SOBRAN'S --
The Real News of the Month
November 2005
Volume 12, Number 11
Editor: Joe Sobran
Publisher: Fran Griffin (Griffin Communications)
Managing Editor: Ronald N. Neff
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CONTENTS
Features
-> The War on Innocence
-> Publisher's Note
"Reactionary Utopian" Columns Reprinted in This Issue
FEATURES
The War on Innocence
(page 1)
Of all the subjects I write about, abortion is the
most unpleasant, even more revolting than war. To this
day I can hardly believe that many civilized people
accept the killing of innocent human beings as a right
that ought to be protected, even subsidized, by the
state. In war at least the victims may have a chance to
defend themselves, and even to act with heroism. Abortion
is so much bleaker that it's depressing to contemplate.
For me it will always be a sickening horror.
It doesn't help that abortion is justified by
specious arguments, as well as absurd slanders on its
opponents, who merely maintain what was a moral consensus
not long ago. In various ways, the anti-abortion people
are called "extremists" -- as if killing the innocent
weren't itself a fanatical cause. Even as the value of
the "fetus" is denigrated, and the plain word "kill" is
carefully avoided, we're told that choosing to abort is a
"difficult," "painful," or "wrenching" decision, and most
doctors won't perform abortions. These facts tell you
what the consciences of even abortion advocates really
say. The practice can't be justified without hypocrisy.
The lying extends to the political claim that
abortion is protected by the U.S. Constitution. This is
so obviously false that it's discouraging to have to
pretend that anyone really believes it. Not only does the
text say nothing about abortion; in 1973 the U.S. Supreme
Court, then dominated by liberals, struck down the
abortion laws of all 50 states, implying that =all= those
states had =always= misapplied the Constitution. This
insults common sense; it would be plausible only if there
had been, along the way, vocal minorities protesting
those laws on constitutional grounds. But there never had
been, and until 1973 even the most liberal justices had
never taken such a position.
Why did the Court suddenly adopt it then? Only, it
was transparently clear, because the cause of legal
abortion had just come into fashion, and the Court's
liberals, with the notable exception of Byron White, were
willing to achieve that result in any way they could,
however disingenuously they had to argue. Law became
lethal. In a flash, slaughtering the innocent became the
American Way.
The enormity of the ruling -- not only in morality,
but in jurisprudence -- didn't sink in for a while. Even
those who were stunned by it were caught off guard by
this coup, a plain usurpation of the powers reserved to
the states. Resistance took several forms, all
unavailing: protests, physical interference with abortion
clinics, proposed constitutional amendments (as if the
Constitution were the problem!), and political action to
reverse the decision (chiefly by the hopelessly
roundabout way of electing conservative Republicans).
As far as I can recall, nobody so much as suggested
impeaching members of the Court, or even executive
measures to make the ruling ineffectual. The Court's coup
was given legitimacy by the passivity of the American
public as well as its political and religious leadership.
The abortion fanatics took the high ground they have held
ever since.
It would be wonderful if this curse could pass. For
one thing, I'd never have to write about it again.
Publisher's Note
(page 2)
Dear Loyal Subscriber,
Our annual SOBRAN'S Charter Subscriber party was held
the first weekend in December. It was a joyful occasion
at the charming Maggiano's Little Italy in Virginia.
Thanks to all of our benefactors who made the 11th
anniversary party possible.
Accomplished author and friend of SOBRAN'S, Tom
Bethell, attended the event with his latest book -- THE
POLITICALLY INCORRECT GUIDE TO SCIENCE (Regnery
Publishing, Inc.). It is a marvelous book and a favorite
of Joe's. You can buy it at www.amazon.com.
Another book showcased was NEO-CONNED! JUST WAR
PRINCIPLES: A CONDEMNATION OF WAR IN IRAQ from IHS Press
(available at www.ihspress.com). The book includes essays
by Joe Sobran, Tom Fleming of CHRONICLES magazine, Pat
Buchanan, Charley Reese, and Sam Francis. It is the first
in a two-volume anthology on the Iraq war.
Michael Peroutka, the Constitution Party candidate
for president in 2004, took his lead in his address
"Let's Not be Foolish" from American humorist Josh
Billings: "It ain't what a man don't know that makes him
a fool; it's the things he does know that ain't so."
Writer and political activist Peter Gemma, talked
about the new book he is editing for the Fitzgerald
Griffin Foundation: SHOTS FIRED: SAM FRANCIS ON AMERICA'S
CULTURE WAR. Pat Buchanan is writing the Foreword and Joe
Sobran is penning the Afterword.
In attendance were a number of luminaries, including
another presidential candidate of the Constitution Party,
Howard Phillips, who had inspired Mr. Peroutka's
candidacy, as well as that of Frank Creel, who challenged
Congressman Tom Davis (R-Va.) in 2002. Dr. Creel gave an
eloquent introduction of Joe Sobran, who gave us a warm
and moving address.
I announced that we have a book and a booklet in the
works right now. The book is titled THE ESSENTIAL JOE
SOBRAN and will comprise major essays by Joe from
NATIONAL REVIEW, HUMAN LIFE REVIEW, SOBRAN'S, and other
sources from 1972 to the present. It will be a large
volume and a handsome addition to your collection.
The booklet is REGIME CHANGE BEGINS AT HOME. It is
the second in our series of pocket-sized quotation
booklets and will include excerpts from SOBRAN'S. Both
will be released early in 2006. We will keep you posted
on how to obtain both them and CDs and DVDs of our
celebration.
The Rev. Matthew Mitas of St. Louis, Missouri, led
the opening prayer and the Rev. Kenneth Baker, editor of
HOMILETIC AND PASTORAL REVIEW, said the closing prayer.
Joe persevered in 2005 through a very tough year for
his health. He is one of God's instruments of the truth
who is able to enlighten us and dispel some of our
blindness. How blessed we are to have such a lamp to show
us the way in these chaotic times!
Joe will be celebrating his 60th birthday on
February 23, 2006. We have engaged a hall in Falls
Church, Virginia, and are planning a party for him. How
would you like to help by being a sponsor of the event?
See the insert included in this newsletter if you want to
help out or attend.
Wishing you a blessed Christmas happy new year,
Fran Griffin
REPRINTED COLUMNS ("The Reactionary Utopian")
(pages 3-12)
* The Constitution and Common Sense (November 3, 2005)
http://www.sobran.com/columns/2005/051103.shtml
* Words of Choice (November 8, 2005)
http://www.sobran.com/columns/2005/051108.shtml
* Orwell's Fable, Bush's Reality (November 15, 2005)
http://www.sobran.com/columns/2005/051115.shtml
* Slick Willie and Gauche George (November 17, 2005)
http://www.sobran.com/columns/2005/051117.shtml
* C.S. Lewis in the Dock (November 22, 2005)
http://www.sobran.com/columns/2005/051122.shtml
* National Socialism Comes to America (November 24, 2005)
http://www.sobran.com/columns/2005/051124.shtml
* Saddam's Defense (November 29, 2005)
http://www.sobran.com/columns/2005/051129.shtml
* Roe and Rot (December 1, 2005)
http://www.sobran.com/columns/2005/051201.shtml
* Good News -- at a Price (December 6, 2005)
http://www.sobran.com/columns/2005/051206.shtml
* What's in a Pronoun? (December 8, 2005)
http://www.sobran.com/columns/2005/051208.shtml
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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[ENDS]