Vanity Abortions

[StMichael]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' date='Jun 1 2004, 02:29 PM'] Brave New World was an anti-utopian book of satire written by Aldous Huxley in 1931...
Here's an excerpt --

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In the "brave new world" of 632 A. F. (After Ford), universal human happiness has been achieved. (Well, almost.) Control of reproduction, genetic engineering, conditioning--especially via repetitive messages delivered during sleep--and a perfect pleasure drug called "Soma" are the cornerstones of the new society. Reproduction has been removed from the womb and placed on the conveyor belt, where reproductive workers tinker with the embryos to produce various grades of human beings, ranging from the super-intelligent Alpha Pluses down to the dwarfed semi-moron Epsilons.

Each class is conditioned to love its type of work and its place in society; for example, Epsilons are supremely happy running elevators. Outside of their work, people spend their lives in constant pleasure. This involves consuming (continually buying new things, whether they need them or not), participating in elaborate sports, and free-floating sex. While uninhibited sex is universal and considered socially constructive, love, marriage, and parenthood are viewed as obscene.

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So in the book, the "less intelligent" weren't killed off like they are now. They were just conditioned to do menial labor. Henry Ford replaces Jesus Christ, ( i.e. "in the year of our Ford") and everything is about efficiency and sex.

The basic plot is a "savage" from a reservation (someone like you or me who is a product of the "old way" i.e. natural birth, and values etc.) in New Mexico is forced to either accept this utopia or death. He chooses to die. It's not a very cheerful book...     

I have a copy of it, and 1984, at home. I find dystopian lore interesting for some reason. [/quote]
In NYC public schools, they no longer refer to BC or AD, it is BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (The Common Era).

So, while the placement is still around Our Lord, the reference is being removed.

Edited June 1, 2004 by StMichael

[Ash Wednesday]

I think one of the reasons why I'm drawn to dystopian stories is because they illustrate how man cannot achieve "happiness" and "perfection" by his own modern means and ideals in this world -- i.e. without the gospel.

I don't think I've ever seen a family with a mentally handicapped child that wasn't still happy. Yuppies with three-car garage and 'perfect' kids, on the other hand, I can name a few dysfunctional ones.

[let_go_let_God]

This is just sick and twisted and sad. There is something that we should do, maybe bring up legislation in our homestates? Maybe I'm just thinking out of anger, but something must be done.

[BurkeFan]

[quote name='let_go_let_God' date='Jun 1 2004, 10:36 PM'] This is just sick and twisted and sad. There is something that we should do, maybe bring up legislation in our homestates? Maybe I'm just thinking out of anger, but something must be done. [/quote]
To quote the Burke that I took my name after, Archbishop Burke, from his letter 'On the Dignity of Human Life and Civic Responsiblity' in the section, 'Praying Above All':

[i]The Fifth Diocesan Synod has reminded us that “the primary means to be employed in restoring respect for all human life is prayer, especially prayer before the Blessed Sacrament” (Synod V Acts, p. 434, n. 218). In meeting the challenge of promoting the respect for all human life during the coming elections, I urge individuals, families and parishes to make regularly the Holy Hour for Life (cf. Ibid., p. 434, n. 219). Christ, Who came to give His life for the salvation of all and Who sacramentally renews the outpouring of His Life for us in the Holy Eucharist, will not fail to hear our prayer on behalf of all who suffer threats to their right to life.

In this time when the dignity of human life is threatened and assaulted in so many ways, we pray through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Star of the New Evangelization and Patroness of Life. The Mother of God appeared on our beloved continent in 1531 to show forth God’s immeasurable mercy and love for all His children of America, especially the native peoples. By her apparitions, she hastened the end of the widespread and horrible pagan practice of human sacrifice, and she confirmed the dignity of all human life. May she, in our time, inspire and foster the conversion of America to the Gospel of her Divine Son, which is, first and foremost, the Gospel of Life. Our prayers offered through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe will not go unanswered.[/i]

We must pray.

In Christ, Dave

[voiciblanche]

The only joy I can pull from this is that as we pray for the babies who are about to be aborted, the aborted ones in Heaven are praying for us...

Edited June 2, 2004 by voiciblanche

[voiciblanche]

Oh, it still kills me. A deformed foot? I know a woman with two babies already in Heaven and one that could end up joining them who would be happy to have that precious baby. She would love that little foot. How couldn't you love that foot? Oh, this kills me so much. I'm crying my eyes out...please, everyone, pray so much. Pray so much.