thoma@reed.UUCP (Ann Muir Thomas) (08/04/85)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** If what Mr. Wheeler tells us is indeed true, I wonder if the National Planned Parenthood oragnization has investigated his "neighborhood branch". I have NEVER heard of Planned Parenthood offices being "abortion factories", in fact they are nationally known for providing birth control (=before the unwanted pregnancy!) at a lower price than what is generally available. I seem to recall reading an article somewhere that even said that they were not as quick to perform abortions as in the past, and that many branches had mandatory extensive counseling on the alternatives to abortion. For now at least, I still believe that no man has the right to make me carry his (or anyone else's) child to term. And the one thing both sides hopefully can agree on is that birth control should be easy to get, inexpensive, and carefully explained. This week's People article, with the interviews of women who have had abortions, makes it somewhat apparent that young teens in particular were (are) not getting the information they need. I view abortion as a choice-- one that ultimately rests in the woman's hands, as it should. For me, it is a BACKUP method of birth control, and I would NEVER have intercourse without using some generally reliable birth control. Luckily, I was taught enough self-respect to say "NO!!" without fear of the consequences-- if anything I was taught to fear an unwanted pregnancy. And hopefully I will never be with a man who does not respect my "NO!!", for he would be a rapist. Who can I thank for this attitude? My parents-- who tried for many yeas to conceive me, but still understand why a woman might not want to be pregnant. I only wish every woman was so lucky to have parents like them. Ann tektronix!reed!thoma "Love, Reign o'er me...."
mn@dscvax2.UUCP (Matt Noah) (08/12/85)
It is a sad FACT that Planned Parenthood not only encourages abortions but also PERFORMS them at many/some of their clinics. Abortion IS in keeping with their national charter/philosophy. The PP philosophy is basically that every child should be a "wanted child" - no one on either side of the abortion issue would desire otherwise. To that end, they encourage birth control and education. It is unfortunate that they are basically unwilling to educate women and men in the area of fetal development. They also advocate, yes ADVOCATE, abortion as a means of birth control. When a women enters PP pregnant and distraught they encourage an abortion. Why? The longer a woman waits, the more difficult and costly an abortion can be. How can a business like PP ADVOCATE abortion and at the same time counsel a woman by telling her that the typically 8-week-old fetus in her body has a heartbeat, has an operative central nervous system and feels pain as a result? They can't so they don't! I'm sorry folks, but this is the truth! Aside from the purely humanistic arguements, there are people in this country who believe in God and practice a particular religion. Some religious beliefs hold human life as sacred. Do you think PP considers a woman's particular religous affiliation before "counseling"? Just because a person belongs to a particular church, doesn't mean they don't consternate over decisions which are difficult in light of church teaching. Pressures from different directions affect almost all of our moral decisions. The woman that walks in to PP is pushed in one direction - abortion. Matt Noah
js2j@mhuxt.UUCP (sonntag) (08/20/85)
Matt Noah writes: > It is a sad FACT that Planned Parenthood not only encourages abortions > but also PERFORMS them at many/some of their clinics. Abortion IS in > keeping with their national charter/philosophy. The PP philosophy is > basically that every child should be a "wanted child" - no one on either > side of the abortion issue would desire otherwise. To that end, they > encourage birth control and education. It is unfortunate that they are > basically unwilling to educate women and men in the area of fetal > development. They also advocate, yes ADVOCATE, abortion as a means of > birth control. I can see it now: Worried Looking Young Woman: "Yes, I'd like to see about getting some contraceptives so I don't have to worry about getting pregnant when my boyfriend and I have sex." Planned Parenthood Counselor: "Why bother? Why not just have sex all you like without them, and if you get pregnant, so what? We can always abort it for you." <SET sarcasm=ON> <SET valley_accent=ON> Like, I'm *sure*. -- Jeff Sonntag ihnp4!mhuxt!js2j "Just them up like regular chicken cuts, do I?" - Yoda
pamp@bcsaic.UUCP (pam pincha) (08/21/85)
In article <22@dscvax2.UUCP> mn@dscvax2.UUCP (Matt Noah) writes: > They also advocate, yes ADVOCATE, abortion as a means of >birth control. >The woman that walks in to PP is pushed in one direction - >abortion. > >Matt Noah THIS IS NOT TRUE OF ALL OF THEM!!!!!!!!! I'm mot sure what is going on in the east coast, but the PP clinics I've been to out here did not advocate birth control as anything other than a LAST RESORT! Prevention was advocated, as was planning! What I would like to know is if Matt has actually been in one of the clinics there? If he has and has first hand check out the policies of more than ONE clinic then there is reason for advocating a policy change with PP. Eliminating them does NO ONE any good. There is a vital need filled by having such clinics available. Too expect the services to solve all the problems of those troubled enough to come to them is UNREALISTIC though. PP is one of the only sources of free, non-restricted sources of information and choice on a particularily touchy subject. To remove it just puts us further back into the dark ages. As a woman that has worked hard to get where she has I resent the further limitation of information I need in order to live my life. Elimination of such institutes as Planned Parenthood WILL NOT solve the problems teenagers, or anyone, have in relation to their sexual behavior -- be they a result of societies problems or not. To remove informationn and aid only leads to FURTHERING THE MYTHS AND PROBLEMS. IGNORANCE OF SOMETHING DOES NOT MEAN IT WILL GO AWAY! It is the right of choice I will fight to see preserved. Planned parenthood may not be perfect all over, but it's the best we got. If it needs to be changed, so be it. That is the way of life - nothing is perfect. So, give us proof of your accusations please. Then something may be done. At this point I find the statements dangerously inadequate. ----------------------------------------------------------- Pamela Pincha-Wagener (The usual company disclaimer....) -----------------------------------------------------------
csdf@mit-vax.UUCP (Charles Forsythe) (08/22/85)
In article <22@dscvax2.UUCP> mn@dscvax2.UUCP (Matt Noah) writes: >Aside from the purely humanistic arguements, there are people in this >country who believe in God and practice a particular religion. Some >religious beliefs hold human life as sacred. Do you think PP considers >a woman's particular religous affiliation before "counseling"? I certainly hope not. We wouldn't want to abridge her religious freedom as well as her biological freedom, now would we? > Just because a person belongs to a particular church, doesn't mean >they don't consternate over decisions which are difficult in light of >church teaching. Pressures from different directions affect almost all >of our moral decisions. The woman that walks in to PP is pushed in one >direction - abortion. Well, I'm sure God will prevail, Matt. I don't know of any self-respecting cousellor who doesn't suggest that the woman consult with a preacher of her particular faith. -- Charles Forsythe CSDF@MIT-VAX "We pray to Fred for the Hopelessly Normal Have they not suffered enough?" from _The_Nth_Psalm_ in _The_Book_of_Fred_
john@gcc-bill.ARPA (John Allred) (08/22/85)
"...8-week-old fetus ... feels pain .."??!? care to back up that assertion??