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From: matt@brl-tgr.ARPA (Matthew Rosenblatt )
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: Re: Birth Control
Message-ID: <1016@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 26-Aug-85 17:55:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.1016
Posted: Mon Aug 26 17:55:50 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 29-Aug-85 20:01:51 EDT
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>				 It seems to me that the best way to cut down
> on unecessary abortions [is] for everybody to use birth control (you seem
> to agree).  [CHARLES FORSYTHE]	

I agree that birth control is one way to cut down on unnecessary abortions,
and that people ought to know about it.  As far as private or Government
programs go, those who support a combination of sexually active teenagers
and birth control have every right to give out, or advocate that the 
Government give out, birth control information and help.

But another way to cut down on unnecessary abortions is to encourage
abstinence by the young.  If society wants teenagers to abstain from sex,
society ought to show them, or give them, good reasons for doing so.
Threats of male exploitation, VD, or hellfire and brimstone won't dissuade
today's young people.  So how about supplementing the "stick" with an
effective "carrot":  "Planned Celibacy," or the Church or Synagogue, or
the Government (if majority vote approves) can offer a $10,000 cash reward
to any person who can come to the hospital within a month of turning 18
years old and prove that he or she is a virgin.  That's a reason for
saying "no" that even the girl's eager boyfriend can understand!

I approve both of encouraging birth control and of encouraging abstinence,
because both things tend to reduce the number of abortions.  I further
believe that the two types of encouragement appeal to non-coincident
populations, so that both are needed.

						-- Matt Rosenblatt