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From: galenr@iddic.UUCP (Galen Redfield)
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: Re: informed choices?
Message-ID: <2118@iddic.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 14-Aug-85 15:13:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: iddic.2118
Posted: Wed Aug 14 15:13:02 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 04:46:23 EDT
References: <13@dscvax2.UUCP> <502@ihu1e.UUCP> <272@SCIRTP.UUCP> <509@ihu1e.UUCP>
Reply-To: galenr@iddic.UUCP (Galen Redfield)
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 55
Keywords: opinions, choice, woman, man
Summary: Let's decide who gets to decide...

In article <509@ihu1e.UUCP> mjv@ihu1e.UUCP (Vlach) writes:
>> > P.S.  I know this will flame a lot of people, but...since men never have 
>> > to worry about getting pregnant, I never value their opinions about 
>> > abortion too much.
>> 
>> Marcia, pardon my Y chromosome. I support a woman's right to abortion.
>>  [editted out comments about Planned Parenthood, etc.]    >> 
>> BTW, are you assuming there is a correlation between gender and opinions
>> on abortion? I have never seen any pattern.
>>	Todd Jones
>
>If men believe it should be a woman's choice, I heartily agree.  If they 
>think they are somehow qualified to interfere with abortions because of 
>their own opinions, I think they can just hold their breathe until they 
>turn blue.  The men I know best are pro-choice, and I do value their 
>opinions, because they are leaving it to each woman to decide for herself.
>What I don't believe in is men saying "no abortions" when they never have
>to face unwanted pregnancies directly.  I mean, sure it's easy for THEM to
>say that...  It's like passing a law that you don't personally have to obey.
>
>re: gender differences on abortion.  The last poll I remember seeing showed
>a majority of each in favor of the pro-choice view, with a few %pts. more
>for one side, I don't remember which.  If anybody knows anything significant
>about this difference, I would like to hear about it.
>
>Marcia Bear

If I may be so bold as to interject some remarks:

Before we decide who gets to decide, maybe we should  decide  who
gets to decide who gets to decide....

Seriously,  if  we  take this nearly-well-thought-out idea to the
obvious next step,  only  pregnant  women  and  perhaps  formerly
pregnant  women  should  decide the issue.  How can any woman who
has never faced an unwanted pregnancy know what it will be  like?
How can she decide if the mysterious fetus is part of her body or
not, alive or not, human or not, unless she has  experienced  it?
Perhaps  we should demand that Ronnie appoint a pregnant women to
the Supreme Court.

I think that deciding ahead of time whose opinions have value and
whose  do  not,  without  any regard for the opinion or the ideas
from which it is derived, qualifies in every way for:  PREJUDICE.

By the way, I belong to the pro-life-choice  group,  one  of  the
less vocal factions in the quasi-discussion of abortion.

Incidentally,  I  can't  hold my breath for more than a couple of
minutes.  What do you want me to do after that?

Warm regards,            <-- generic signature
Galen                 (no frills, no disclaimers)       

P.S.  I expect to be flamed.  Don't disappoint me, please.