salisbur@ihuxq.UUCP (07/13/83)
Highly recommended reading on the subject of Abortion in the US is:
``Aborting America'' by Bernard Nathanson, M.D.
Nathanson, a second generation OB-GYN, was one of the founders of the
NARAL (originally the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion
Laws, since retitled the National Abortion Rights Action Leauge) and
was for about eighteen months around 1973-74 (I don't remember the
exact dates) the head of what he called the largest abortion clinic
ever to operate in the US. In the book, Nathanson describes the early
years of the abortion movement and his own involvement therein, medical
and scientific data relevant to the issue, the attitude changes in his
colleagues and the American public in general during the 1970s, and
his own change from a radical pro-abortionist in the late 1960s to
his position in 1979, when he wrote the book.
Nathanson is not ``religious'' (an atheist like his father),
and his reasoning is based on his own medical expertise and his belief
that mankind should be just and fair. He discredits many of the
erroneous and fallacious arguments used by both the pro-choice and the
pro-life sides. He attempts to be as objective as possible, even
using the word ``alpha'' rather than ``fetus'' (or some similar
emotionally-charged word) to try to be free from bias.
Anyone who wants to have an intelligent opinion on this
controversial and important issue should at least be exposed to
Nathanson's book. Pro-choicers who are confident that their position
is right have nothing to lose by exposing themselves to Nathanson,
and a lot of pro-lifers could use some exposure to a man who was once
strongly on the other side, and who even now refuses to be labeled
pro-life, even though his current position is similar.
The issue of Abortion is very controversial and very important.
This makes it all the more important that reason and respect should be
used whenever the subject is discussed.
S. K. Salisbury {pur-ee,ihnp4}!ihuxq!salisbur
Bell Labs -- Naperville, IL