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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, January 2, 1993                   TAG: 9301040268
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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DISTINGUISH BELIEF FROM FACT

IN RESPONSE to Jessica M. Strain's letter, "Children, too, can recognize killing," Dec. 26, 1992:

I can respect a person's belief concerning abortion, whether it be pro-life or pro-choice. It bothers me, however, that a person can be so adament about this subject, and yet be so ignorant about the facts concerning it.

To those who believe sex education shouldn't be taught in our schools, I urge them to read Ms. Strain's letter. In it, she stated that "pregnancy from rape is extremely rare, if not impossible." This statement, along with the letter's other "facts," concerns me deeply.

Throughout our county's history, personal beliefs, taken as fact, have been the root cause of many things we would like to forget ever happened.

Abortion is a serious social dilemma, and can only be solved through education and an honest look at our ethical beliefs. Loaded statements and unsubstantial claims get us no closer to the truth.

While I urge Ms. Strain to voice her opinion, I feel she should become better informed, and separate opinion from fact. DONALD WEST ATKINS

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