency
> on ecosystems.
> 
> 
> >Does David really want us to
> >"respect" (except in some purely instrumental sense) the Smallpox
> >Virus or the AIDS virus? 
> 
> No--because they don't respect us........
> 
> >Worse, I always suspect that behind any worship of "life as
> >such," there lurks a "Pro-Life" stance in the political sense, and
> >as was argued out in some detail in this list some months ago, it
> >is wrong to put even moral or social pressure on women to avoid
> >abortion.
> 
> I have performed volunteer security and escort work for two abortion clinics
> on both east and west coasts. There is no anti-choice sentiment lurking
> here--neither do I worship life. I suggested respect as an alternative to
> objectification of  each other (or Other) and alienation from eco systems
> upon  which we depend.  That alienation brought about in large part by
> capitalism and the industrial devolution.  Respect , (in the sense used by
> First Nations culture,  eg) would not necessarily mean that lives would not
> be taken.
> 
> >One last point: I don't think "Life" should re reified. 
> 
> How is this reification?
> 
> >There is no such entity as "Life," which properly viewed is a mode of
> >existence of certain forms of matter, not a "thing."
> 
> Fine---respect for entities experiencing this particular mode of existence
> then.....
> 
> David Roy
> Vancouver Island
> 
> 



   

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