Joe Munroe – 10/1/08

This page was last updated on October 5, 2008.

What about war’s innocent victims?; Joe Munroe; Beaver County Times; October 1, 2008.

Below is a detailed critique of the letter.

“This is in response to Thursday’s letter to the editor ‘You can back war and be pro-life.’

[RWC] The subject letter responded to “You can’t back war and be pro-life.”

“Maybe we need a clarification of what pro-life means.

“My understanding was that it means that you are against the taking of an innocent life for any reason. If not, it seems to be much too broad of a phrase to describe only the abortion issue.”

[RWC] I don’t know Mr. Munroe, but it’s hard to believe that after all these years he doesn’t know today’s common usage of “pro-life” means anti-abortion, just as “pro-choice” really means supporting abortion as a means of birth control.

“If so, there are always plenty of innocents killed in war. Many of the regular citizens of countries involved in wars are killed in what is usually termed ‘collateral damage.’

“Don’t get me wrong. If one feels they are pro-life, that is their decision, and I am not against that view. However, I do think it is in direct conflict with being pro-war.”

[RWC] Who is “pro-war?” Supporting a war deemed to be necessary for national defense/security is not the same as being “pro-war.”