THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 13, 1995 TAG: 9507120008
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
Once again, columnist Ellen Goodman just doesn't get it. According to Ms. Goodman (Perspectives, July 1): ``(Sen. Robert) Smith narrowed the cast of the moral debate down to two characters: the innocent fetus and the guilty doctor,'' as though these two ``characters'' should take second place to a woman's ``right to choose.'' In doing so, she continues to frame the abortion debate in terms of reproductive freedom and labels those who try to focus on the act of abortion as extremists. It's as though those who favor abortion can't bear to think about what it is they are actually advocating.
I am all for women's rights, but I don't see how life and death can play second string to ``choice.'' How can the ``pain at choosing'' equate to a life snuffed out? Her ``real fetus'' is ``deformed,'' with ``little or no chance of life.'' Well, this is a specious argument because I have never heard her advocate banning abortions except for those exceptional circumstances.
The goal of the pro-abortion camp is unrestricted (and government-funded!) rights to abortion. Ms. Goodman should be honest enough to say so.
JOHN DiMICELI
Chesapeake, July 1, 1995 by CNB