'Conscience at the Ballot Box' forums thought-provoking
Bobby Guerrero, and Jimmy Sengenberger, Staff Reporters
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: News
On Amendment 48, while it contains one simple statement defining the terms "person" and "persons," as used in the Colorado Constitution, as any human life beginning at the moment of fertilization, "the complexity of this amendment is remarkable," said Dr. Hooyman, who addressed the topic Wednesday.
"That's very carefully chosen language to say 'at the moment of fertilization,' because that means even before the egg has been planted in the woman's womb," said Dr. Reynolds, who filled in for Hooyman Tuesday. "I think the negative arguments would tend to say, there are so many possible unintended consequences for any activity that goes on that could have legal ramifications that this potential ballot amendment could cause kinds of unknown future issues that we'll have to deal with."
Saj Kabadi, in his discussion on civil discourse versus attacks, referred to the Lincoln-Douglas debates that took place across Illinois when they ran for the state senate in 1858. Despite their clear differences on the issues, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas were able to do so respectfully and peacefully, whereas conflict between former Vice-President Aaron Burr and Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton eventually erupted into a duel in which Hamilton was killed.
"I think it should be based on grounding your beliefs - we all have beliefs, we all have biases - and how this strengthens and grounds your beliefs, and ultimately that's the overall goal," Kabadi said. "Is there a way to reframe the current state of political discourse?"
Anything goes in political elections, Kabadi remarked; politicians will do anything to win, which affects national unification and makes it harder to govern the country as a single people.
"Both candidates said they were in pursuit of this, but obviously it's heading in another direction. Is there a way out of it?" he asked.
Dr. Callie, whose interdisciplinary doctorate includes political economy and public policy, spoke on the role of government in relation to the common good.
"That's very carefully chosen language to say 'at the moment of fertilization,' because that means even before the egg has been planted in the woman's womb," said Dr. Reynolds, who filled in for Hooyman Tuesday. "I think the negative arguments would tend to say, there are so many possible unintended consequences for any activity that goes on that could have legal ramifications that this potential ballot amendment could cause kinds of unknown future issues that we'll have to deal with."
Saj Kabadi, in his discussion on civil discourse versus attacks, referred to the Lincoln-Douglas debates that took place across Illinois when they ran for the state senate in 1858. Despite their clear differences on the issues, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas were able to do so respectfully and peacefully, whereas conflict between former Vice-President Aaron Burr and Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton eventually erupted into a duel in which Hamilton was killed.
"I think it should be based on grounding your beliefs - we all have beliefs, we all have biases - and how this strengthens and grounds your beliefs, and ultimately that's the overall goal," Kabadi said. "Is there a way to reframe the current state of political discourse?"
Anything goes in political elections, Kabadi remarked; politicians will do anything to win, which affects national unification and makes it harder to govern the country as a single people.
"Both candidates said they were in pursuit of this, but obviously it's heading in another direction. Is there a way out of it?" he asked.
Dr. Callie, whose interdisciplinary doctorate includes political economy and public policy, spoke on the role of government in relation to the common good.
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