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Understanding??

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2002 9:56 am
by Soroush Ebrahimi
Dear Nancy

I have a problem in the fact that I cannot get to grips with some of the
ideas that have been expresses:

You have stated that "in matriarchal societies abortion is not necessary."

You say one of the reasons for abortion is that we live in patriarchal
society.

I understand that feminists want to achieve a matriarchal society once
again.

But feminists however, vehemently support the mother's right to abortion.
Although this process means that they completely ignore the baby's right to
LIFE).

Is it right to fight a patriarchal society by killing an unborn and innocent
child (almost 50% of whom are female!!) to make a political point and doings
it in name of the woman (mother's) right?

It sound a bit like "fighting for peace."

So why are the feminists so pro abortion?

In my view a woman's right over her body should be exercised BEFORE
conception, not afterwards (and this is why I have excluded Rape from the
equation and also medical complications where continued pregnancy would
endanger the mother's life)..

This does not mean that I as a homoeopath I cannot understand the
justification that there may have been at least in her
mind. What I am trying to achieve is to broaden this understanding, one
point of which may that the patient has made a series of mistakes and also
has made poor logical analysis of the situation etc, or has had poor
education/counselling and has ended up in making a decision which is not
without immediate and long-term consequences for herself.

And lastly I don't know how you can make such a strong statement about
children being unwanted - They may not be wanted by their biological
parents, but there is a queue of childless couples (and also couples with
children) who would like to adopt.
As demonstrate by couples who have risked a great deal (even prison) in
trying to secure a child from abroad!

May I request that you kindly attend to the questions raised above and reply
to them in order. Hopefully I (and perhaps others) will learn something from
them.

What I am trying to achieve out of these discussions is not to score points,
but to learn more about some difficult issues that confronts our patients.
Making political/sexist issues out of the process is not, in my view, for
this site. I want to stick to homoeopathy and to improve the dynamic of the
patient/homoeopath interaction.

I wish us all GOOD HEALING
Soroush
=======
From: "Nancy Siciliana"
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 1:10 PM
The sad thing is that you believe I've made your point...

Abortion--when it is SOLELY the woman's choice to bear or not bear a child,
for her own reasons--absolutely values life over things.

It values HER life over the idea that she, and the life that she could bear,
are chattel which belong to some man.

It values each individual life brought into the world, in that every child
born is a child who is wanted.

Perhaps if I altered your words a little bit:

eg: "Abortion (as we know it to take place in our own society) arises as a
result of (the Patriarchal mindset) valuing things over people, and violence
over cooperation".

I'd be in some form of agreement with you.

Feminists do not support abortion because men want it (to eradicate
inconvenient responsibilities), but because women must have the right to
determine for themselves their own reproductive lives. That is quite a
different thing from what patriarchy aims to achieve.

Those who are against a woman's right to choose (mostly men) are interested
in denying that right simply because they wish to deny a woman this right to
have complete say over how she and her body will be used.

The desire to "own" and control another is the most profoundly violent act
in patriarchy, as well as its basis of existence. In my opinion, this far
outweighs any violence in nature, as well as any violence which results from
a woman deciding not to bear a child.

Nancy
=====
From: Phosphor
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 2:40 AM

Nancy said this..
Ancient Rome, just like ancient Greece, was far from matriarchal.
Infanticide was (and continues to be) practiced widely in patriarchal
societies; no evidence of infanticide has been found to exist in the
matriarchal societies.

and this...

This is why feminists are so keen to educate people to the existence of
these matriarchal societies.

I hardly surprising that the feminists contradict themselves whenever they
open their mouths on this issue. They support abortion, the most violent
"patriarchal" activity imaginable. If it wasn't tragic it would be
laughable.

Andrew

Re: Understanding??

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2002 1:36 pm
by Tanya Marquette
What you dont seem to understand is that there is a basic value judgement in all your comments. That value judgement concerns the view that abortion is murder. If you cant step out of that paradigm, there can be no understanding of the opposing views presented on this list.

I would have a lot less problem with your position, if you would at least recognize where you are coming from. Instead, you seem to want there to be a monolithic understanding and sharing of values that can be imposed on all--even when it is against their interest and choice. I find this to be disrespectful, but more so, frightening. I cant imagine how you can take cases without making value judgements that translate into your practice.

I will offer this experience, in brief. I saw a male homeopath a number of years ago. I thought he was at least trying to work on his consciousness and attitudes. The situation turned really sour at one point, but it took me a while to understand what was happening. As a 'patient' my mindset was to be open and try to trust him. As a consequence he made some really poor choices because his attitudes got in the way. I might even say there was intent to prevent cure. Over the years, I met several other people treated by this man. What was interesting and germaine to this discussion, is that only the men I met seemed to like him; all the women quit working with him because his implicit attitudes and judgements agains women were so obnoxious.

tanya
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: Understanding??

