friday, October 30, 1981
daily nebraskan
Psychologist views sides
of euthanasia, abortion issues
The controversy over such issues as eu
thanasia and abortion, which involve
choices between sustaining and ending life,
stems from ethical and religious differenc
es in defining human life, a Lincoln psy
chologist said Thursday.
In an address at Union College, Paul
Cameron said the United States is witnes
sing "a movement that argues for quality
of life and not the sheer existence of hu
man life."
Cameron said there have been problems
in treating the sick and injured throughout
the ages. Even though modern science now
has the ability to save those who, under
similar circumstances in earlier times,
would have died, society has certain
"choice points" concerning their treat
ment. The initial dispute is over defining the
term "Human life," he said.
"It just means a lot of different things,"
Cameron said there is no doubt that a
fetus is alive. From a human sense, it has
humanness.
Fetus is personless
But on the other hand, he said, it is
clear the fetus is without personhood.
He defined personhood as "someone
who has enough social currency to be fully
responsible for what they are and do."
Humanhood, he said, starts at concep
tion and ends at death, whereas person
hood starts at birth but doesn't mature un
til one is a legal adult. Personhood will
most likely deteriorate as one grows older
and will be lost if an individual becomes se
nile. "Protecting humanhood would be far
more expensive and time consuming than
protecting personhood," Cameron said.
The issue should be viewed as man's re
lationship to God versus man's relation-
Wheel tax. . .
ship to man, he said.
The two factions in the argument de
bate over what background will be used to
formulate the ethics for regulating social
order, he said.
One side is composed of the Judeo
Christian block, while the other emulates
from the 1973 release of the Humanist
II Manifesto.
Cameron said the Judeo-Christians sub
scribe to basic Biblical beliefs in defining
and regulating social life and order, and the
humanists believe there is no God and fa
vor preserving the right to die with dignity,
abortion, divorce, euthanasia and suicide.
Rights not basic
The humanists' position that these
rights are basic is incorrect, he said.
Human rights are not built into the hu
man, but have to be decided upon. He gave
some examples of how the decision could
be made.
The United States could be divided in
half, one side given to the Christians and
the other to the humanists. In 20 years, a
random sample could be taken to see
which side is doing better.
Another way, he said, would be to take
a random sample of the quality of life
each side depicts and let the results decide.
The side with superior results would be en
dorsed as the standard to be used in man
dating ethics, he said.
He said the data accumulated from both
sides of the argument indicates that the
Judeo-Christian ethic results in a far super
ior lifestyle regarding quality and quantity
of life.
Cameron cited several cases to support
the Judeo-Christian ethic. In one, a Utah
man, who was considered clinically dead
after receiving no oxygen for 45 minutes,
was revived after hours of attempts.
Continued from Page 1
share as long as everybody else pays theirs. Thomas said
there will be no distinction between part- and full-time
employment.
The person will pay the wheel tax at the County-City
building, 10th and J streets, and be given a sticker to place
in the left rear window of their vehicle, Thomas said.
"I know that this is not a popular ordinance, but I
want to emphasize a couple of things," Thomas said. "The
university cannot be a bastion unto itself."
Thomas said Lincoln students have the advantage of us
ing the city's streets and should be willing to help pay for
them.
"Another thing is that this tax will only be assessed to
students who are employed," Thomas said. The wheel
tax proposal will be the subject of a hearing at the County-City
building on Nov. 9.
Thomas said enforcement of the wheel tax would be
through selective spot checks by the Lincoln police. The
fine, according to the proposed statute, would be between
$25 and $100.
"We anticipate having a very major public information
al effort in January and February. After that, selective en
forcement begins," Thomas said.
GLC Chairperson Nette Nelson said the wheel tax
would not make the situation more fair.
"I'm very concerned about the premise that the voters
of the city feel the situation is inequitable," she said.
Nelson said the ordinance was filled with inherent in
equities. "Fm a little taken aback by what is being proposed. I
don't think it relates very well to the interim kinds of
employment that students generally have. A student who
works two weeks in the year may have to pay the same
thing as a Lincoln resident who works the entire year. It's
a disincentive to students to get employment."
The GLC is making the wheel tax a major concern, Nel
son said. She noted that representatives from Nebraska
Wesleyan University and Union College were at the meet
ing. "What we're doing right now is a communication
effort," Nelson said. "We're trying to alert as many stu
dents as possible to the proposal."
Nelson said the wheel tax will be a subject of discus
sion at the next GLC informational breakfast, with City
Council member Eric Youngberg, at 7:30 ajn. Nov. 3 in
the Nebraska Union. Nelson said all interested persons are
welcome to attend, and asked that they make reservations
with the GLC by Nov, 2.
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