Collusion, Complicity & Consent In Theory

"You have just dined, and however scrupulously, the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles, [so] there is complicity." — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), "Fate," Essays and Lectures

Collusion by definition is a secret understanding between two or more persons to appear as adversaries though in agreement. Complicity by definition is the state of being an accomplice; partnership or involvement in wrongdoing. Consent theory is a term for the idea in social philosophy that individuals primarily make decisions as free agents entering into consensual relationships with other free agents, and that this becomes the basis for political governance. An early elaborator of this idea was John Locke, from whom the expression "all men are created equal" can be traced. Consent theory goes back at least to the 16th century. ¹ By definition, tacit consent is the approval of someone's wrongdoing.

Meet Yesterday's Dr. Alan Frank Guttmacher

"The only way the mounting feeling that birth control is a tool of racism can be handled, is to involve knowledgeable leaders from the minority groups who understand and are favorable to the philosophy of birth control. They, in turn, must translate their appreciation of the contribution which birth control can make toward family stability to their own people." — Alan Frank Guttmacher, M.D. ²

Alan Frank Guttmacher, M.D. (1898-1974) ³ was an American Obstetrician|Gynecologist. Dr. Alan F. Guttmacher (left) served as President of Planned Parenthood (PP) and Vice-President of the American Eugenics Society (AES). Dr. Guttmacher founded the American Association of Planned Parenthood Physicians, now known as the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), as a forum for physicians to discuss the birth control pill and other advances in the field. He founded the Association for the Study of Abortion (ASA) in 1964. He was a member of the Association for Voluntary Sterilization (AVS). The [Alan] Guttmacher Institute (AGI) is named after him. -According to AGI: -"Aside from poverty, little changed in the profile of women obtaining abortions between 2000 and 2008. A broad cross section of U.S. women have abortions: Fifty-eight percent of abortion patients in 2008 were in their 20s; 45% were never-married and not living with a partner; 61% were already mothers; 42% were living below the federal poverty line; 36% were white; 59% had at least some college education; and 73% were religiously affiliated. But certain groups of women, those who were in their 20's, cohabiting, Black or poor — were overrepresented among abortion patients." ⁴

Meet Today's Dr. Alan Guttmacher

Dr. Alan Guttmacher, a Harvard-trained geneticist and pediatrician, is the new acting director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the federal agency that finances research into child and maternal health. — Urban Christian News ⁵

On Tuesday, April 27th, 2010, Dr. Alan Guttmacher (left), whose father's twin brother, Dr. Alan Frank Guttmacher (above), was the famous obstetrician-gynecologist above was interviewed by Urban Christian News. In the interview the nephew of Dr. Alan Frank Guttmacher was asked the following: -Question: -"Your uncle was the president of planned parenthood and a towering figure in the reproductive rights movement. Has there been any criticism of appointing anyone named alan guttmacher to this post?" -Answer: -"I have not been aware of any. The name does stand for something. Planned Parenthood was more of a social movement until my uncle said, 'If we're making all these decisions, we need to make sure that it is backed up by 'good scientific information.' So he started the think tank that became known as the Guttmacher Institute. One finds that people know the name primarily because of that. But people on both sides of the abortion debate tend to use their data as the reliable data. So, to some degree, my appointment has been less controversial than some might think." ⁶

Collusion, Complicity & Consent In Practice

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., United States Black Civil Rights leader and clergyman (1929-1968)

Click Play To View Online

The thought of "…good scientific information…" and "…reliable data…" coming from Guttmacher Institute reports haunts me. However, as I grapple with the impact of abortion in Black America it appears AGI is right and "little has changed in the profile of women obtaining abortions." If 58% of abortion patients in 2008 are in their 20s; 45% never-married and not living with a partner; 61% already mothers; 42% living below the federal poverty line; 36% white; 59% having at least some college education; 73% affiliated with christianity and Black women in their 20's, poor, living outside holy matrimony are still "representing" the "overrepresented" majority of women aborting their children doesn't move you to focus on meeting the needs of women and children then what's your number? If AGI's data is scientific, and over 1.2 million children lost to abortion each year ⁷ does not move you to call the Body of Christ to a solemn assembly of prayer and fasting to break the blood thirsty stronghold of Satan in our Churches then how many abortions are too many abortions? If AGI's data is reliable and over 54 million children brutally lost to abortion as they were dismembered in the wombs of their own mothers since 1973, ⁸ does not move you to publicly fight to end abortion, then where do you draw the line?

Brothers, Shame, Shame On Us! How can we, as watchmen on the wall (Ezekiel 33:1-10), not warn our congregation of the impact of the abortionist's "sword come upon the land", slaying our children in the wombs of their mothers? Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German Lutheran Pastor, Theologian, and Martyr, who served in the German Resistance movement, between 1933 and 1945, against Nazism and founded the Confessing Church, once said: "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." ⁹ Could it possibly be, that Dietrich Bonhoeffer is right and our "silence in the face of evil" betrays our collusion, complicity or tacit consent with the forces of evil?

Brothers, we really need to talk.

Reference(s):
1. C Watner (1986), "Oh, Ye Are For Anarchy!": Consent Theory in the Radical Libertarian Tradition, Journal of Libertarian Studies.
2. New York Times: Doctor Blames His Profession For Delays On Family Planning: January 16th, 1966 (http://bit.ly/gp8bAH)
3. Alan Frank Guttmacher, M.D., (http://bit.ly/vT18Ec)
4. "Abortion Has Become More Concentrated Among Poor Women", Guttmacher Institute, Tuesday, May 4th, 2010, (http://bit.ly/9u4YAi)
5. "A Conversation With Alan Guttmacher - Child Health Director Has Background in Genetics", Urban Christian News, Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 (http://bit.ly/vyALSu)
6. Ibid.
7. "Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States", Guttmacher Institute, August 2011, (http://bit.ly/99dVdw)
8. "Does this number shock you?", Dennis M. Howard, 2011, (http://bit.ly/xqnQz)
9. Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy — A Righteous Gentile vs. the Third Reich, 2010, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc. 2010. "The quote is from the inside back flap of the cover. (http://bit.ly/cWLkgG).