From: acolman@nyx.cs.du.edu (Alison Colman)
Subject: Re: Abortions should be rare
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
	of Denver for the Denver community.  The University has neither
	control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 93 04:41:24 GMT

In article <1993Jan27.114716.2152@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu> hasselbring@g
vax.acc.georgetown.edu writes:
>In article <1993Jan26.032351.26713@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>, acolman@nyx.cs.
u.edu (Alison Colman) writes:
>> 	of Denver for the Denver community.  The University has neither
>> 	control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
>> Sender: usenet@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu (netnews admin account)
>> Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
>> References: <1993Jan25.115252.2129@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu>
>> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 93 03:23:51 GMT
>> Lines: 40
>> 
>> In article <1993Jan25.115252.2129@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu> hasselbrin
@g
>> vax.acc.georgetown.edu writes:
>>>According to both the Washington Post and the Washington Times, 
>>>Clinton said that America should be a place where abortions are legal 
>>>and safe, but rare.  
>>>
>>>I wonder what he meant by rare.  Does he realize that currently one of

>>>every three pregnancies are terminated by abortion?  Does he realize 
>>>that over 4000 babies are aborted per day on the average in the US?
>>>
>>>I know of no one who thinks that the repealing of the bans on 
>>>22-Jan-93 will result in fewer abortions.  How can Clinton say that he

>>>thinks aboritons should be rare when his actions will make abortions 
>>>more common?
>>>
>>>Sue Hasselbring
>>>hasselbring:guvax.georgetown.edu
>> 
>> 
>> It would be silly to think that Clinton is not aware of the number of
>> abortions being performed currently in this country.
>> 
>> Are you one of those people that think that the best way to make abort
ons
>> rare is to either make abortion illegal, or put as many restrictions o

>> the availability of abortion as possible?If so, it is fortunate that
>> Clinton does not think along the same lines as you do.
>
>So do you think that there would be fewer murders and robberies in 
>this country if we made them legal?  I think most people in most of 

No, of course not. However, I don't feel the issue of abortion is as clear
cut as murder or robbery. secondly, I don't feel that making abortion
illegal would reduce the number of abortions.

>the world acknowledge that laws do help control crime.  I do agree 

Not necessarily. Some people feel that many laws are unnecessary, to the
point of creating more problems, instead of solving the problem at hand. I
feel that marijuana should be legalized, for instance. I also think that
prostitution should be made legal, too. Not because I think that these are
good things, but because I feel that making them illegal doesn't really
solve much.

>that more than that needs to be done, including lots of education 
>especially about the process of conception and the growth of humans in 
>the womb before they are born.  

I agree more needs to be done, too. I think that more people need to be
educated about contraception, and sex in general. I also think that the
more effective forms of birth control should be made more affordable, and
easier to obtain. A


>
> 
>> By reversing Bush's and Reagan's policies wrt abortion last Friday,
h Clinton is fulfilling the "safe and legal" portion of his statement. A
d
>> if he approves the Family Leave Act, gives more money to family planni
g
>> clinics and government-sponsored research of contraception and the lik
,
>> and in general creates a climate in this country which would make it b
th
>> easier for people to prevent unwanted pregnancies and for women to hav

>> and keep their children, he is fulfilling the "rare" portion of his
>> statement. In a much more humane and effective manner that would have
>> positive long-term results, IMO, as opposed to Bush/Reagan's pro-"life

>> policies.
>
>But why should abortions be made rare if they are not wrong?  And why 
>should they be legal if they are wrong?

The "wrongness" of abortion is a pretty subjective thing. Frankly, I am
not bothered by the fact that some women have abortions. At the same time,
I acknowledge that abortion is a symptom of larger societal problems. And
I personally think that making abortion illegal will not solve anything. I
Women would still obtain abortions, and I don't think that the numbers
would be reduced to any large extent. Despite the supposed "wrongness" of
abortion, keeping it legal, while making efforts to reduce the numbers of
unwanted pregnancies would be the best path to take, IMHO.

Alison Colman

t
f
a
> 
>Sue Hasselbring



Newsgroups: talk.abortion