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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.