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From: barry@mit-eddie.UUCP (Mikki Barry)
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: Re: Gosh, I hope this doesn't bury me
Message-ID: <3664@mit-eddie.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 20-Feb-85 11:23:38 EST
Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.3664
Posted: Wed Feb 20 11:23:38 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 26-Feb-85 04:01:28 EST
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Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA
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Ok, you said you wanted to know what I think, so here it is:

First of all, though I am not in agreement with the "pro-life" point of view,
I can sympathise with them (I'm sure all you pro lifers are thrilled).
Unfortunately, abortion *has* become a form of birth control.  For whatever
reason, birth control information is not getting to those who need it most
(the poor, and teenagers), and it is difficult for these groups to get hold
of birth control devices.  Can you believe that Blue Cross will *not* pay for
IUD's, birth control pills, etc., but *will* without question, pay for an
abortion or delivery?

ALL options must be explained, and available to those who are contemplating
sexual activity, just as all options must be explained to the pregnant woman.
A point many pro-lifers are missing is that many abortion clinics are actually
concerned about the woman in question, and her possible emotional trauma over
having an abortion.  They explain the entire procedure, and try to make sure
that the decision to have an abortion is something the woman is sure of. 
However, perhaps some of the information about alternatives that are run by the pro-life groups, and are not known
by abortion clinics (financial aid programs, group homes, adoption help, etc.)
should be explained to them.

If pro-lifers stopped picketing abortion clinics, and put their hysteria aside
for a moment, and tried working WITH abortion clinics by distributing 
information about alternatives, perhaps it would cut down on the number of
abortions done out of fear, and out of ignorance of other possibilities.
If the "scare tactics" (pickled fetuses (seen on tv being waved by pro-lifers),
explicit pictures, and the bogus farce "the silent scream" were dropped for
a more reasoned approach, perhpas abortion clinics would invite pro-lifers to
help council women who are unsure of abortions.  Or at least hand out their
literature on other alternatives.

We must be able to make an informed choice.

Mikki Barry