From: gjh@galen.med.Virginia.EDU (Galen J. Hekhuis)
Subject: What makes me very sad (and I don't call anyone names!)
Organization: University of Virginia Health Sciences Center
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 02:53:35 GMT


Some of us sit here and argue the pro and cons of abortion.  That's
to be expected.  Disagreement happens among people.  Some of us call
each other names, or ridicule each other.  That is to be expected
too.  I'll try to refrain from doing that right now, though I'll 
admit that I get a lot of jollies out of picking on some folks.

What is really sad is that a lot of folks want to make laws that
would attempt to ban abortion.  Hey, their heart may be in the 
right place, but their actions sure aren't.  No one yet has posted
a snippet of evidence that making abortion illegal would even reduce
the abortion rate.  I can't remember who it was, and I didn't save
it, but one posting I recall suggested that in Brazil (where abortion
is largely illegal) there is in fact a higher rate of abortion than
in the US (where abortion is largely legal).  Perhaps if that person
is still reading they might make a repost, or if someone saved the
article perhaps they could dredge it up again.  I think you could
"grep" for "Brazil" and find it without wasting too much time.

I don't mean to say that laws are bad.  What I do mean to say is that
far, far too many people rely on calling 911 or the cops to do
what they themselves might otherwise do.  Do you think killing 
babies is wrong?  Stop it.  Put your body where your mouth is.  
I know if I believed, really believed, that murder were taking place
in a location that I passed by each day or each week I'd sure as
hell be in there sticking my body in between the killer and the killee.
It might not be very productive for me, I might die as a result, but
that's just the way I am and that's the price pacifists have paid
historicly.  Some of us tend to die for our beliefs.  What distinguishes
us from the rest of the crowd is that we refuse to kill for our 
beliefs.  It's basically a matter of policy -- but those opposed 
to our beliefs find pacifists cropping up generation after generation,
despite what seems to be an effort to eradicate us, if only to prove
that what we propose can't work.  Darn, if we ever have a coup I
can pretty much guarantee it will be bloodless, at least as far as
the opposition is concerned.

It's kind of ironic that some folks call me "pro-death" and what-have-
you.  Let's clear the air once and for all.  Pro-choice in no way 
means that you are pro-death or pro-abortion.  It simply means that
you are opposed to bringing the law to bear on those who would act
one way or another in regards to abortion.  

There isn't a one of you that I wouldn't rescue if I thought for a 
moment your life were in danger and I thought I could do any good at
all, even if it meant risking my own life.  Even if it meant sacrificing
my life.  I'll call the cops or lobby my congresscriter after the fact, if 
I think it necessary.  Don't get me wrong or misunderstand me, I claim
I'd save your life, not just be a martyr for some cause.

*Sigh*

So we are left with a debate of sorts.  Whether abortion is Right
or Wrong.  That might be a matter of concern for some folks.  Some
folks do something about it.  Some folks argue that it is wrong.
Others argue that it is a fundamental right.  Still others wish 
to petition their legislators or the like so that they might leave
it up to someone else.  They might claim to do more than that, but
just question their legislative agenda and they will writhe and hiss.

I might disagree with your abortion position.  I may well respect
your position.  I have no respect, however, for those who attempt 
to further their beliefs through legislation, cops, and, yes, even
war.  I'll die for my beliefs, some of them, but I won't kill you
if you disagree.  And you can take that to the bank...

--
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     Galen Hekhuis  UVa Health Sci Ctr (804)982-1646 gjh@virginia.edu
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