Two legislative enactments occurred recently: one was silly and possibly harmful, the other absolutely scary.
The Berkeley, Calif., City Council voted to disallow disposable drinking containers; neither paper nor plastic would be allowed in the confines of Berkeley, only china or glass. This will affect fast-food eateries but not upscale restaurants, and will affect people of less means, or, as some might say, women and minorities.
The New York legislature passed an act to allow abortions up to the date of birth, even if the birth baby is viable. In addition to that, it also was allowed that one did not have to be a doctor to perform the abortion, nor will the law refer to the fetus as a baby. When the bill passed, there was a loud cheer for the right of a women to choose even after viability. Perhaps there should be a big sign on the legislative wall, “No fetus can beat us.”
Over the years, in our culture, in our politics, in our entertainment and in our relationships with others, we have become more and more coarse with less respect and appreciation of that most basic of human rights – life itself. That is more than a disappointment.
ROBERT W. WRIGHT Jr.
Bradford