What is it about fetuses that makes them so doggone adorable? There must be some reason that so-called pro-life supporters are so devoted to them. For many of these individuals, their lives revolve around protecting and advocating for countless unknown fetuses, so there must be a strong motivational factor somewhere.
I have my own pet theory and I think it well explains why the devotion to fetuses rarely translates into political or social support for the baby that was once the beloved fetus.
A fetus in the womb is like a canvas that is blank. Without any markings on it, anyone can imagine any picture they want and no one can tell them they are wrong. In psychological terms, this is called projection. The pro-life advocate can project anything they desire on a nebulous fetus.
Once the fetus becomes a baby and is birthed, pixels begin to fill into the canvas. The child develops a unique personality and has its own wants and needs. The facade of the projection is destroyed and now we must deal with the baby on human-to-human terms.
Dealing with viable human beings is a messy business. What you want isn't always what they want. What you believe is best is not always what they view as best. The picture you envision doesn't always match up with the picture they envision.
In order to avoid all these necessary complications, it is so much easier to pour one's heart and soul into this thing that can't argue with you. It will forever remain -- unless it's born -- whatever you want to believe it is and can be.
I have my own pet theory and I think it well explains why the devotion to fetuses rarely translates into political or social support for the baby that was once the beloved fetus.
A fetus in the womb is like a canvas that is blank. Without any markings on it, anyone can imagine any picture they want and no one can tell them they are wrong. In psychological terms, this is called projection. The pro-life advocate can project anything they desire on a nebulous fetus.
Once the fetus becomes a baby and is birthed, pixels begin to fill into the canvas. The child develops a unique personality and has its own wants and needs. The facade of the projection is destroyed and now we must deal with the baby on human-to-human terms.
Dealing with viable human beings is a messy business. What you want isn't always what they want. What you believe is best is not always what they view as best. The picture you envision doesn't always match up with the picture they envision.
In order to avoid all these necessary complications, it is so much easier to pour one's heart and soul into this thing that can't argue with you. It will forever remain -- unless it's born -- whatever you want to believe it is and can be.
What a great message "again" you have brought forth. I see from what you are saying that it is very easy to put forth such phony noble attention and sacrifice towards something in time that doesn't really take much sacrifice. Then when the fetus becomes a real something that requires community support, society doesn't want to have anything to do with REAL sacrifice and support.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, there certainly ARE people who are consistent: they are supportive of the fetus AND of the baby to child through adulthood. In my experience, however, the number of these people ("pro-lifers") are few and far between.
ReplyDeleteWould not the fetus be the "Pu" of Taoist teaching? A being of pure potential and experience, untouched my intention? Perhaps our friends practice wu wei in ways we are not aware.
ReplyDeleteAnd is not their action by lack of action after the birth of fetus exactly as taught by wu wei?
Would not their distaste with the fetus be directly related to their realization that through her struggle and birth, that the now so-called child has turned her back on the Tao by her intent and expression of will on the universe? (Boys even more so in my experience)
Perhaps we lack the jewel of humility in our criticism?