Solomon's Private File #214
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 25 in this story, in the Spring of 2051.
Solomon's Private File #214 "CNN Abortion"
START Page
President of CNN asked for a visit. I shifted there and said, "I'm
innocent! Er, I think so. Sometimes." He smiled and said, "Not this
time. You actually ARE at fault, if not intentionally. We were planning
on hosting a debate on abortion. We asked various groups to represent
their views, along with secular groups for and against it. ALL the
major religions declined, and said you would represent them the most
effectively." I said, "Er, oops?" He said, "We had stronger words." I
said, "It really IS my fault. Started with Stephen, though. I would say
what he said. That reality hasn't changed. Was a Prophet, you know.
What I could add to it is as it relates to the law in this country. If
you want me in such a program, play back what he said, and I'll go from
there. Oh, here it is, for your convenience." I gave him a file and a
crystal, which he read." He said, "Rational. Sure to piss them all
off." I said with a grin, "Absolutely!"
They set up the program, and advertised that I would be in it,
including the other people. Greg hosted it. He introduced all the
people, which included some Christian fundamentalists, women's rights
groups, a female Unitarian Minister, Family Planning, and some
Conservative politicians. I said, "Greg, I don't see some people who
should be here. Were are the snipers? Couldn't get their rifles past
security?" He didn't know what to say. I said, "I made YOU speechless?
Wow!" Chuckles. The Unitarian said, "And the other churches. Why didn't
they send their representatives?" Greg said, "We asked them, and they
were very interested, but they said that Solomon would represent their
positions better than they would." I said, "And they didn't even talk
to me about it! I'm so USED." Chuckles. I said, "I hope they're
listening, because I won't be doing what they expect. Oh, what
interesting expressions." Nervous chuckles.
They all expressed their positions in turn, for and against it. Then
it was my turn. I said, "A question for you all. Note the careful
wording, and answer truthfully. If you don't answer as specified, you
will be shown to be deceitful and manipulative. Got it? I'm not going
for an agenda here, but understanding in truth. Here is is. As a
concept and action, is abortion of a healthy fetus a bad thing? Careful
how you answer it. You can spin that later." They thought a lot. Some
struggled with it. In the end, they were forced to say yes. They all
did. I said, "Now that we all agree on this basic philosophical and
religious concept, we can go on to the next step. Opponents of
abortion, do you see your opponents a little differently now?" Some
nodded. I said, "Then there is the misuse of words in battle. Choice.
Does it always mean abortion? Family Planning! How many women who ask
you about abortion, actually have one in your clinics?" She said, "As
of last year, 21%." I said, "Does this low percentage indicate that
they were counseled not to have an abortion?" She said, "We don't know
that precisely, but we do counseling in that area, so it's reasonable
to think that it does so indicate, at least in part, probably a major
part."
I said, "Opposition! Their effectiveness in what YOU want to happen.
Have they done well? Could you do as well?" They tried to squirm around
it. I said, "You are coming close to lying again. You claim religious
motives. Better live up to that." One said, "To be honest, while we
don't have good statistics, we would have the same success/failure
rate." I said, "And if they were to cease offering that PROFESSIONAL
counseling service, would you be able to handle that yourselves, and as
well? Be honest here. You know you use terror tactics. They do REAL
counseling." One said, "I object!" I said, "What else would you call
showing expectant mothers horror pictures of cut up bloody fetuses that
would mostly not be what would happen in their own possible abortions?
Even if they don't have abortions, they have to live with that in their
memories for the rest of their lives! I warned you about being
dishonest. Well?" She wilted and said, "I have to say you're right. We
couldn't do it as well as they do." I said, "And more women would go to
unlicensed clinics which are dangerous, or even try to do it
themselves, causing serious harm, even death of both the mother and
child. You KNOW this would happen. Please show us why you like that."
She said, "I don't!" I said, "But you want it to happen. You have to,
because you want Family Planning to stop. You have admitted you know
what would happen then, so you obviously want that, too. Well?" No
answer. I said, "So what you really want is those sinners to be injured
or die. You want them to be PUNISHED. Isn't that right?" She sobbed and
said, "Yes!" I said, "Who appointed YOU their judge, jury, and
executioner? Why don't we make it more convenient for you, and less
painful for them, and round all them up at a shooting range, and give
you an assault rifle, and you can mow the sinners down. Well? ANSWER
ME!" She said, "No! I don't want that!" I said, "But it's fair. You
want them punished, you do the work. Are you a murderer so cowardly
that you want them to do it themselves? That's absolutely disgusting!
