Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site watmath.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!saquigley From: saquigley@watmath.UUCP (Sophie Quigley) Newsgroups: net.abortion Subject: Re: A recent exchange Message-ID: <9470@watmath.UUCP> Date: Thu, 18-Oct-84 19:08:36 EDT Article-I.D.: watmath.9470 Posted: Thu Oct 18 19:08:36 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 21-Oct-84 08:09:57 EDT References: <175@mhuxh.UUCP> Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 54 >You are still missing the point, I think. The analogy does not >depend on fires being sentient. The point is that when partners >choose to have intercourse, both of them should be responsible for the >consequences of that act. Pregnancy, despite what you say in the >quote below, is typically a possible consequence of intercourse even when >birth control methods are used. There are exceptions, such as when >one or both partners is sterile. Now, if you don't want a pregnancy >on your hands, one obvious solution is not to have intercourse at >all, hence the "playing with fire" reference above. Of course, one >may still choose to have intercourse, and thus, I must point out, >exercise control over his/her body. A resulting pregnancy is just >that: a result of a choice made. Asserting that abortion is >controlling one's body is true enough on the surface, but underneath >it just denotes a cop-out and unwillingness to take responsibility for >one's own actions. Note that BOTH partners should be held >responsible for an act of intercourse, so don't just slip away, guys, as >society looks the other way. >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >>> And as far as the woman's will, if she takes the >>> risk, she should be willing to accept the consequences. >>> >>> >>> Steve Wall >> >>The very existence of the medical procedure called "abortion" indicates >>that an unwanted child is not the necessary consequence of an unwanted >>pregnancy. The very existence of fairly reliable birth control indicates >>that an unwanted pregnancy is not necessarily a risk associated with sex. >>Pregnancy is neither a necessary risk nor a necessary consequence of sex. >>There is, therefore, no such "risk" or "consequences" as you refer to. >> >Hmmm, I was under the impression that there was always a risk of >pregnancy arising out of an act of intercourse involving two fertile >individuals...birth control can indeed be "fairly reliable", but there's >always a chance... My feeling is still that one should have the >courage to take responsibilities for one's actions. There is a chance >of pregnancy when intercourse occurs; if you choose to have intercourse, >be prepared for that possibility. I cannot emphasize enough that such >responsibility includes both partners. My partner and I are prepared for the possibility of being pregnant by having deciding that if it will ever happen in the near future I will have an abortion. I do not see how you think you are allowed to say that we do not have the courage to take responsibility for our actions; we do; having an abortion takes a lot of courage when you know that you are destroying a potential beautiful relationship with your own child. Having an abortion when you know damn well you would not be able to take care of a child properly, is a much more responsible way to behave if you do find yourself pregnant, than keeping a child and making her suffer because of inadequate care. Sophie Quigley ...!{clyde,ihnp4,decvax}!watmath!saquigley