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2002 3:28 pm
by Nancy Siciliana
Clearly you just refuse to pay attention to the endless repetitions everyone is making to you.

I have listed sources you may refer to for follow up. I also suggest you take a look at the realities of the world--and women's experience in it--with empathy and an open mind. You are tossing off what you think are pat solutions which really are not as sound as you seem to think...and you willingly deny much of the pain involved for both parent and child in the inadequate solutions you suggest. I would suggest you go out and take a look for yourself at what you propose as solutions. Talk to the children in those systems. Use all your senses to make your judgement.

If you want to know what it is feminists want--as you seem to think you do know--I would suggest you do some research here, too. Since feminism is the most broadly swept philosophical analysis of culture ever to come out of western society, and it covers such diversity in focus and perspective, I would suggest you go to any library and start reading. I spent many, many years doing this--and I'm not about to start paraphrasing or oversimplifying political thought just so you can save a few days' work.
It is YOUR responsibility to understand this stuff--and your patients' as well. If you aren't willing to do the work, then your patients will suffer. It is as simple as that.
If you truly have a problem "getting to grips" with some of the ideas expressed, then you will do what it takes to try and comprehend them. Here's a big tip: I believe it was Tanya who suggested you ask yourself why you need to believe what you need to believe about women (though she was much more specific here) and take it from there.

I'd really like to help you comprehend this stuff, and I believe I've offered so many resources to you already that you're so quick to shrug off and ignore. So I don't believe you're sincere about understanding any of it. When I sense this insincerity, I lose all interest in continuing, unfortunately. If you just don't want to get it, you just don't want to get it, and there's nothing I can do about it.

Nancy

Re: Understanding??

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2002 3:28 pm
by Soroush Ebrahimi
Dear Colleagues

There are a number of issues involved:

1- The dynamic between Hom & Pt
2- Hom's personal attitudes/beliefs
3- The Hom trying to find all aspects of an issue (of which s/he may not
have had any direct experience).

Re Point 1.
As far as I am concerned when discussing any issues with my patients I am
trying to find out the aspects of the presenting problem (Who what why where
when how etc). This I do to the best of my availability with max empathy to
my patient.

Re Point 2
My position is that life is God's gift and one should not turn one's back on
it to point of extinguishing it. That is a personal belief, which is only
being shared here because this I believe is the right forum for it and as
such it is educational as it has been listening to other colleagues' beliefs
and understanding of life.

Re Point 3
In trying to do my job as a homoeopath, I have raised some issues on this
forum which I am delighted to report has had the result of quickly and
simply showing me the depth and breadth of issues involved whether a woman
decides to continue with the pregnancy or to abort her unborn. For this I
am thankful to the colleagues who have shared their very deep and personal
feeling with the rest of us.

I know that some difficult aspects regarding abortion were raised and I hope
through sharing, the burden is now less.

Thank you all for my continued education, I hope you have benefited also.

Soroush

Re: Understanding??

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2002 8:58 am
by Dave Hartley
Dear Soroush,

Your contributions on homeopathy have been excellent, and certainly some
good has (or may, as the various ideas filter thru individual's
consciousness) come from (hopefully ENDED) recent discussions of morality,
theocracy, feminism, abortion, adoption, and so on.

I believe that the MOST valuable single concept that may've been approached
is the PARAMOUNT importance of being an unbiased observer as a homeopath.

regards,

Dave Hartley
http://www.localcomputermart.com
Santa Cruz, CA (831)423-4284

Tri-Cities Computer (TN) |Asheville Computer (NC)
423-952-0983 or 877-245-3362 |(828)285-0240
$9.95 internet http://www.federalisp.com/?page=ispsignup

Re: Understanding??

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2002 9:17 am
by Dave Hartley
It is so very simple to continue such discussions via PRIVATE email, or to
also very simply create or join an appropriate group, or make an impromptu
informal group by including the email addresses of interested parties.

Out of respect for ppl who wish to communicate regarding HOMEOPATHY on this
list, could all who wish to continue off-topic discussions kindly consider
doing so OFF-LIST ?

thx,
Dave Hartley
http://www.localcomputermart.com
Santa Cruz, CA (831)423-4284

Tri-Cities Computer (TN) |Asheville Computer (NC)
423-952-0983 or 877-245-3362 |(828)285-0240
$9.95 internet http://www.federalisp.com/?page=ispsignup

Re: Understanding??

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2002 1:17 pm
by Soroush Ebrahimi
Absolutely!

Who, what, where, when, why, How etc need do be found out about each aspect
of every case, with empathy warmth and kindness.

Rgds
Soroush