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From: keithd@cadovax.UUCP (Keith Doyle)
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: Re: Mikki Barry is a Pro-Lifer
Message-ID: <460@cadovax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 14-Mar-85 18:15:45 EST
Article-I.D.: cadovax.460
Posted: Thu Mar 14 18:15:45 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 17-Mar-85 02:22:23 EST
References: <233@dscvax2.UUCP>
Organization: Contel Cado, Torrance, CA
Lines: 57

[.......]
>    ............... Unlike the pro-abortionist, however, the pro-life
>community has extended itself to care for the needs of the mother; providing
>counseling, housing, food and love. 

First, the term 'pro-abortionist' is incorrect.  Pro-choice people particularly
use the term pro-choice because that's what they mean.  Abortion is not
particularly a PREFERRED option, but it is viewed as an EXISTING OPTION.
The term 'pro-abortion' or like is generally used by pro-lifers who wish
to paint propagandist pictures of anyone who disagrees with them (also
used are 'pro-death', anti-life, etc. as if anyone who disagrees with
me is diametrically opposed).

Second, I would not assume that the pro-choice community has not extended
itself to care as you indicate, and further would ask:

     1.  What has the pro-life community done to counsel women BEFORE
	 pregnancy in attempts to minimize situations where abortion
	 could be considered as an option?

     2.  What is the attitude of pro-lifers about pre-teen and teenage
	 birth control and sex education in a similar attempt to minimize
	 such situations where abortion is considered?

>                      ..... You are naive to think that pro-lifers will
>work together with pro-choicers to provide every alternative to abortion.
>Each has their selfish interest to protect ($ for pro-choicers, LIFE for
>pro-lifers) and will not work with the other.

I certainly wouldn't expect any collaborations with idiots like this involved.
This one hardly warrants any response.  Fortunately, I don't expect most
pro-lifers feel this way.  If they do, then any lack of inclination to
work together is in the pro-life camp, not the pro-choice. ( I'm pro-choice,
when do I get my money? :-) )

I think there is room for collaboration.  However, as long as pro-lifers
feel the only way to minimize abortions is to try to make them illegal,
then there's not much starting ground.  If on the other hand if we all agree
that abortions are clearly not DESIREABLE, then maybe we can work together
to counsel women in such a way as to minimize the occurence of such
problem preganacys that would lead to abortions.  Certainly most pro-lifers
are not so naive as to think that laws will ELIMINATE abortions?  Does it
not stand to reason that the effect laws will have on reducing abortions
may also be achieved in OTHER ways that do not create unsafe black-market
industries?

This is not to say there are no problems however.  Controversies about
sex education and birth control provided to teenagers(without knowledge
of parents etc.) are inclined to pop up.  How do pro-lifers feel about
these?  Is this part of the underlying reasons the pro-lifers prefer
illegal abortions to other methods of reducing abortions?  Maybe we should
discuss this for a while?

Keith Doyle
#  {ucbvax,ihnp4,decvax}!trwrb!cadovax!keithd
"You'll PAY to know what you REALLY think!"