Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!daemon From: daemon@decwrl.UUCP (The devil himself) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: ERA Message-ID: <3789@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Mon, 1-Oct-84 09:43:58 EDT Article-I.D.: decwrl.3789 Posted: Mon Oct 1 09:43:58 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 2-Oct-84 06:29:21 EDT Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 36 Re: ERA________________________________________________________________________ I tend to think that people who oppose the ERA have been misled by its opponents to think it's something it's not. Responses I've seen in this news- group support my hypotheses. Bear one thing in mind: the language of the ERA is almost identical to the language of the 14th Amendment. The first article, which I can't quite quote from memory, states that rights may not be denied nor abridged on account of sex. It's just like the 14th Amendment in its wording; it's nothing radically new. A while back, when people were making ridiculous claims about co-ed bathrooms and the like, women's groups publicized the first article. This held the ridiculous claims off for a while. Then came the claims about the second article, which would allegedly destroy state's rights, ruin America, etc.; because it specifies that congress will pass laws to enforce the amendment. None of that is true, though; the 14th Amendment is worded *exactly* the same way! The third article of the ERA has to do with when it goes into effect, etc. Somehow nobody made ridiculous claims about it. But now, in the Reagan '80's, ridiculous claims are everywhere. There are new, wilder claims: Mandatory homosexual bathrooms is one I've heard, and there are claims that the ERA would make abortions constitutionally legal. A suggestion for those with doubts about the ERA: Read it. Then read the rest of the Constitution, paying particular attention to the 14th Amend- ment. Surprise! <_Jym_> :::::::::::::::: Jym Dyer ::::' :: `:::: Dracut, Massachusetts ::' :: `:: :: :: :: DYER%VAXUUM.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA :: .::::. :: {allegra|decvax|ihnp4|ucbvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-vaxuum!dyer ::..:' :: `:..:: ::::. :: .:::: Statements made in this article are my own; they might not :::::::::::::::: reflect the views of |d|i|g|i|t|a|l| Equipment Corporation.