Let's go to break."
I said all, "Don't worry. We're over the rough part. Shock helps
people to open their minds to the truth they didn't want to see. Ideals
are great, but not when they blind a person to reality. That causes
fanaticism. Nobody ever thinks they are a fanatic. It's always other
people." I said with a grin, "I'm not one!" Chuckles. Greg said, "I
really didn't expect this from you." I said, "I should tell them why. I
said, when you asked me to be here, I would use as my position what my
father said about it, so this is something entirely different. I had to
clarify for the people what this is really about, first." He nodded. So
did some others.
Back from break, Greg gave a synopsis of what had gone before. Then I
said to Family Planning, "What do you do? What exactly is Family
Planning?" She said, "Basically, it's exactly that. We help families to
plan how they want their families to be. We help with reproductive
health and counseling. Some of that is instructing them on how
reproductive systems actually work. With that knowledge, they can
choose when to have children, and when not to. Procedures that aid in
that are various contraceptives, including just not having sex at the
time of the woman's cycles that could most often result in a
pregnancy." I said, "And why do you do this?" She said, "We do this
because it's wise to have children when you have the maturity,
emotional, and financial means to support them. Too many mothers are
having babies by accident when they can't support them, and that
unnecessarily harms them, their children, the society, and the economy.
Taxpayers mostly bear the brunt of that cost." I said, "So, you're not
doing this because you like to murder babies, as your opponents have
claimed?" She said, "Absolutely not! We are trying to help people who
need help, and can't get that help anywhere else. We also help with
other women's health issues, because they usually involve each other.
For instance, we do mammograms and pelvic exams, even for women who
aren't pregnant." I said, "And if you were shut down?" She said, "A lot
of women would suffer. Families would suffer. Children would suffer." I
said, "I will state for the record that you are correct about that. So,
one would think that people who want people to have those kinds of
help, would support you, and not try to murder you." She said, "You
don't have to convince me of that!" I said, "Break time."
Off air, I said to the abortion opponents, "Family Planning not
looking so much like monsters now?" Some nodded. Back on air, I said,
"Now for my position on abortion. Some might think I'm something of an
expert on sin. Maybe an authority. This is why the other religions
wanted me to speak for them. But I won't. I don't need to. Another
Prophet did it before me, Stephen. Yes, he was a Prophet, so when he
spoke about sin, he spoke God's words. I know this more, because I
would say the same things. In the studio it will be on the monitors.
Those at home will see it however the control room presents the
playback. Er, when they start?"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don said, "I have something new to report. Birth defects are down.
Way down. We think it's because of the healing broadcasts." Stephen
said, "I didn't know. I missed that, probably because the mothers'
feelings overshadowed the fetuses'. Thank you for letting the world
know." Stephen wiped some tears. He said, "That could also relate to
the fewer abortions we have noticed." Stephen said, "Good." He said,
"What is your opinion on abortion as an issue?" Stephen said, "I will
never have an abortion." He said, "In general." Stephen said, "As a
man, who will never have to face that kind of decision about my body
that a woman must, I don't feel fully qualified to have and express an
may shock some people, but I feel that death is not a bad thing. It
can't be, because all things in the material world that live, die, and
our souls, which are anchored in the spirit reality, can never die.
Most of us are born again, and again, into new lives. I deliberately
reincarnated into this life before I really needed to, for some
important reasons, and to enjoy a new life as a child again. Which I
did, and very well. So, I believe death is a good thing. But causing
death is a bad thing, and deciding it for other people, is a VERY bad
thing, for two related reasons. It is not our right to cause the death
of another person, except in defense of our lives, because only fate or
God, depending on your individual beliefs, has that right. But even
though it can sometimes be our right to kill another, such an act
severely harms our spirits. And that is even if we are justified. Those
who kill will suffer for it in this life and the next. Sometimes we
need to choose between evils in our lives, and then have to face the
consequences. Abortion is such a thing. But we are given free wills, so
we must choose."
