2003-02-05 - 5:35 p.m.

So I was daydreaming during my Logic in Philosophy class today - about abortion. That's not something I think about often and when pressed about my beliefs on the issue, I usually respond with "whatever works". So, yeah, I'm pro-choice. What drives me nuts about the issue is that my thoughts on abortion are more a gut-instinct, or just what makes sense to me, as opposed to thoroughly examining the controversy and coming to an appropriate conclusion on my own. I realized today why abortion isn't really something that I can feel passionate about. I think that the issue of whether someone is alive or not boils down to a matter of perspective, not science (although ones perspective may certainly be influenced by science). In my opinion, it's not about physical development, cognition or any of the other markers that people use to define "living". Life begins when a bond is forged between two humans. It doesn't have to be dualistic, meaning that it can be a bond that is forged from one person to another, but not vice-versa. So, for an unborn child, it isn't truly living until one of its parents has established a bond with it. Doesn't that happen right off the bat, though? Not necessarily. Especially at the beginning of the pregnancy, it's super easy to not even think about something growing inside the womb and when one does think of it, it is still as a thing, an "it". At some point, though, this changes. One begins to anticipate future interactions with the child. That's the transistion. That thing growing inside is now another living human, just like the one that established the bond in the first place. Ok, sorry - I think I'll just drop the whole thing. It just isn't all that interesting... I met this girl at the supermarket and we ended up having a great conversation and exchanging phone numbers. I was so excited! She seemed like just the kind of person I'd like to get to know better. Oh, she's really cute to boot. I come to find out later that she's only sixteen years old. Dammit! It made me feel old, perverted and depressed until I figured out that I just needed to alter my expectations a bit. So, I promised myself to enjoy her company without even thinking about getting involved otherwise. We went to San Francisco last weekend and had a good time walking down Haight Street, looking for stuff to put on my walls, vintage clothing and a bong for her friend. I desperately wanted to hang out in Golden Gate Park and listen to the drum circle, watch people playing and maybe kick back on the grass with a nice joint. By the time we got down to the park, it was time for us to go home. We had both made promises to friends that we'd go out with them later. I did end up buying two things to put on my walls. My favorite is the Jesus Action Figure (with poseable arms & gliding action!) I would never even have seen the other thing if Jennifer hadn't been there. We were leaving one of the headshops when she got all excited and told me to look up. It was a tie-dyed tapestry with a giant mushroom in the middle that said "Have a nice trip!" at the bottom. It's now hanging above my bed. Lovely! I'm gonna go play with Jesus now...