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From: pmd@cbscc.UUCP (Paul Dubuc)
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: Re: Channel 13 documentary on China
Message-ID: <5176@cbscc.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 20-Apr-85 20:36:45 EST
Article-I.D.: cbscc.5176
Posted: Sat Apr 20 20:36:45 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 21-Apr-85 04:43:48 EST
References: <748@mhuxt.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories <SCCS>, Columbus
Lines: 49


I'm sure there is no easy solution to the problem the Chinese
face.  But it bothers me to see present the alternative (as if
it were the only one) as "Malthus' solution", as if we had to
choose between these two.

Did the documentary bring out the fact that infanticide against
female babies has risen dramatically because families are forced
to have one child and most of them want that one to be a boy?
Did it say what happens if the "8 months pregnant woman" can't
be "convinced" to have an abortion?  Did it mention the economic
sanctions imposed as penalties on families that have more than
one child?  What really justifies the state in forcing parents
not to have children they want?  Is this really a "pro-choice"
solution, Jeff?  (I know it bothers you in spite of your being
pro-choice, but you still resign yourself to it anyway.)  Did
the documentary inform you that women are required to use an IUD
after their first child, and be sterilized after their second?
(For another reference, the reader may refer to a three-part series
done on China's birth control practices by the Washington Post,
which concluded Jan. 8.)

I would hope a solution could be found that doesn't impose so
much on human rights.  I would also hope that the blame for the
problems of a large population would not be placed so easily
on the backs of the poor families that want to have children.
What attempt has there been to explore the economic factors that
contribute to families wanting large numbers of children in
less developed countries?  If we approached the problem from that
angle, I fear the solution would probably hit too close to home
and say something about our own standard of living and its
effect on other countries.

Nope, I'm sure the answers aren't easy.  But China's answer seems
to be the easiest for all concerned, except those families who are
denied their children.  What do their feelings matter?  Shouldn't
one be enough?  Pity the poor woman for trying to hide her pregnancy
as if she thought she might keep her child.  Disgusting, sure enough.
But even more disgusting to me is how easily we are led to accept
the idea that such solutions are the best options.  How easily
we will gloss over basic human rights to settle on such solutions
that will "take care of the problem".  If it we truly thought these
things to be disgusting, we wouldn't give up so easily on finding
solutions that are not disgusting.

Obviously disgusted,
-- 

Paul Dubuc 	cbscc!pmd