Don said, "I didn't expect all that. What of the debate over when a
fetus becomes human?" Stephen said, "I can't resolve that, because
biologically and spiritually, it varies with each pregnancy, when a
fetus should be considered a human being. There is no regular specific
set time that a fetus acquires a soul, or can survive outside of the
body. But I can say this. The longer the fetus lives, the greater the
damage to the spirit of those who would cause its death." He said,
"Would you prohibit abortion?" Stephen said, "I am not able prohibit
abortion because that is a legal matter, not a spiritual matter.
However, I would strongly advise against an abortion in most cases, for
the reasons I've mentioned." He said, "And in some cases you would not
advise against it?" Stephen said, "Not strongly advise against it,
sometimes. If a woman is so traumatized by the pregnancy and possibly
what caused it, that she would kill herself rather than have the baby,
a choice must be made. The living have priority over the might live. If
a woman feels so strongly that she will seek an abortion no matter
what, even to the extent of performing it herself on her own body, I
cannot justify preventing her from having it done safely. In cases
where competent medical opinion states that the health or life of the
mother is endangered by the pregnancy, I would support the abortion,
but with great sadness."
He said, "Some parents would abort a fetus with birth defects, to
save the child from a suffering life." Stephen said, "They are mistaken
in one way, and may be wrong in another, regarding the abortion of a
fetus for survivable birth defects. One will always wonder how much of
their motivation was because of the inconvenience in all ways they
would have faced in raising such a child, and how deprived they and
their other children could be from that situation. And in some
cultures, great shame is associated with having a disabled child. These
are very serious issues to consider, and some families have not
survived intact because of them. The other part to consider, is that
they may be wrong in saving the child from the suffering that life
alone will bring it. It might not suffer as much as they think, and it
might NEED to suffer to some extent, for bad deeds committed in a past
life. Aborting that possible required suffering will just postpone it
to the next life, delaying the progression of that spirit toward
enlightenment. But I'm not saying that we should ever specifically
cause intentional suffering to anybody in accordance with what we may
think is God's will. That is wrong. We should not presume to know God's
will for other people. Or for us. What is best for us, is to act with
compassion and justice in every thing."
He said, "Reincarnation. That was not something I would have thought
of. Some argue against all abortions, because a genius like Einstein
might never be born." Stephen said, "I met him in my previous life. A
funny and kind man. Unfortunately, he is used falsely. Monsters like
Hitler are much more likely to be born, than a genius like Dr.
Einstein, in just calculating the odds, and not counting what an
unloved life can cause unwanted children to become. So, that argument
is wrong, even though I appreciate the sentiment, and not just because
I happen to be a genius myself. To those who strongly oppose abortion,
I say, I agree with you with my emotions, but in some ways, I disagree
with you in practice, because I care for ALL people. And one more
thing. Put your life where your voice is. You have no credibility in
trying to force women to bear unwanted children, if you do not adopt
and raise such children with love and care as your own. Children are
waiting NOW. Be a good example for all to follow. Live what you say, or
do not say it."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We went to break. Back, I said, "Abortion is a sin. So is
deliberately causing the suffering of the mother, by denying her the
choice of having an abortion she desperately wants. In choosing between
opposing sins, one must consider all the possible consequences WITHOUT
our own personal feelings interfering in that. The lives of other
people DEMAND fairness from us, not fanaticism. That is the religious
side. But we are in a land ruled by law. So, what does the law say
about this?" One said, "Federal law is not against abortion." I said,
"Why?" She said, "Roe v Wade." I said, "We all here know of that
Supreme Court decision, but what is the principle of law that caused
it? Ha! Greg, your turn." He said, "Roe V Wade was about privacy. Does
a person have the right to decide what happens inside his or her own
body?" I said, "That's based on constitutional issues, such as the
right to not incriminate yourself, which is the right to keep your mind
private, and the right that limits search and seizure, which is to keep
the outside of your body private. As long as those rights are in the
Constitution, I don't see that decision being overturned anytime soon.
