From: nyikos@math.scarolina.edu (Peter Nyikos)
Subject: Re: WILL THE REAL MISOGYNISTS PLEASE STAND UP? Case 1.
Keywords: decay@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (dean.kaflowitz)
Organization: USC  Department of Computer Science
Date:  3 Sep 92 16:35:28 GMT

In <1992Sep2.071341.3020@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> smgarvin@nyx.cs.du.edu (susan garvin) writes:

>I agree with rocker.  This case has nothing to do with Nyikos'
>own misogyny.

>As an aside, this Charles Wysong that Nyikos keeps thanking
>is, if I'm not mistaken, head of a charming little group
>called the American Rights Coalition.  This group passes
>out little cards outside clinics that list "abortion
>complications" and ask that women call if they have any
>of the listed symptoms.  (One listed symptom is "headaches.")

The full text of the card: (address, advertising, phone number omitted)

 	The following may indicate abortion related damage.
                      ^^^
	1. heavy or continued bleeding
	2. severe cramping
	3. elevated temperature
	4. intense headaches
           ^^^^^^^
	5. depression, suicidal tendencies
	6. hallucinations, nightmares, etc.
	7. in general, any unusual physical or emotional sensation

	  Abortion may be legal, but malpractice, misrepresentation,
	and fraud are not.
	  If you need help, call us.
          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

>If a woman does call them, they don't offer medical advice,
>they offer referrals to their pet lawyers. 

This surprises me, since the other side of the card says:
   MEDICAL * LEGAL * EMOTIONAL HELP
Or could it be that they don't offer medical advice or legal advice
or emotional help, they give referrals to doctors, lawyers, and
support groups?  You wouldn't be making selective deletions, now, 
would you, Susie?  

Oh, no, I shouldn't be misled by your deletion
of the word "intense" [ask any migrane sufferer if you don't know
the difference], nor by your claiming that they should call if they 
have "any of the listed symptoms," nor by your leaving out the fact
that these cards are part of a package of pro-life materials, but lots
of women simply won't take bigger bundles of information (some of which
lists help at local crisis pregnancy centers, post-abortion support
groups, etc.) but will take a small card with a toll-free number on it.


 The group also
>produces a flier called "The Abortion Injury Report," which
>supposedly reports on such complications, but often engages
>in the sort of speculation that Nyikos loves.  (One that
>caught my attention was a claim that Gilda Radner's ovarian
>cancer was caused by an abortion. 

The text of the article, taken directly form the _Atlanta Constitution_
review of Gilda Radner's autobiography:

	"Even before Gilda Radner was diagnosed with cancer,
    she had an abortion, became bulimic while on `Saturday
    Night Live', tried desperately to get pregnant after 
    marrying Gene Wilder, only to have two miscarriages, and 
    suffered from recurring bowel problems, all written about
    in explicit detail."
	"Then in 1986, she was told she had ovarian cancer.
    She had a hysterectomy, a grapefruit-sized tumor was 
    removed, and months of grueling chemotherapy and radiation
    therapy began."

The only support for Susan's claim comes from the clumsily worded 
title itself: _Actress's Cancer Points to Abortion Complications_.
Not clear even which direction the cause-effect relationship, if any, is 
supposed to run.  

Another abortion-cancer connection: Minnesota abortionist Mildred Hanson
was sued in 1990 by a Native American whom she strongly urged to have
an abortion.  After this Native American refused, Mildred waited *ten
months* to tell her that a pap smear that was taken during this same
visit showed she had cervical cancer.

Peter Ny.