Newsgroups: bit.listserv.politics
Date:         Wed, 29 Jul 1992 09:04:45 EDT
From:         "Susan J. Luckel" <BI705001@BROWNVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Questions, questions

According to "Missy Justice"
>                  [NOTE:  In Sweden, abortion is available at the
>             woman's request until the 18th week.  However, after
>             the 12th week, there is a mandatory consultation with a
>             social worker.  After 18 weeks, abortion can only be
>             obtained with the permission of the National Board
>             of Health and Welfare and then only if there are
>             "substantial grounds."  The Swedish statute speci-
>             fically states that abortion may not be performed
>             at all if the fetus is viable, unless the woman's
>             life or health is seriously endangered by the
>             pregnancy.
That is pretty close to what we feminists here in the US are aiming at.
>                In West Germany, developing human life was
>             considered to be present after the 14th day of
>             gestation.  There were other considerations, but
>             since W.G. no longer exists, this may no longer be
>             relevant.
There are now attempts to change the laws in Germany (unify, I guess it's
called) to adhere to the stricter standard).
>                 It is only in the United States that abortion is
>             legally permissible throughout the 9 months of
>             pregnancy.  It is only in the United States
>             that otherwise reasonable individuals reject the
>             notion that a woman seeking an abortion should
>             recieve counseling.  It is only in the United States
>             that a waiting period prior to an abortion is
>             considered a violation of individual rights.  In
>             point of fact, moderate pro-lifers are far more
>             in step with the attitudes of the rest of the
>             world than are NARAL or NOW (despite those
>             groups' continuing efforts to claim otherwise and
>             to persuade other nations to follow our stunning
>             example.)
>                                   --MJ
If you would read your own posting, you would see the inconsistancies. Further-
more, abortion is NOT legal beyond the 20-21 week (when the fetus is viable).
If we were able to *persuade* other nations to follow our example, it would
only be because it is what their people want. The *moderate pro-life* are in
step with the conservatives in these countries, as they are with ours. (Isn't
that an oxymoron? Not to mention a misnomer. But that's another discussion,
which I don't really have time to partake of.)
Who are you to decide how long I should wait after I have decided to have an
abortion? Do you have any idea how long I have considered it? Do you have any
idea whether or not I have sought counsel? Consideration time and counselling
are important, but they are *not* things that should be legislated; they are
individual choices.
Besides, you don't want regulations, you want the whole process outlawed. Why
keep producing smokescreens? Are you ashamed or afraid to state what you actual
goal is?
We are not a third world nation. We are not a homogenous European nation. We
are a unique conglomerate of different peoples and cultures with different
ideas and idealogies. We should respect those idealogies by giving people the
right to make their own choices on personal issues -- without imposing some-
one's rigid religious beliefs upon them. And we should give them the credit
for making the choice in the manner that is appropriate for themselves.
enough. sjl