THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 8, 1994 TAG: 9412060009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A22 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Regarding Joan Beck's column, ``Politician's silence is sure sign supporters of choice have won'' (Perspectives, Nov. 28):
I could quote all sorts of statistics that prove the overwhelming majority of Americans do not support abortion on demand or that show the number of abortionists and/or their facilities are on the decline. But ``statistics'' and ``polls'' really aren't indicative or even accurately representative of our society as a whole. Instead, I elect to focus on the words and deeds of those who are in positions to affect policy.
Most congressmen have stated positions that are consistent with the ``pro-life'' position. All thinking, responsible people know that men and women have always had the right to do with their bodies as they see fit, present and future disclaimers to the opposite notwithstanding. The key to the abortion issue is choosing not to get pregnant in the first place.
However, if one chooses to not exercise this responsibility and a pregnancy results, then a second life is now affected by one's ``choice.'' Since the argument for those who are ``born'' is ``. . . no one is gonna tell me what to do with my body,'' the same argument holds for the ``unborn'' in that no one should tell him he has to die because he is an inconvenience. The fact that a human has not been ``born'' detracts in no way from the fact that he is still a human life.
Ms. Beck tries to reassure herself that her position and ideology are correct by putting it in print, hoping to convince others, as well as herself, that she is ``right.'' She fails.
PAUL H. HOWDEN JR.
Norfolk, Nov. 29, 1994 by CNB