From: regard@hpsdde.sdd.hp.com (Adrienne Regard)
Subject: Re: Hypocrisy, Bloody Hypocrisy
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, San Diego Division
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 18:56:15 GMT

In article <1992Apr13.170223.10279@cs.dal.ca> franklin@ug.cs.dal.ca (Steve Franklin) writes:
>In <1992Apr13.153353.18699@sdd.hp.com> regard@hpsdde.sdd.hp.com (Adrienne Regard) writes:
>
>>In article <1992Apr13.003632.4809@cs.dal.ca> franklin@ug.cs.dal.ca (Steve Franklin) writes:
>>>   In any case, my point is : Not every method of birth control is
>>>ok, or 100% effective. Try abstinence. Great way to end STD's, 
>>>abortions, or any concerns about that missed period. 
>>Wow, what a great Idea.  I'm just going to scurry on home and tell my partner
>>of 9 years that from now on, it's abstinence for us!  I'm sure he'll 
>>thank you for the wonderful tip.
>
>Your sarcasm is funny and effective.
>*pssst* that last sentence was REAL sarcasm...
>
>   In any case Adrienne, I know what you mean. Abstinence is tough,
>but it is a hell of a lot more responsible than abortion. Although,

Says you.  I happen to think that birth control is responsible, and that
a responsible action when one faces birth control failure is abortion.
I think that's a perfectly sensible responsible action.  You don't.
I don't have any problem whatsoever with your thoughts on the matter so
far as you don't expect ME to react under YOUR value system.  See, I think
that having an unplanned child is THE MOST IRRESPONSIBLE action in the case
of an unwanted pregnancy.  THE *MOST* IRRESPONSIBLE action.

>after being with your partner for 9 years, your love must be so strong
>that you could never terminate an unborn baby which represents 
>50% of your spouse/husband/lover/whatever. So, clearly you have nothing
>to worry about because you are a responsible woman. 

Thank you.  However, I do have something to worry about.  I have to worry
about legislative attempts by people who figure they know better than I
do what is sensible, feasible and responsible  for my life, my partner, my
family.  BTW, I *am* a responsible woman, I do *not* practice abstinence,
and my love for my partner and my family (2 children) is so strong that I
aborted a third pregnancy about two years ago.  I'd *love* to have a third
child, Steve, but not at the costs it would incur to my existing children
and my partner in this endeavor.  So, I use birth control, and I use it
*responsibly* and I handled an unwanted pregnancy from birth control failure
in a manner I consider to be emminently RESPONSIBLE.

YOU don't happen to agree with me.  But then, you don't live in my house,
live with my partner, live with my children, know our concerns and limitations
in any arena, so, really "friend", I don't think you have any real basis for
an opinion except some generic sense of "I don't like it".

>   But, something whispers inside of me that there are some women out there
>(but not you!) that just cannot face the responsibility and hardships
>of pregnancy. It takes guts, determination, and a LOT of support from
>a loving spouse. You have all of those, so I am sure you would never
>contemplate abortion.

Well, you've been wrong before, too.  I have done both -- faced the
responsibility and hardships of pregnancy, and refused to face the 
responsibilities and hardships of pregnancy.  I do that every single day,
when I take my pill.

And, of course, it's also true that there are some women out there (but
not me) who cannot face one's own responsibility to control their lives,
and abdicate control to others.  Who blindly turn to some institution rather
than think for themselves.  While I pity these women from my heart, I do
*not* seek to control them.

BTW, I do not have a loving spouse.  I am unmarried.  And your sureness about
my state of mind fails on a number of other points, as well.

Thats ok, Steve, don't worry too much about it.  But sarcasm *isn't* your
vehicle.

Adrienne Regard