In a letter to the editor (“Poetic genius: Anti-Bush advocates chant literary gold,” ODE, Jan. 21), Melissa Tucker asks, “How many kids did you kill today, pro-abortion liberals?” With the exception of a rather strange friend of mine, I don’t know anyone who is “pro-abortion.” Abortion is an awful situation. But it’s a fact that a lot of people end up there. That’s why I’m “pro-choice.”
There are obvious reasons for the need for an abortion: rape, incest and threat to the mother. Then there’s misinformation. Yes, kids are being robbed under the abstinence-only movement, but then there are people who you’d think would know how to avoid getting pregnant who don’t. I was surprised to find my own mother at age 48 didn’t know antibiotics render birth control pills ineffective. Then I found out half of my friends didn’t know either!
Or how bout this: You can get pregnant during your period. A lot of women don’t know that either. Read the small print on your pill-pack: During the first week of pills use a back-up method. You’d think doctors would tell you these things but a lot don’t.
In response to the “kill” quote, did you know that if a baby is born extremely premature and under a certain weight hospitals will not help it live? Hospitals choose a weight to determine life. As of now there is no scientific evidence that fetuses are “alive.” The only thing that brings “kill” into the topic of abortion is
religion and morals, relative and personal things.
In an imperfect world where this is something people have to face, let them at least have a choice.
Sermin Yesilada
Senior