nytimes electronic letter to the editor

[James Kelly]

Since most of the guys I know are too busy to waste their time reading letters to the editor, much less electronically, I thought I better try to get your notice directly.  And, remember, liturgically today is MERCY SUNDAY.  Blessings, jim kelly

To the Editor:

I thought that the critical sentence in Ross Douthat’s column was “There is something to be said for a pro-life movement that talks less in the language of partisanship and proceduralism and sounds more like the utopian and not simply conservative cause that its logic ultimately requires it to be.”

But he doesn’t mention the links to the “consistent ethic of life,” the “seamless garment” and the nonviolent organizations that strive to keep alive the utopian moral insight that killing is never the answer, as violence leads only to more violence.

James R. Kelly
Brooklyn
The writer is professor emeritus of sociology at Fordham University.

[Gerry Drummond]

Hey Jim, 

When was this published? Two sentences! How "utopian" is that?

I saved Douthat's article you refer to but I have yet to read it. (We only get Sunday's Times now but pay for the daily electronic.) You've now put me into digging it up and figuring whether Douthat, by applying a utopian looking glass, means, or will be taken to mean, an unrealizable ideal? 

This is your emeritus forte. Why don't you write Douthat a one-pager?  And make the seamless garment/killing-begetting-more-killing argument  conscientious common sense. Maybe he'll respond?

When I was helping Cesar Chavez Lettuce Boycott (only one knife threat) in NYC upon my return from the Philippines in late '70-'71, I remember driving a team organizer and myself to an event upstate and arguing  about abortion (She raised the issue.). If you saw Game of Thrones, the young woman looked exactly like Jon Snow's red-haired and freckled Wilding flame.  We were committed to the boycott and its "nonviolent" philosophy, which "don't buy" stress , frankly,  does some "violence" to the actors on both sides.  My Wilding colleague had brought up the "Pre-Roe" abortion debate and was as committed as the Wildings were to their frozen cause. So we differed on this sensitive issue, on which I could not agree with her and told her as understandingly as possible.  

If I used the term "utopia" to explain my religious and secular belief, (she knew I was a Jesuit in studies), she probably would have jumped out of the car.  Absent complicating factors like rape, incest, mother's death, the beginning of life, I felt my view was simple core values, common sense, for someone who believed human life was a gift and direct termination of it was something I could not do.  At the same time, I felt I could not judge her, even if I openly disagreed with her arguments. I could see grey area--but not in her presentation. And I left it at that. We didn't discuss abortion after that, ever.  Only working the boycott.

Real life complicating factors? A woman raped leaving work or school and then taken to the hospital and a rape kit applied. I'm sure you've known women like this.  A utopian conundrum? Or dirty reality? And the need to "be there" for the sacredness of life and self-direction?  And different decisions made and lived with. . . And a Catholic Church, on the diocesan and parish level, still crunching itself with male clericalism, locking the laity out of meaningful structures and ways to communicate the reality before them and the actions needed. 

=========================================

To change the subject: 

• My fraternal twin grandchildren's first T-ball game was yesterday Saturday April 10, 2021. The boys are only 4 and a half. Because of Covid, they had to wear masks.  The game, in effect, was the first practice. First time, Nick hit the ball off the T and eventually scored. Next time, he nubbed it to near the mound and walked to get the ball and put it back on the T to get a better shot. 
• But the manager, whom he -- as with his teammates--had just met each other that day, told him he couldn't do that. Nick argued and lost the argument. And was a good sport about it.  (His mom and grand mom were watching while, back home, his father's brothers and I were helping clear land on his new property in central Jersey.) The other twin ran to his mother crying when the game was over and refused to join Nick in the team's last huddle.
• The twins' first day of organized baseball.
• Meantime, on the west coast in LA, the same day, my 8-year-old-granddaughter is the only girl on a boy's baseball team, coached by her father and assisted by her 10 year old brother.  (She struck out twice. Caught and pitched, hitting one batter.)
• 
  

God's Blessings,

Gerry

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[Bob Goger]

Jim, looks like you didn’t make the final cut...yet.  Am curious whether Ross gets around to reading the letters he provokes.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 11, 2021, at 4:24 PM, James Kelly <jkjr...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[James Kelly]

Well, the TIMES showed once again that it only does what's fit to be print, as they have Douthat responses oday - 5 of them - but mine goes solely electronically.. But, hey,  something electronically is better than nothing in print. But prayers all-around, and especially for the center of it all, women unwillingly and often without the necessary means and help who find themselves pregnant.  Blessings, jim

[Bob Goger]

Yes, I see now that your worthy contribution to the discussion has found its rightful place in the fullness of screentime.  Congrats.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 12, 2021, at 9:48 AM, James Kelly <jkjr...@gmail.com> wrote: