Dr Allan A. Carlson, in addition to his roles as president of the Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society in Rockford, Illinois, and as international secretary of the World Congress of Families, is also professor of history and politics at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. A few weeks ago one of his colleagues there,…
There are plenty of criticisms of, and objections to, the pro-life position. I have dealt with many of them over the years, and I find them easily answerable. A close look at these objections usually shows they are without much value and generally based on fallacious and errant thinking. Here I wish to raise two more common myths about the pro-life position. Both have to do with values, beliefs and faith. Both involve the assumption that, in the abortion debate, anyone who is opposed to the procedure is merely seeking to ram his values or religion down the throat of…
Once, euthanasia advocacy was supposed to be chiefly concerned about sparing people unnecessary pain and discomfort towards the end of their lives. Pain is really not the issue any longer, if it ever really was. Palliative medicine has developed, particularly in recent years, to a point where virtually all pain can be dealt with. If any concern remains here, it is really more about ensuring that everyone has access to high quality services. The arguments for euthanasia these days seem to be more about the fear of growing old or of developing an age or illness-related disability. Three people who…
Kevin Rudd coined the expression “Australia’s education revolution” during his first term as prime minister and has long considered education a key policy issue fundamental to future prosperity and wellbeing. In the context of the forthcoming election it’s reasonable to expect Rudd, once again, to put education centre stage and to argue that an ALP government is best placed to strengthen schools, raise standards and improve teacher effectiveness. The reality will prove otherwise. Not only is Rudd’s record on education during his first term as prime minister characterised by costly, ineffective and wasteful policy initiatives; but, in addition, the Australian…
