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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!umcp-cs!liz
From: liz@umcp-cs.UUCP (Liz Allen)
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: what-if-you're-raped argument
Message-ID: <441@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 25-Oct-84 00:08:30 EDT
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.441
Posted: Thu Oct 25 00:08:30 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 27-Oct-84 06:12:54 EDT
References: <1987@stolaf.UUCP> <47700016@hpfcla.UUCP>
Reply-To: liz@maryland.UUCP (Liz Allen)
Organization: U of Maryland, Computer Science Dept., College Park, MD
Lines: 35

In article <47700016@hpfcla.UUCP> woof@hpfcla.UUCP (woof) writes:
>
>>                                                              "Well, you
>> know Mom, since I was raped I really would like to get an abortion
>> 'cause, you know, it might be kind of difficult to have the kid since
>> I'm only 15."
>
>I keep seeing this what-if-you're-raped arguement here.  What percentage of
>abortions are due to rape?  I doubt that the number is very large.  Statistics,
>anyone?

Less than 1% of all abortions are because of rape or incest.  And far
less pregnancies would occur in these categories if women realized
that a rape is a rape (even if it is done by a date) and got immediate
medical attention...  (I don't mean to be down on the women here but
the attitudes in our society that can make a woman feel guilty when
she is the victim...)

The "what if you're raped" argument is not a good one for two reasons.
First, the vast majority of abortions have nothing to do with rape, and
second, if the fetus should have the right to live, then that most
fundamental right should not be denied even in the very sad situation
of the rape of the mother.

Please see my sympathy for the unwilling mother-to-be in these
situations -- it's hard enough in the cases she was not raped!
-- 
				-Liz Allen

Univ of Maryland, College Park MD	
Usenet:   ...!seismo!umcp-cs!liz
Arpanet:  liz@maryland

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you:  God
 is light; in him there is no darkness at all" -- 1 John 1:5