Pro-choice for me, no-choice for you

Liberals pride themselves on being ... well, liberal. The word has positive connotations: liberty, liberality, liberation. They pride themselves also on being open-minded, flexible, and pro-choice. Let people decide according to their personal preferences -- what a grand notion!

So, should students with moral objections to abortion be obliged to contribute to abortion insurance as part of their school plan? This is an issue that's been heating up at Harvard (see "Opt Out Fee for Abortion Urged," The Harvard Crimson, May 14, 2008):

In the past two weeks, Harvard students opened their mailboxes to find a blue "opt-out" card as part of the Abortion Opt-Out Campaign of Harvard Right to Life (HRL). The initiative allows students to request a refund of the part of their Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plan that funds elective abortions -- one dollar per term.

So what do you call yourselves if you believe your peers should be forced, against their moral convictions, to contribute to the subvention of homicide?

For lots of students, the ability to obtain refunds from insurance due to moral convictions is troubling. Sean P. Mascali '08, president of Students for Choice, said he thinks that students should not have this right.

Indeed: Students for Choice.

[Acknowledgement: Diogenes, "Liberties" (Off the Record, CWN, May 18, 2008), via E.E.]

Of related interest

J.L. Talmon, Origins of Totalitarian Democracy (W.W. Norton, 1970).