Palace of the Governors Photo Archives
Letters, August 9: “No Good”
Yes Extremist
Joe Cieszinski's pro-life letter states that "biological life begins at conception." This rationale is used to attempt to prohibit abortifacients, but it is a misleading idea since the brain stem does not develop immediately. … Biological life does not equal sentient life.
One issue in this debate that I never see discussed is where the soul comes in. ... Since the capacity for sentience, or consciousness, only develops later in the fetus, that means the soul cannot enter immediately. … Some people think that the individual soul usually begins to familiarize itself with the new body it will inhabit, at between six to eight months. Before that, it's not worth it, since the fetus is neurologically undeveloped. …
The church does much good within the world. However, its pro-life position—originally established for the selfish purpose of growing congregations—has been eclipsed by the enormous problem of over-population, which it helped create. Christianity was not mandated as a tyrannical force, and the church should have the courage to drop an extremist position which the Bible, and especially Jesus, does not specifically address.
Barry Hatfield
Santa Fe
A&C, July 26: “Back to the Barrio: The Dogpatch”
By Any Other Name...
As a native Santa Fean, I resided on the east side of Santa Fe in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. East Palace Avenue and Cerro Gordo Road was known as Chinatown, home of the 13s. Los Conchos were from the College Street, Bull Switche area (Old Santa Fe Trail). Banana Hill was the name of the Hillside Avenue neighborhood.
PS: In 1961, I attended Manderfield Elementary School with Cheo Armijo.
Joseph Lobato Howland
Santa Fe
CORRECTION
Jacqueline Williams was a clinical psychologist with Christus St. Vincent. "An Uphill Climb" (Aug. 9) misstated her job title.
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