In fact, if it WERE overturned, I probably wouldn't want to be an
American any longer. Not because of abortion, but because what it would
mean about the loss of what caused the original decision. Loss of
privacy, and the beginning of tyranny."
I said, "In summing up this meeting, we have discovered that most
women who ask about having an abortion, don't go through with it, and
don't need to be terrorized for life to cause that. We have learned
that Family Planning does a lot more to support real families, than
just perform abortions, and that they also think abortion is bad, but
sometimes necessary. It is my strong opinion that Family Planning
should be supported. We have heard that abortion is a sin among
competing sins, and that good judgement must be used in deciding on the
issues that women have to face, that men never will, but fathers DO
have some responsibility, too, and should be included in the
discussion. Now we can hear final comments." They said them. I received
some praise, even from those I had been harsh with. The Unitarian said,
"Medicine should not be interfered with by local politicians." I said,
"Absolutely right! Er, oops." Chuckles. I said, "I have to say it's not
because I'm a newly made physician. What you meant is that some state
and local laws were passed to harass Family Planning, specifically to
drive them out of business. That is severely unethical, unfair, and
discriminatory. I oppose that, and I might be moved to do that in
action." She was very happy with that. I said, "Oh oh! My mother, well,
they'd better watch out." Chuckles.
She said, "Solomon, would you do a God contact?" I said, "I would
advise against it. Last time He showed some anger. Could be worse here.
For your information, of all of you, I would feel it the most." She was
conflicted. She said, "I understand. I still ask." I said, "A majority
vote, and dissenters will be out of the link on request." They all
voted for it. I said, "Mom? Hawk?" They ported in. Mom said, "Safety in
numbers?" I said, "Alright. Take a number." She poked me, and I said,
"Ouch." Hawk laughed. The rest chuckled. I said to Mom and Hawk, "Going
and kisses. I said to the group, "Yes, we men kiss each other, too.
Well, we don't really care that much about the bodies our souls are in
when we are with each other. We SEE and KNOW the soul, which has no
gender, and our love is direct and endless." My elders nodded.
I started the love broadcast, and God joined us and said, "Solomon is
my Senior Prophet for all time and spaces, greater than the Prophets
Stephen, Rose, and Hawk. Do not deny their wisdom, for it is also
mine!" Then Dad came into the link, and said, "Rose and Hawk, I'm VERY
proud of you. I wanted you do know that directly." He gave them special
love. I said, "Dad, I don't like it that He put me above you." He said
with love, "I understand, but it is what it is. I'll say it again. Take
it like a Prophet!" I gave him a rude noise, and he laughed. He and God
combined gave us their love again, and left. I stopped the broadcast.
They were all in shock and awe. I poked Greg, and he repeated what was
said in the contact, and described the feelings. There were a lot of
wows in the middle of that. Hawk and Mom practically mauled me was
affection. When I could, I said, "Please! Not in front of everybody!"
She said, "Shut it!" I just sighed, amid chuckles. Greg closed the
show.
He said to me, "You actually gave part of God a bronx cheer!" I said,
"Do you know how hard it is to do that just with the mind?" He said,
"That's besides the point." I said, "God knows how I feel. Expressing
it makes no difference in that, except that it gives Him the
opportunity to react to it if He wants to." He said, "Oh. I didn't
understand that. Thanks for the clarification. I think I denied your
wisdom." I said, "No, you questioned it. When that encourages greater
understanding, that's a good thing." Mom said, "He really is the wisest
of us, but he's so personable, we always seem to overlook that, and
then be surprised when it's expressed." Greg said, "You're wise, too.
God really wasn't wrong about that." Hawk said, "Nice of you to agree
with God." Greg said, "I didn't mean it the way it sounded. Er, I
think." Chuckles. I gave Greg a memory card, and said, "If you want to
use this extra bit, you may." He said, "Oh! Thank you! It's
educational. We should." We nodded. I said to the Minister, "What you
expected?" She said, "No expectations, but it was something I'll
treasure as long as I live." I said, "We feel that way, too, each
time." I offered hugs, and they all wanted them. Mom and Hawk's, too.
We hugged them all, in rotation, and then went home. I said to the
waiting Galagos, "I'll try to include you in one soon." He said, "How
did you know?" Hawk poked him, and they laughed.
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Grant
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