From: shadow@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (John Paulus)
Subject: Re: Reason for abortions
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 23:15:07 GMT

In article <JBATES.92Apr16102657@pinocchio.pinocchio.encore.com> jbates@pinocchio.encore.com (John Bates) writes:
>In article <1992Apr15.235219.27246@casbah.acns.nwu.edu> shadow@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (John Paulus) writes:
>
>> I would like to know from the pro-choice side, what benefit is there
>>in abortions? 
>
>	It's simple. When you are pregnant, and have an abortion, you aren't
>pregnant anymore. That's a benefit, if you choose it to be.
That part is obvious. But what about the cost? (Here is the major source of
conflict)
>
>> How many women have been able to pull out of the poverty cycle because
>>of abortion?  
>
>	How many women have been unable to pull out of the poverty cycle
>because they couldn't get an abortion?
	To be honest, I don't know percentages. But to my knowledge, there are
no studies which say that abortions help in breaking poverty. EDUCATION--which
can give women respect that they deserve can help prevent pregnancies & raise
people out of poverty (not just contraception; but education that can focus
one's priorities).


>
>>I know that quite a few women can keep the rich yuppie
>>lifestyle with an abortion, but getting there is another matter tha I don't
>>believe will help.
>
>	Having an abortion will not get you anything, except for not 
>pregnant. It may keep you from slipping further into poverty. Don't
>you believe that will help?
No, this really won't help. Women don't get suddenly (or even slowly) get
respect because they had an abortion. Good jobs don't have motherhood as a
requirement or deterrent. Respect & responsibilty, however, are major factors.
 
>
>> BTW, isn't the reason why inner city teenage moms have babies is
>>because they need someone to love them? 
>
>	This has to be the stupidest thing I have read in a.a.i.
You say this is stupid. Why? How many inner city moms do you know. I have to
confess, I don't know any first hand. You may dismiss this message altogether,
but a counselor from Chicago Urban Ministries spoke at Northwestern University
on his work; the reason why some (he didn't mention statistics, though I'm
sure you could find some) inner city girls get pregnant is because they need
someone to love them. Their parents (if they're around) probably don't love
them, neither does the government, pro-choicers, or the people they sleep
with.But a baby can.   Whether or not these mothers can take care of these
children is another story.
>
>> One other question to the people who are "pro-choice": what have you
>>(personally or collectively) to really ensure CHOICE (I.E. support for women
>>who want to have their babies)?
>
>	I do my share. Do you?
>
>
>John


Could you be more specific on what you do? I.E. have you helped unwed mothers
carry their baby to term (in some direct or indirect way).

Personally, I'm doing various things, for all stages of life. For example,
this week end I helped out overnight at a homeless shelter. (BTW, in case you
didn't know. quite a few of the homeless are VERY nice people, who really
deserve more help than they get.)

--JP--